Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-03
LIGHTNING STRIKERS.
About Eight Thousand Members OF the
Brotherhood of Telegraphers Forsake
Their Instrumcnts-The Strike General
Throughout the Country.

Brotherhood of photographers Forsake
Their Instrumcnts-The Strike General
Throughout the Country.
NEW YORK, July 20.
! The telegraph operators here have struck.
At precisely twelve o'clock yesterday, WASH.
4 ;ngton time, several hundred operators in
the Western Union Telegraph room laid
/ down their utensils and started for
| the halls. Superintendent Humstone, who
was present, said the number
to leave was about what had been expected
/ from the reports made to the company. In
the operating rooms were stationed several
policemen, and these, together with the Of
| icials who were present, asked the strikers
10 move ont as rapidly as possible,
and to leave the building. The
operators who remained at their
keys did very little work at first, aud
were interested spectators. Long lines
of operators were soon filing down stairs.
| On their faces were depicted various emo
tons. The majority were hilarious, but
there were not wanting those whose feat
ures bore traces of uncertainty and fears
for the future. Many were thoughtful,
and evidently appreciated that the strike
might mean long weeks of iGleness, with
scanty salary. The general feeling
was one of confidence, however, and
determination to win was the catch-word
AS soon as the advance guard of strikers
reached the basement the hundreds of curl
Gus people, who were there and i'm the
street about the building, sent upa shout,
thus spreading the news In a few
minutes more bulletin board,
posted the facts, and the long con-
templated and much talked of strike
had begun, and was fully known at all news
centers. There was no disturbance on the
Associated Press wires, which tap WASH
ington, Baltimore and Philadelphia with
their tributary territory, those wires being
manned by Associated Press telegraphers,
who have made 10 demand and have 10
grievance.
CHICAGO, July 20
The great strike of telegraph operators
was inaugurated in Chicago at IL :O5 yester-
day. The majority of the operators at the
Western Union, Mutual Union, and Balti-
more & Ohio companies left their desks in a
very orderly manner, and were received by
crowds of spectators in the streets with
cheers as they marched along. A good many
of the lady operators joined tire strike. The
strikers repaired TO Uhlich'S Hall, where
they went into secret session. The chief
operators and few of tie men staid i'm the
operating rooms and managed TO keep bust
ness going. \ large number of the officials
clerks are telegrapherS and were at once as
signed to the oneratmg-rooms, and score
OF more Oh men IiOln country OfIlceS were
taken in To fill the places of the strikers.
simultaneously with the marching out of
the Western Union men the operators OH the
Board of Trade floor quit their instruments
and went out on the street TO greet their fell
low strikers. The Baltimore IL Ohio Office
was also deserted at the same moment.
BY twelve O'Clock communication was re-
established with Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia, Toronto Baltimore, Minneapolis,
st. Paul, Milwaukee, indianapolis, Cincin-
natl, Omaha, and st. Louis which points
are the most important telegraphic centers.
1t is understood more men are left in Chi
cagO than in offices east of here. Almost
none remained in New York. Pittsburgh
had ten at noon, Philadelphia seventeen,
Cincinnati twelve, and Omaha sixteen. The
Chicago &c. \. D.'s' Commercial news de-
partment reportS) were being sent hence on
four wires, which will acquaint outside
boards of trade with the condition of Chi
cago markets in fair shape.
a special detail of police have been or
dered out to guard the wires running through
the different tunnels in the city, these being
considered the only places where wires were
likely to be cut.
The Executive Committee of the Brother
hood of Teegraphers is composed of the
following: Eugene j. O'Conn0r, of Boston;
Roger j. Mulln, of Toronto; Mortimer y.
Shaw, of st. Louis; John Campbell or
Pittsburgh, ana Samuel Ford, of Nashville.
| WASHINGTON, July 20.
In this city twelve operators are at work
instead of fourteen, the regular number.
Mile OF the day force worked through Thurs
day, and ii is understood five of these prom
iSed to return TO work to-day. Twenty men
are employed during the day. At the
American Rapid office the manager and
one operator remain OH duty and six have
struck.
CINCINNATI. July %.
The telegraphers' strike in the main Of
flee of the Western Union Company here oc-
CURED at IL 80 yesterday. At that hour
the Local Chief Of the Brotherhood gave the
signal, three raps on the desk. The signal
was obeyed by all members of the Brother
hood rising and going Immediately out
There was no confusion, and no excitement.
Only about half dozen of the working
force remained at their desks. Other oper-
ators will soon be put on.
AT the main office of the Baltimore &
! Ohio every operator went out, and business
Is wholly suspended. The same happened
at the main office of the Mutual Union.
On Change no messages were received or
sent by either of the three companies hav-
ing offices there. At the Western Union
Ohice guard was Immediately placed to
| prevent outsiders entering the operating
room. All operators about the Office were
sent TO duty upstairs.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 90
| The telegraphers' strike was inaugurated
at II AZ Thursday morning. At that hour,
at given signal, every member of the
| Brotherhood quit work, and, coming out of
the several offices, formed procession, and
marched to their headquarters, where a
meeting was he.t. A canvass of the offices
a few minutes later found fifteen men at
work in the Western Union, three i'm
the Baltimore & Ohio, one in the
American Rapid, and one in
the Mutual Union. The humber of men
who came out was as follows: Western
Union, sixty-seven; American Rapid, six
teen; Baltimore & Ohio, seven; Mutual
| Union, four. The Western Union is re-
ceiYing business as usual and say beyond
delay there will be no interruption, and
claim that wi thin few hours the force will
be increased materially. The Baltimore &
Ohio are also receiving, but the Mutual
Union and American Rapid are refusing
everything, including the American Press
Association matter. The strike created
| great excitement, and the street in front of
tile telegraph offices was thronged all day.
| INDIANApoLIs, Ind, July 20.
Promptly on receiving the signal, viz:
General Grant drCppe dead" two-thirds
OF the operators in The Western Union Office
| left their desks. There are now eighteen
hrst-class operators tn duty AMI the ranks
are filling UP rapidly. At the larger Offices
in the State outside about half the force left
their desks, Logansport, Lafayette and
Richmond being exceptions, at '.hich points
the full force remained on duty. The tele-
graph officials express the opinion that they
can weather the storm and fill the strikers
| places fully in short time.
! LOUISVILLE, KY, July 20.
The telegraph operators here all struck al
twelve O'Clock Thursday, Washington time.
/ The Baltimore & Ohio Office is deserted.
OF over thirty in the Western Union, only
four remained, but FIVE additional have al
ready been secnred, and more will come
The Western Union say they will transact
I all the necessary business.
CLEVELAND, o.. July 20.
AT nineteen minutes before noon all the
! Western Union operators, except five, left
/ their KEYS and sfrIIck The Wasfnrn Irnia.,