The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-26
THE LAKE SHORE BLOCKADE.
The Strikers Have Things Their Own
| Way During the Hours Before Noon,
But Later in the Day the Company, with the
4 Aid of Strong Police Force, Breaks the
Blockade and Moves Train.
THE LAKE SHORE STRIKE.

Train-Tracizs Block AIDED by Strikers.
CHICAGO. June 25.-At the Root-street cross
inc of the Lake Shore railroad, this morning.
the police on duty numbered thirty, which in
Guided every available officer on the town of
Lake force. There was no change in the stu
alton up to o'clock and no intimation of any
attempt to move trains had been received UP to
. that hour. There was, however, prevailing
Impression, in spite of the peaceful demonstra
tions Of the strikers. that trouble would occur
to-day A carload OF switchmen reached Chi.
eago at about midnight from Toledo, and it was
thought that they would be put to work. AT
about o'clock the imported switchmen were
taken out to Forty third street, in charge of
Superintendent Amsden. They remained in the
car, and had not. up to $50 o'clock, been expos
tuiated with by the strikers. The imported men
number about twenty five, ard include many of
those brought to Chicago during the last strike.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the officials, with the
assistance OF the police. succeeded in attaching
an engine and caboose to waiting freight train.
Beyond the expostulations of the crowd no
trouble was experienced until after the caboose
s was attached to the train. The latter consisted
Of ten cars destined for South Bend. The crowd
more threatening The police and the railroads
employees were cursed and threatened with yio-
lence. In til e meantime the small force was di-
vided between two trains, and in guarding the
switches to prevent the latter being turned so as
to make impossible the free movement of the
train. Finally, responding to the cries of sew
eral leaders, the crowd rushed for the police
and turned the switches in spite of the latter.
The police had their clubs drawn and used them
in few instances but the officers were either so
thoroughly astonished or overawed by the crowd
that they could make 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 derailed. 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the coupling pins were Withdrawn and thrown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.
Ona of the men arrested is a member of the
executive committee of the swtchmen's union.
At IL o'clock tho crowd about the switching
yards was still very large and constantly grow
ing in numbers, despite frequent rain showers.
The temper OF the crowd is still very ugly 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 a
brakeman standing on platform. 1t caused no
damage, however. No other demonstration of
any kind was made against the passenger train
operatives or the passengers.
The situation at Forty-third street remained
unchanged tip to 1 o'clock. 1t is stated that the
company will make another attempt to move a
tram this afternoon. A conference of general
managers was held to-day. All the roads enter
ing Chicago were represented. The conference
was very brief. The other 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. Some
of the imported switchmen were attacked by the
strikers shortly after noon, and several injured.
It is stated that a number have refused to work,
owing to fear of violence The crowd at For
ty-third street at o'clock numbered $1,000
At o'clock this afternoon fifty OF Pinkerton's
police appeared at the Forty third-strest yards,
accompanied by thirty switchmen. The strik-
ers still remained in the vicinity in force, and
when an attempt was made to take an engine
from the round house the crowd made an effort
charged Them however, knocking two men down
with their clubs, who were placed under arrest. A
third man was also arrested, who was active in
the efforts to cause blockade The crowd then
retired, and the train abandoned in the forenoon,
heavily guarded, was successfully made up and
run north to ThirtY-eighth street, where it
passed upon the main track guarded by fully
one hundred police. 1t again proceeded south,
and passed out of the CITY,
This evening train Of thirteen flat-c rush
ing along the Rock Island tracks, which are
pasallel to the Lake Shore tracks, was boarded
by several hundred Of the mob. The officers
saw nothing significant about this proceeding,
but it proved to be part of carefully laid plan on
the part of the strikers. AT Forty-sixth street,
five fats we're uncoupled and thrown diagonally
across the track over which Lake Shore freight
should pass. At Fifty-fourth street seyen box
cars uncoupled and likewise thrown over
on the tracks of the Lake Shore. This was all
done so quickly and quietly that the fact was
not discovered until some time later, and had a
train come along at moderately good speed
it would inevitably have been wrecked. The
Rock Island officials were finally telegraphed
for and came wrecking engine with force
Of clerks who were put to work clearing the
tracks. The regular wrecking crew of the Rock
Island refused to come out. But slow progress
was made, and at late hour the men were still
at work. all traffic, passenger as we'll as freight
meanwhile being blocked.
----<z1---
An Extension of the Strike.
CHICAGO, June "a general meeting of the
switchmen was held to-aight for the purpose of