The Portland daily press., 1886-04-05
Matters on the Texas Pacific Rail-
road Reach a Crisis.
Bloody Encounter Between Officers
and Strikers at Fort Worth, Texas
Caused by an Attempt to Take Out a
Train.
Several Killed and Wounded on Both
Sides.
The Railroad Yards Now Lined With
Soldiers.
Serious Trouble Feared at Fort Worth
Today.
Soldiers Making Up Trains at Par
4ro sons, Kansas.

FORT WORTH, Tex, April 3.-What had been
predicted has come to pass The striking Knights
of Labor and the officers of the law have met in
deadly conflict and two officers fatally wounded
and third shot through both hips are the casual
ties on the side of the law while of the strikers,
so far as can be ascertained, only one was wound
ed 1t was announced yesterday by the officers
of the Missouri Pacific that trains would move to-
day or there would be bloodshed. The strikers,
on the other hand, had put it down as settled that
no trains would be allowed to pass over the MIS-
souri, Pacific line until the demand of the strikers
for arbitration was conceded 1t will be reineli.t
bered there are only six men among the strikers
here who were formerly employed blythe Missouri
Pacific the Missouri Pacific and Texas q Paciflc
having pooled their Fort Worth business, so that
freight was handled and trains moved almost ex-
clusively by Texas & Pacific employees. The
places of these men have been filled, but they
dared not make a fight on the Texas & Pacific
because that road is in the hands of receivers.
Last night the sheriff and his deputies were
busily engaged in serving writs of injunction
against the strikers and their confederates, and
by the time this morning dawned most Of them
had read the official notice to keep away from the
yards of the Missouri Pacific Railway, and warn.
the company in their efforts to take out TRAINS ne
effect of these writs was to keep the yards clear,
and at O'Clock this morning not man, save en-
pl0yes, could be seen in them In the streets,
however, near the yards, could be seen knots OF
men collected to see what could be done. Today,
at 10 o'clock, officers began to collect at the union
depot, and numbers were stationed in the yards.
At 1915, a dozen or more went to the round
house, and in a few minutes engine 64, loaded
down with armed ofieers pulled out ana steamed
past the crowd collected on either side of the
road, derisive cheers went up from hundred
throats, but not man attempted to interfere with
the movements of the engine to prevent it from
coupling on to cabooSe upon side track HAY
ing done this, the engine was run on to the main
track and then backed up the road to Hodges,
from which point it was to pull freight train to
the city.
For nearly two hours the crowd waited the re-
turn OF the engine with the tram M from M aoagees'
The train consisted OF caboose and ten cars
loaded with coal As the train approached Six
teenth street, the crowd rolled out, but halted on
the line of the right of way and remained there.
Not man made move toward the train, but at
the lower end of the yard three women, wives OF
red nag Which she w waved asa as signal for the en-
glneer to stop. No attention was paid to this,
however, and the train passed on and by the union
depot, and continued on its journey south.
The suggestive quiet that marked the passage
of the freight train through the city was not with
out its sequel. When the train left the depot, 1t
was under the protection of posse OF officers
commanded by Jim Courtright. The train pro-
ceeded on to the crossing OF the Fort Worth &
New Orleans road, where it stopped as IS custom
ary. What followed is reported by railroad en-
pl0ye who was on the train He says that when
the train stopped it was noticed that several men
were congregated on the track In front, OF the
train. The posses commander approached the
men and asked why they impeded the progress OF
the train. to which they replied that they had
nothing to do with 1t; that they were not armed,
and had no intention OF interfering With the train
The entire posse advanced toward the men In am
bush until they had reached the ditch alongside
the track, when they commanded throwing up
of hands. The command was obeyed, but as the
hands came up they brought Winchester rifles
with them, which belched forth deadly fre, II IS
said, with fatal effect. There were perhaps 100
shots fired. After the first fire, the posse advanced
and continued firing The ambushers retreated
behind some piles of ties, which proved most ex-
cellent breastwork, and from the security Of
which they poured murderous fire into the
posse. From this position they were finally dis
lodged and driven beyond range of the posse
pistols. The casualties among the posse were
found to be three. Police Officer Ford was shot
through both thighs. Special Officer Dick Town
send was shot through the left breast, near the
nipple (fatal), and Special Officer Charles Sneed
was shot through the heart and jaw. The casual
ties among the ambushers is only matter OF con-
lecture, though there seem to be good grounds
for saying that three or more of them were wound
ed probably fatally. The posse carried the
wounded men aboard the train which backed in
to the Union depot
was armed with winchester rifles and started in
pursuit of the murderers: 1t is estimated there
were 20 men among the strikers, but OF those
only five or six carried Winchesters. Mace, the
wounded striker, was brought to this city this
afternoon and carried to jail, where he Will be
strongly guarded. No other arrests have as yet
been made. 1t has been learned that the strikers
yesterday purchased 10 Winchester rifles In this
city, The names OF two or three OF the men VINO
carried rifles have been learned. The Mayor has
issued a proclamation appointing 70 deputies as
policemen and ordering all the saloons TO remain
closed until Wednesday next A petition has also
been sent Governor Ireland for the State Rangers
andn ifor fran ncr, nrfa aft ar
ST. LOUIS, April 3.-From another source it
was learned that it was the determination OF the
strikers that no trains should run on the Missouri
Pacific today, injunction or no Injunction It was was
arranged that, should the train pass through Fort
Worth, it must be stopped elsewhere. TO this
end a number of strikers had been detailed to
watch the road south Of the city The tram I'm ar ar
strikers. Not obeying the flag, the strikers next
resorted to throwing a switch. AS. the men ap-
preached and threw the switch, tney were nred
turned by the men in ambush. The narrator says
it was not the intention of the strikers to resort to
fred 61inT upon they returned the fire. They were
well armed, and their work shows that they were
pretty good marksmen. "One thing may be set
down as settled" continued the narrator, land
that is that no train will be allowed to pass over
the Missouri Pacific until the demand of the
strikers for arbitration is acceded to-"
Mr.. Hoxie telegraphed to Mr.. Gould as follows
this morning:
Jag Gould, President:
Total number of loads moved yesterday, 3345,
an increase of 237 over the day before. All
points open except Parsons, Kan, where the mill
tary are this morning to protect transportation:
Sufficient shop men are at work to take care OF
equipment Employees being paid everywhere on
system, those who have not accepted work re-
ceiving their full wages up to the time they quit
opened yesterday, AS of the men who went TO
work returning under the order of Mr.. POwderly,
s lSigned5s '''' '''0A o " wa" Il. M. Hox1E.
Specials say the depot and yards at Fort Worth
were guarded last night by 200 citizens called in
to service by the mayors proclamation, and the
streets were patrolled by armed men: There was
great fear of fire during the night and extra pre-
cautions were taken ON that account One hun
dred firemen were in waiting at the fire engine
houses for any fires. officers of aid were sent
kept in readiness to be forwarded at moments
notice. Strikers are arriving at Fort Worth from
various outside points and statements have been
made that the knights of Labor have determined
that Fort Worth shall be the point where trains
shall be stopped at all hazards and that they Will
win their battle On the other hsnd it is SAID hat
trains shall move even though it cost score OF
lives to do it,
PARSONS, Kan, April 3.-Eight companies of
the 1st regiment OF Kansas arrived here re- Las last
yards, and this morning the Kansas National
Guards commenced making up trains. The strik-
ers have made no disturbance or resistance and i
at noon, with 30 soldiers as guards.
ATcHIsoN, Kan. April 3.--Mayor Kelsey has
informed III. M. Hoxie that the city will pay all
damages to his property in the corporate limits OF
the city, as the result OF lawlessness growing out
of the strike.
All the Missouri trains are running on schedule
time. The shops employed force of 58 men to-
day, 46 of whom were cid employees.
1.-THE LATEsT.]
FORT WORTH, April A P. M.-Six compan-
les of the Fourth Regiment have arrived here and
two companies of the First are also here. Brig.
Gen. Roberts is in command Trains VIII pc
moved regularly under guard of the State mil
and three other companies are held in readiness
awaiting transportation. There has been no
trouble so far today. Attorney General Temple
ton who is here with Adjutant General King,
voked, lit shall be welded and trains must be moved
if 1t takes the whole military force of the State to
do it. No attempt will be made to take out trains
until tomorrow.
$50 P. M.-Two companies of militia and one
battery OF artillery are already here. The dead
body of Frank Pierce, a striker, was found and
has just been brought into town, and two others
who were wounded have been located. Trouble
is looked for IN the morning. as strikers arc COM
ing.in from all directions
AUSTIN, Tex, April 4.-News of the conflict
at Fort Worth created great excitement here last
crowds OF persons. Governor Ireland had de-
parted for his home In Seguin before the intelli-
gence of the trouble reached this city. Adjutant
General King was not in town and his where
the Governor asking that troops be ordered out
and the Assistant Adjutant General, last night,
telegraphed the GraysOn Rifles at Sherman to
hold themselves in momentary readiness to move.
II was thought that Governor ireland would re-
turn by the first train from Seguin
To, rfl hoEn