Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-08
A VERY UNFORTUNATE STRIKE.
Butte's Knights Of the Brake Stop
Work and Seriously Impede
Freight TralRc.
Ore Trains Held ut the Depot by the
Wilful Ditching Of Cars and
Removal Of Couplings.
Strong Probability That the Anaconda
Mines and Smelter VIII Suspend
Operations-Sorry Outlook.

The strike OF brakemen on the Utah 4
Northern assumed q very serious aspec
yesterday. At q late hour night befor
last the brakemen centering in this city
fifteen in numbsr-resolved to follow tn
example set by their brethren at Eagl
Rock. and refused not only to work tn
freight trains themselves, but to permi
them to be worked. Six freight train
leave Butte daily-three south-bound, tive
for Anaconda and one for Garrison-be
sides such extras as may be necessary
Only one OF these trains left yesterday, ant
it sneaked off at a. IN. with a large guam
tity of ore for Anaconda. The passenger
trains were not interiered with, and tn,
time. The passenger train from the south
which was due here at 1890 H. M. did not
arrive until 1880 p. M, and passengers
from the north were delayed two hours al
Silver Bow awaiting the arrival at that
point OF the south-bound passenger from
this city.
AT THE BUTTE DEPOT
nothing OF a serious nature occurred until
about 6:3O p. m, when at least ], 900 men
on the platform. The south bound express
was ready to start, and the railroad officials
conceived the brilliant idea OF attempting
to shove out train OF sixteen cars, loaded
with ore, for the Anaconda Smelter. The
mob received an inkling Of the move in con-
temptation and thwarted it in a very in.
genious manner. The locomotive OF the
ore train was kissing and sputtering, and
the engineer stood in the cab, his hand on
the throttle Of the valve, ready to start
when he received the signal, when. like q
flash, an empty hat car came laundering
down an adjoining track and was ditched
by striking the s~ itch few yards ahead OF
the ore train. This settled the fate OF the ore
train, but the mob was not satisfied. In q
few moments every c,upling-pi disappeared
from the ore train, and its removal was i'm
possible. Then an empty box-car was
started from a point about 100 feet east OF
the passenger depot and ca me rushing down
the grade at lively speed, and would have
been wrecked on the main line and pre-
vented the departure OF the passenger train
had not Yardmaster Burns hastily closed
the switch. The car was ditched, but the
main line was left open and a few minutes
later this passenger train steamed out, two
nours behind schedule time. At this juno
ture a wagon-load OF deputy sheriffs arrived
on the scene, and were at once assigned to
duty by Sheriff Sullivan. The mob offered
no open violence to either person or prop
erty. however, and the deputies were be-
ginning to regard their presence as nnneces-
sary when fifteen fiat cara loaded with lum-
Der came out of the east when the sun went
down. They were moving along at lively
Tn hair
they progressed, when Sheriff Sullivan
yelled to his men to ''Stop '.r!" Several
deputies jumped aboard and vigorously
applied the brakes, but their effort ts to
''stop 'er" were futile, and they were COM
PEELED to jump off again to escape annihila-
tion. They jumped not a moment too
soon, for an instant later the leading cars
jumped the track and added to the OBJ
with which the yard was strewn.
This closed the excitement. At 1890
train-load OF grumbling passengers from
the South arrived, and at midnight Deputy
Sheriff Wiener and his armed posse had un.
possession Of the yards.
THE STRIKING BRAKEMEN
did not participate actively in the
mischief wrought by the mob. which
seemed to be composed OF pro-
fessional loafers from the city. The
brakemen stood in group on the plat
form, and discussed the situation with
friends and each other. 1t was apparent,
however, that the mob acted upon sugges-
tions rendered by persons who knew how
the departure OF freight trains could be
most effectively prevented. The strikers
were quiet, but determined, and they ap-
peared t , have the sympathy Of the crowd.
THE ANACONDA COMPANY.
Last evening rumor gained currency
that the Anaconda mine and smelter had
been closed down, pending the result Of the
sttike. A MINER representative at once
out to ascertain the truth or ialsity
Of the report. Hon. Marcus DAILY, man.
ager for the Anaconda. Company, was
sought, but during the afternoon he had
left for Anaconda. Mr.. Sargent, the COM
pany's chief clerk. was found, however, and
from him the reporter obtained some i'm
porta mt information.
There is some truth in the rumor you
have heard" said Mr.. Sargent. "The ore
bins of the Anaconda. the St. Lawrence
and the Union Consolidated mines are full
Of ore, and no more will be hoisted until
we secure means OF having it transported
to our smelter at Anaconda. No empty
cars were on hand to night to carry the ore
arrived to 90 to work, as usual. Superin-
tendent Carroll was compelled to inform
the men that their services would not be
required until the bins were cleared. The
men felt rather blue, but the Superintend-
ent could take no other course"
''Will the strike necessitate the closing
down OF the Company's works at Ana
,onda?"
'If it is continued, yes. II the sme'ter is
not supplied with ore tomorrow, the works
will probably be closed down tomorrow
1ight. Mr.. Daily went to Anaconda this
afternoon, and will complete arrangements
or the closing OF the works il ore trains are
aot running from the mine to the smelter
before twenty-four hours have passed. TIE
closing OF the mines ard smelter will incur
! heavy loss to the Company, but theConl-
oany cannot afford to pay about 1850
men for doing nothing
THE MoULToN.
Supt Joe Clark, OF the Moulton, was also
I'VE have salt enough on hand to keep
our mill in operation twenty-four hours
ongsr," said Mr.. Clark, land we will be
to close down if that supply is
lot renewed"
THE PARROT.
Supt. Tibbey, OF the Parrot Company.
'aid his stock OF fuel is generally sufficient
% keep the smelter in operation two or
;hree weeks after the supply is shut of.
The Parrot Company receive their coal
rom Rock Springs, Wyoming, and their
:oke from Crested Butte, Colorado.
Several other mine and mill managers re-
;arded the strike as q very serious matter.
FROM GOVERNOR HAUsER,
Last evening, Sheriff Sullivan received the
oIlowing dispatch:
HELENA, NJ. T., May 5, 1886.
Eugene D. Sullivan, Sheriff of Silver Bow
County, II. T.:
have been applied to by the proper off,
,crs OF the Union Pacific Railroad Company
or the protection of certain property ofthe
which is said to benow threatened
n Butte. You will please use your best en-
leavors in that direction, and render all
the aid possible. Law and order must be
in this Territory.
S. T. HAusER, Governor.
Sheriff Sullivan is determined to protect
life and property at any cost.
THE DELAYED TRAIN
from the South arrived at 1880 last
night. The delay occurred . at Eagle
R0rk ~horo%he cara were detatched