Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-28

Coupling Pins Returned for Bullets
Detectives and strikers IDjured-The
Train Captured by the Strikers and Re.
turned.
CHICAGO, June 26.
Shortly after the Lake Shore strikers
blockaded the tracks last night by THROWN
empty cars, the night express, consisting of
III coaches, and carrying the United States
mail. ran down the west bound track, but,
finding the track blockaded, ran back and
was switched on the east bound track. At
Fifty-first street, just before the train reached
the switch, man ran out and turned the
switch as the train came along The loco
motive jumped the track, carrying the tender
and the forward truck of the first coach off
with it.
For minute there was a terrible jarring.
The locomotive had run over the bare ties
for more than 100 feet and finally sank in the
mud. Efforts were made to back up on the
track but without success. The engineer of
tie express went only at half speed and by
doing so probably prevented most serious
wreck and great loss of life. In the mean
time, in trying to get the freight train on the
track the east bound track became blocked,
and it was some time before the Rock Island
dummy could approach from behind. Finally
the freight car was placed on the track and
the dummy able to reach the last coach Of
the express.
heavy rope was fastened between them
and after a halt hours work the locomotive
tender and coach were again placed on the
rails. The cars and engine we're examined
and again started. being an hour and half
late.
The engineer and several others saw the
man who turned the switch. No further at
tempt was made after this to get the freight
train out
Lake Shore engine, in charge of the reg
ular crew, left the round house shortly after
IL O'Clock. Two caboOses >were attached to
it. On each caboose were about Is of town
of Lake police and 20 Pinkerton men.
The train proceeded no faster than walk
until it arrived at Englewood. when the Off
GERS mounted the cowcatchers of both en-
gines and the train started off at the rate of
two miles an hour. A large crowd of strik-
ers had rushed ahead of the train and set out
for Englewood at a dead run. As the trains
speed was accelerated the crowd was soon
passed and a storm of stones were thrown
into the men on the outside of the engine and
cabooses.
Soon Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul
engine and one belonging to the Nickel Plate
road passed the crowd of strikers. The en-
gines were on their way to the 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 without ceremony took undisputed pos
session.
The engines were at first supposed to have
been taken from the Lake Shore round house.
Then began one of the most exciting races on
Nj H.. c,,h-
an hour were covered by the pursued and
still the pursuers crept up. Walt Pinkerton
jumped to his feet on the hind platform of
the last caboose and revolver flashed in his
hand. Back, back, he cried, but was only
answered by cries of derision from the dense
crowd, which completely covered the pursu-
ing engine.
As it drew nearer, the faces of the strikers
could be seen through the dense smoke left
behind by the engines of the Lake Shore train
as they tore along. The pursuing engine ar
rived within a few feet of the caboose, when
the town of Lake police jumped inside and
closed and locked the door behind them, ,leav-
ing Walt Pinkerton and three of his men with
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 the plat
form.
Crack, crack. went Walt Pinkertous re-
volver and striker fell off the engine. OF
they Jumped like sheep, with the exception
of dozen men, at the first fire. Another
shower of stones, which smashed the window
of the caboose, without doing serious damage
to ary one on the platform, and more revoi-
yer shots apparently without effect, were
fired by the officers, and just then the pursu.
in r,,i,Ui O un nd noun1a1 m 10 tho
Lake Shore train
The strikers engines were reversed and
the coupling pins snapped like so many pieces
of glass. The Lake Shore engine was stop.
ped just as the engine again approached al
| full head of steam and struck the rear ca
| boose a blow that threw the thoroughly
frightened policemen to the floor and shivered
every pane of glass in the cars. The police
left the dangerous ground and held a parley
with the strikers, the result Of which as thai
the four engines and two cabooses were pull
ed back to the Root street crossing.
| 1t is stated that three strikers were shot
but beside these there are probably severa
killed or wounded by falling from the rapid
| ly moving engines. None of the police were
| injured.
| The Lake Shore officials this forenoon, an
| ticipating trouble, served written notice or
the sheriff of Cook county of the condition OF
affairs existing along the line of the road, and
notifying him that he and his suretes would
| be held responsible for any damages which
might be inflicted by the strikers. Up to
o'clock this afternoon the railroad officials
had made no demand on the Governor fol
protection.
The crowd Is still in possession of the yard:
| at Forty-third street. Returning with the
! captured caboose and engine, the crowd over
turned several box cars on the tracks, block
ing the two main tracks.
In the superior court this morning, Judge
Shepherd issued an injunction against 10 of
the Lake Shore striking switchmen, on an
affidavit signed by P. P. Wright. general
superintendent.
CHICAGO, June 27.
The Lake Shore Co. tried to move no
freight out of their yards today. Officers
stationed there to protect property had moth
ing to do as hardly striker put in appear
ance.