Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-04
THE TE1.EGRApHERs, sTRIr1
About Eight Thousand Member.
Brotherhood of Telegraphers Fo.ths
Their Instruments-The Strike c. '
Throughout the Country. NS"sfal

About Eight Thousand Member. Il,
Brotherhood of Telegraphers ~. ths
Their Instruments-The Strike cs.saks
Throughout the Country. Ns"efal
NEW YORK, Ju,v On
The telegraph operators here have na str ~;
At precisely twelve O'Clock YESTERDAY WWaaesS'
ington time, several hundred onpra masl1
the Western Union Telegraph room 81
down their utensils and started lazy
the halls. Superintendent Humstone lot
was present, said the n,,nM MhS
to leave was about what had been exnoatss
from the reports made to the COMPANY =
the operating rooms were stationed sevo. IN
policemen, and these, together with the et =.
ficials who were present, asked the strilo VI.
to move out as rapidly as possibIa
and to leave the building. Th,,
operators who remained at thh ais
keys did very little work at first. a ans
were interested spectators. Long ]in0a
On their faces were depicted various ems
tons. The majority were hilarious Nh hu.
there were not wanting those whose, fa St'
ures bore traces of uncertainty and fsss,
for the future. Many were thouphtfM
and evidently appreciated that the striLs
might mean long weeks of idleness, WHY
q scanty salary. The general feeIinMa
was one of confidence, however. anss
determination to win was the catch-woI
AS soon as the advance guard of strikars
reached the basement, the hundreds of cnis
GUS people, who were there and in tha
street about the building, sent up a shont
thus spreading the news. In a few
minutes more a bulletin board
posted the facts, and the long CON.
templated and much talked of stnka
had begun, and was fully known at all news
centers. There was no disturbance on thu
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 no demand and have M
grievance.
CHICAGO, July 20.
The great strike of telegraph operators
was %inaugurated in Chicago at II :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 the strike. The
strikers repaired to Uhlich's Hall, whera
they went into secret session. The chief
operators and a few of the men staid in the
operating rooms and managed to keep bust
ness going. A large number of the officials
clerks are telegraphers and were at once as.
signed to thee pe%rating-rooms, and a score
or more OF men from country offices were
taken in to fill the places of the strikers.
Simultaneously with the marching out Of
the Western Union men the operators on the
Board of Trade floor quit their instruments
and went out on the street to greet their fel-
low strikers. The Baltimore s. 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. N. DIS" 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.
W~AsHINGToN, July 20.
In this city twelve operators are at work
instead Of fourteen, the regular number.
Nine of the day force worked through Thurs.
day, and it is understood five of these prom
ised to return to work to-day. Twenty me
are employed during the day. At til
American Rapid office the manager an
one operator remain o. duty and six ha;
struck.
CINCINNATI, July 20.
The t~elegraphers' strike in the main Of
fee Of the Western Union Company here o
CURED at 1880 yesterday. At that HOT
the Local Chief of the Brotherhood e tt
signal, three raps on the desk. The sign
was obeyed by all members of the Brother
hood rising and going Immediately out
There was no confusion, and no excitement.
Only about half a 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 Unio
On Change no messages were received
sent by either of the three companies hav-
ing offices there. At the Western Uniol
Office a guard was Immediately placed to
prevent outsiders entering the operating
room. All operators about the office wer
sent to duty upstairs.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 20.
The telegraphers' strike was inaugurated
at LAT Thursday morning. At that hour,
at a given signal, every member of the
Brotherhood quit work, and, coming out Of
the several offices, formed a procession, and
marched to their headquarters, where
meeting was held.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Julya 20.
Promptly on receiving the signal, viz:
General Grant droppe dead" two-thirds
of the operators i'll the Western Union office
left their desks. There are now eighteen
first,class operators on duty and the ranks
are filling up rapidly
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 secured, and more will come.
The Western UniOnssay they will transact
all the necessary business.
CLEVELAND, O., July q:
AT nineteen minutes before noon all the
Western Union operators, except five, lett
their keys and struck. The Western Union
is steadily filling vacancies at operating
tables, accepting all business as presented,
and expects to be in usual working condl'
ton in twenty-four hours. The American
Rapid Office is closed to business. The
Mutual Union force is not affected.
ST. LOUIS, No., July ~.
Flfty-four of the seventy-fve operators OF
the daV force on dutv in the Western I'm.