Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-26

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The strSkins swisehnssn In Chsesgs
icy telegraph 70 TIE DispatcA.l
| CHICAGO, June 25.-At the Root
street crossing Of the Lake Shore rail
road this morning the police on duty
numbered thirty, which included ever
available officer Of the Town Of Lake
force. There was no change in thu
situation up to Q o'clock, and no init
nation Of any attempt to move the
trains that had been received up TO thsi
hour. There was, however, prevail.
ing impression, in spite Of the peaceful
declarations Of the strikers, that trouble
would occur to-day. A carload Of
switcbmen reached Chicago about mid
night from Toledo, and it is thought
that they would be put to work.
About Q o'clock the imported switch
mea were taken out to Forty-third
street in charge Of Superintendent
Amsdsn. They remained in the car,
and had not up to $50 O'Clock been ex-
postulated with by the strikers. The
imported men number about twenty
five, and include many Of those brought
to Chicago during the last strike.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the officials,
with the assistance of the police, sue
ceeded in attaching the engine and ca
boose to the waiting freight train. Be-
yond the expostulations Of the crowd
no trouble was experienced until after
the caboose was attached to the train.
The latter consisted Of ten cars for
south Bend. The crowd grew in pro-
portions and more threatening. Police
and railroad employees were cursed and
threatened with violence. In the mean
time a small force was divided between
the train and in guarding switches to
prevent the latter from being turned so
as to make impossible the free move
ment of trains. Finally, respond
ing to the cries Of several leaders,
crowd rushed past the police
and turned the switches in spite
of the latter. The police had their
clubs drawn aud used them in a few
instances, but the officers were either
so thoroughly astonished or overawed
by the crowd they made no successful
resistance. A portion Of the crowd at
the same moment surged toward the
train, which had commenced to move
out, but which, passing upon the open
switches, was thrown from the track,
the engine and all the cars being de-
rallied. To complete the wreck the
coupling-pins were withdrawn and
thrown away. During the melee the
police succeeded in making two arrests.
The excitement in the vicinity is still
very great.
The railroad officials are not endea-
voring 90 remove the wreck, and until
that has been accomplished further eff
forts TO move any cars will be impossi-
Bile. One of the men arrested is
member Of the Executive Committee
Of the Switchmen's Union. At III
o'clock the crowd about the switching
board was very large and constantly
growing. Frequent rain showers fell.
A passenger train approached the scene
soon after the attack on the freight
train, and one of the rioters, picking up
a coupling-pin, flung it at brakeman
standing on platform. 1t caused no
damage, however. No other demon
stration of any kind was made against
the passenger train. The large crowd
surrounding the round-Louse will not
allow any engine to come out. Eight
new switchmen have been severely
beaten and gone home.
Some of the imported switchmen
were attacked by the strikers shortly
after noon and several injured. 1t is
stated that a number have refused to
work owing to the fear of violence.
The crowd at Forty-third street at 2
o'clock numbered about 1000.
A conference of the general mana
gers was held to-day, all roads entering
Chicago being represented. The con-
ference was very brief. The managers
assured President Newell that they
would require their men to do their full
duty, and to handle Lake Shore cars as
well as those of other roads. AT 4
O'Clock this afternoon fifty of Pinkerton's
police appeared at Forty-third street ac-
coDpanied by thirty switchmen. The
strikers stillremained in the vicinity, and
when all attempt was made to take an
engine from the round-house the crowd
made an effort to run a box-car on the
track. The police charged them, how
ever, knocking two down with their
clubs. These men were put under ar
rest, with a third man who was active
in the efforts to cause blockade. The
crowd then retired short distance, and
the train abandoned in the forenoon was
successfully made up under a heavy
guard and Iun north to Thirty-eighth
street, where it passed upon the main
track. Guarded by fully one hundred
police, it again proceeded south and
passed out Of the city.