Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-27
LABOR TROUBLES.
EXCITING CONDITION OF AFFAIRS AT
CHICAGO.
The sviichmen Resort to Violence Loco
motives Thrown from tSe Track
Serious Wreck Prevented.
TBy telegraph 10 the Dssnafch ]

hDu was switched on the east-ooubu
track at the rate OF about eight miles
per hour. At Fifty-first street just
before the train reached the switch 4
man ran out and turned the switch
just as the train came along. The
locomotive immediately jumped the
track, carrying the tender and the for
ward truck Of the first coach off with it.
For minute there was q terrible jar
ring and knocking about, and then the
train came to q staHdstill. The locomo-
tive had run over the bare ties for mere
than a hundred feet. and finally push
ing two Of them apart sunk in the mud.
J he lever was reversed and efforts made
TO back upon the track, but without
success. The engineer Of the express,
although not suspecting that fiendish
attempt would be made upon his train,
nevertheless went only at half speed,
spd BY doing so probably prevented
most serious wreck and great loss of
life.
The railroad company was engaged
this morning in endeavoring to clear
the tracks on south forty-third street
Of the wrecked trains, which remained
there over night. Nearly all the track
from Forty.third to Fifty-ffth streets
we're blocked this morning with par
titlly-oyerturned cars. Traffic on both
the Lake Shore and Rock island roads
is DELAYED in consequence Of the block
zoe. by 10 o'clock the tracks had
been pretty thoroughly cleared. During
the night the round-houses and other
property Of the Lake Shore road we're
guarded by Pinkerton's police and
members OF the town Of Lake police
force.
A Lake Shore engine in charge Of
regular crew left the round-house
shortly after IL o'clock. Two ca
booses were attached to it. On each
caboose were about fifteen town Of Lake
police and twenty Of PinkertOn's men.
The train proceeded at rate no faster
than a walk until its arrival in Engle-
wood, when the officers mounted the
cow.catchers Of both engines and the
cabooses, and the train started off at the
rate Of ten miles an hour. A crowd
Of strikers had rushed ahead Of the
train while it was proceeding at q slow
rate, and at dead run set out for En-
glewood. As the trains speed was ac-
tolerated the crowd was soon passed,
and storm Of stones and cinders were
thrown into the men on the outside OF
the engines and cabooses. A cry OF
rage went up from the throats Of the
mob as the engines dashed by. Soon
q Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul en-
CINE and one belonging to the Nickel
plate road passed the crowd of strikers.
The engines were on the way to
Englewood yards to do some switching
for the roads TO which they belonged,
but as they passed the crowd they were
boarded by 100 furious men, who, with
out ceremony, took undisputed posses
sion. Then began one Of the most ex-
citing races on record. Pursuers and
pursued sometimes ran at the rate Of
fifty miles an hour. Matt. Pinker-
ten stood on the rear platform
Of the train and threatened the
men on the pursuing engines with his
revolver, but without effect. The pur-
suing engine arrived within few feet
Of the caboose, when the town Of Lake
police jumped inside and closed aud
locked the door behind them, leaving
Matt. Pinkerton and three Of his men
with the newspaper reporters on the
rear platform. A huge lump Of coal
sailed through the air, followed by
three or four coupling pins, and
a Pinkerton man fell headlong
from theplatform. Crack crack went
Matt. Pinkerton's revolver, and a
striker fell off the engine. The strikers
jumped ike sheep with the exception
Of dozen men at the first fire. Pos
sibly others gave signals to the en-
gineer to 90 ahead. Another shower
Of stones which smashed the windows
Of the caboose without doing serious
dsmsge TO anyone on the platform, and
more revolver shots, also apparently
without effect, were fired by the officers,
ard just then the pursuing engines
caught up to and coupled on to the Lake
Shore trains. The strikers en-
gines we're reversed, and coupling
pins snapped Ike so many pieces
Of glass. The Lake Shore train
was stopped just as the engine
again approached at full head of
steam, and struck the rear caboose a
blow that threw the then thoroughly
frightened policemen TO the floor and
shivered every pane Of glass in the cars.
The police left the dangerous ground
and held parley with the strikers, the
result Of which was that the four en-
gines and two cabooses we're pulled
back to the Rootstreet crossing. On the
csboose, besides the police, were Gene
ral-Freight-Agent Blodgett, Superin-
tendent Amsden, and Yard-Msstsr
Jones. Returning with the captured
caboose and engines, the crowd over
turned several box-cars on the tracks,
blocking the two main tracks. The
crowd along the tracks threw stones
and other missiles through the windows
Of the cAbooses. The persons inside
sought refuge under the tables and
benches, and escaped serious injury.
The arrival at Forty-frst street was
hailed with cheers by the great crowd
Of strikers and their sympsthizers as
sembled there. The engine went into
the round-house, leaving the caboose |
on the side-track. Accounts vary as |
to the effect OF the detectives fire upon |
the pursuing strikers. There seems no |
room for doubt that some Of the
strikers were shot. The police and de-
Iectiyes suffered no injury beyond q
'ew slight bruises.
In the Supreme Court this morning |
Judge Shepard issued an injunction
,gainst seventy Of the Lake Shore
striking switchmen on an affidavit
signed By P. P. Wright, general super
ntendent.
The Lake Shore officials this fore
loon, anticipating trouble, served q
written notice on the sheriff Of Cook