The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-01
cHIcAeo.s TROUBLES.
The Lake Shore Switchmen Strike Against
Non-Union Men-The Police OverpOwered
Traffic Deranged.

The Lake Shore Switchmen Strike Against
Non-Union Men-The Police Oyerpowered
Traffic Deranged.
CHICAGO, June 26.-At the Root street
crossing of the Lake Shore railroad ysster-
day morning, the police on duty numbered
thirty, which included every available on
Ger in the town of Lake force. There was
no change in the situation up to nine
o'clock, at which hour a car load of switch
men who had reached Chicago at about
midnight from Toledo were taken out to
Sixty-third street in charge of Superintend-
ent Amsden. The imported men number
about twenty-five and include many
of those brought to Chicago during the last
strike. Shortly before ten the officials with
the assistance of the police succeeded in at
taching an engine and caboose to a waiting
freight train of ten cars destined for South
Bend. The crowd grew in proportions and
m0mentaTily became more threatening.
TURNING THE SWITCHES.
Finally responding to the cries of several
labOrers the crowd rushed for the police
and turned the switches in spite OF them.
A portion of the crowd at the same mo-
ment 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 derailed. To complete the
wreck the coupling pins were with
drawn and thrown away. During
the melee the police succeeded in
making two arrests. One of them is a
member of the executive committee of the
Switchmen's Union. At eleven O'Clock
No. ob1 b.,
still very large and constantly growing in
numbers despite The frequent rain showers.
Some of the imported switchmen were at
tackled by the strikers shortly after noon
and severely injured. 1t is stated that
number have refused to work owing to
fear of violence.
TRAIN GETS OUT.
At four O'Clock in the afternoon fifty
Pinkertnn police appeared at the Forty
third street yards, accompanied by thirty
switchmen. The strikers still remained in
the vicinity in force and when an attempt
was made to take an engine from the
rOundhOuse the crowd made an effort to
run bOX-car on the track. The police
charged them, however, knocking two men
down with their clubs and placed them
under arrest a third man was also arrested
who was active in tine efforts to cause the
blockade. The crowd then retired and the
train, abandoned in the forenoon, heavily
guarded, was successfully made up and run
north TO Thirty-eight street, where it passed
upon the main track guarded by fully 100
police. 1t again proceeded south and passed
out of the city.
CARS UNCOUPLED.
Last evening a train of thirteen fat cars
rushing along the Rock Island tracks, which
NJ Il to oh
by several hundred OF the mob. The officers
saw nothing insignificant about this proceed
ing, but it proved to be part of carefully
laid plan on the part of the strikers. At
FOrty-sixth streets flats were uncOupled and
thrown diagOnaIly across the track over
which the Lake Shore freight should
pass. At Fifty-fourth street seven box
cars were uucOupled and likewise
thrown over the tracks of the Lake
Shore. This was all done so quick
ly and quietly that the fact was not
discovered until some time later, and had
the train come along at moderately good
speed it would inevitably have been
wrecked. The Rock Island officials were
finally teIegraphed for and came on with a
wrecking engine and force of clerks, who
were put to Work clearing the tracks. The
regular wrecking crew or the Rock Island
refused to come up. But slow progress was
made, and at late hour the men were at
work. All traffic, passenger as we'll as
freight, in the meantime is blocked.
THREATENED EXTENSION.
A general meeting OF switchmen was
held last night for the purpose of consider |
ing the strike of the Lake Shore men. and |
the concerted measures taken by the officials |
Of the other roads in regard to forcing the /
handl ng Of Lake Shore cars. 1t is given /
nut that as Il result of the meeting the |
Swtchmen's Union will take up the cause of (
the strikers. and that switchmen throughout |
the city will refuse TO touch cars consigned |
to or from the Lake Shore road. As the /
railroad managers have pledged themselves /
to act as INIT, such course on the part Of |
the switchmen causes hegreatest apprehen-
SION.