Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-05
Militia Arriving Hourly at Fort Worth.
and Another Encounter Feared.

Militia Arriving Hourly at Fort Worth.
and Another Encounter Feared.
Scheme to Catch Some of the Leading
Knights of Labor, which Failed
to Work.
ST. LOUIS, April 3
The details of desperate affair at Fort
Worth, Tex, are given as follows in specials
TO the Post Dispatch
The suggestive quie, that marked the pas
sage of freight train through the city was
not without its sequel. When the train left
the depot, il was under the protection of a
posse of officers commanded by Jim Court
right. The train proceeded TO the crossing
OF the Fort Worth 4 New Orleans road when
it stopped, as is customary. What followed
Is reported by railroad employe who was on
the train. He says that when the train stop
ped 1t was noticed that several men were con-
gregsteu on the track in front of the train.
The posses commander approached the men
and asked why they impeded the progress of
the train, 10 which they replied that they had
nothing TO do with it; that they were not
armed and had no intention of interfering
with the road. As the officers returned to
the tram, they noticed several men sitting or
lvlng on the grass few yards from the train
The entire posse advanced toward the men in
ambush until they had reached the ditch
along side the track, when they commanded
throwing up of hands. 'lhe command was
obeyed, but as the hands came up they brought
Winchester rifles with them. which belched
forth a deadly fire, it is said with fatal effect
There Were perhaps 100 shots fired. After
the first fire. the posse advanced and contin-
ued 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
dislodged and driven beyond range of the
posses pistols. The casualties among the
posse were found to be three. Police Officer
Ford was shot through both thighs. Special
Officer Dick Townshend was shot through
the left breast, near the nipple, (tatal) and
Special Officer Charles Sneed was shot
through the heart and jaw. The casualties
among the ambushers is only matter of con-
lecture, thou2h there seem to be good grounds
Tor SAYING that three or more of them were
wounded, probably fatally. The posse car
ried the wounded men aboard the train which
backed into the Union depot.
From another source the following account
is given:
1t was the determination of the strikers
that no trains should run on the Missouri Pa
citic, injunction no injunction. 1t was ar
ranged that should the train pass through
Fort Worth, it must be stopped elsewhere
TO this end number of strikers had been
detailed to watch the road south of the citv
The train arrived at the crossing where it was
tagged by the strikers. Not obeying the
flag the strikers next resorted to throwing a
switch. As the men approached and threw
the switch, they were fired upon by the posse
and the fire was promptly returned by the
men in ambush The narrator says 1t was
not the intention of the strikers to resort to
violence unless forced to. but when they
were fired upon they returned fire. They
were well armed and their work shows that
they were pretty good marksmen "One
thing may be set down as settled" continued
this narrator, land that is that no train W III
be allowed to pass over the Missouri Pacific
until the demand of the strikers for arbitra-
ton is acceded to-"
MIR. Hoxie tele egraphed Mr.. Gould as follows
this morning:
ST. Louis, Aprl 3.
Jay Gould, President: Total number of
loads moved yesterday, 3345 an increase OF
237 over the day before. All points open ex-
cept Parsons, Kan, where the military are
tins morning to protect transportation. Suf.
hclent sh0pmen are are at work to take care
of equipment Employees being paid every
where oa system, those who nave not accept
ed work receiving their full wages up to the
time they quit the company's employ. Shops
at Denison. Texas, opened yesterday, 43 of
the men who went to work returning under
the order of Mr. Powderly, commanding all
men to go to work.
(Signed) H. NJ HoxIE.
Frederick Turner, the secretary of the
Z rol l..
and William H. Bailey of the same commit
tee, arrived in this city from Cincinnati this
morning and proceeded to the rooms of the
local executive committee, where they are
now considering the strike situation. After
this conference shall have been finished and
some definite line of action decided upon Mir
Turner will attempt to see Mr. Hoxie. and
ascertain what line he intends to follow in re-
employing the striking Knights of Labor A
second conference will then be held with the
local committee, and an agreement formu-
lated, which will be presented to Mr. Hoxie
for his signature.
Mr.. Turner, in an interview this morning
stated that his plan j. that all the positions
not now filled by the new men who have been
employed since the Inauguration of the strike
shall be open to applications from the Knights A.:
that those who apply shall be employed, and
Tpib titu1 stidtI bt sel6Cteu TIE arDltrAtl0n
committee, which will attempt to arrive at
some amicable understanding concerning the
grievances of the Missouri Pacific knights
Mr.. Turner, in reply to an inquiry if he
should request that all the striking Knights
of Labor be reemplOyed, replied ono; such
has never been the case heretofore, even
when We have been most victorious in our
struggle with capital, and we can hardly ex-
pect such a course to be pursued bv the rail-
road companies now. Neither shall we de-
mand that those who have committed depre-
dations upon the company's property be taken
back. Such demand would be inconsistent
with the principles laid down in our constitu-
tion, for you know we advise that violence 10
ali cases be avoided, and the loss of position
by Knight who destroys his employers 5
property is a just punishment"
MIR. Bailey hoped for speedy settlement
of the strike. and had no doubt it would soon
be ended, provided Mr.. Hoxie would consent
to confer with them.
Eight companies of the 1st regiment of
Kansas arrived in Parsons last night and took
charge of the Missouri Pacific yards, and this
morning the Kansas National Guards COM
menced making up trains. The strikers have
made no disturbance or resistance. and seem
to accept the situation. Train No. lis left
at noon. with 80 soldiers as guards.
Mayor Kelsey has informed H. NJ. Hoxie
: