Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-05
A BARRICADE OF BABIES.
5000 AM IONS PREVENT TIL g,
MOVING OF CARS.

Infants In Arms Put in the Van ofa LIv-
Ing Wall OF Obstruction on the Rails
at the Cumming Nail MIL Near Chi
caGO-An Efforts to Disperse Them
Fntile.
CHICAGO, June 4.--There was repora
this morning az Cummings that the Rock
Island road would move four cars loaded
with rails made by new men at the Cum
mings Nail Works. AS several of the
strikers had been enjoined from inter-
fering in any way with the working Of
the mills. the removal of these cars was
prevented in a peculiar wav. Ten O'clock
was the hOur when the engines were ex-
pected mp from South Chicago,
and before that hour women
aud children TO the number OF
200, the wives and families of former en-
DlOyes, assembled, with sticks in their
hands, around the terminus Of the all!
road tracks. and opposite to the entra nceI
sent down the track towards South Chi-
cago to apprse the party of the engines
approach.
sToRMING A RESIDENCE.
While these were keeping guard a con.
tingent was dispatched 10 the residences
OF Tom Bethel. a non-union man, who
was moving for safety. Mrs. Bethel was
alone experimenting the packing of the
household goods when she was startled
by the beating OF tin pans and wild boots
and yells. Several windows were
smashed by bOulders and she was be-
rated round by the women and children
until the police dispersed the party.
They returned to the depot, and at the
same time one OF the pickets came rum
ming breathleesly along the track waving
her shawl and shouting: $40 the cars.'F
This was the signaling approach Of the
engine.
RUSHING TO THE CARS.
Then there was rush to where the
loaded cars were standing. Mothers with
Infants in arms aud dragging youngsters
by the band hurried along. All ages we're
represented. Mothers grouped their little
ones along the track some distance ahead
OF the first freight car and packed them
according to age on the rails, with the
youngest toward the approaching engines,
the mothers and grOwn-up daughters taxi
ing their position in the rear. The engine
steamed up slowly, hut seeing the living
obstacles on the track reversed and re-
turned to South CHICAGO.
THE AMAzONs A HARD CROWD.
Then the AmazOns dispersed, and on
lnelr return JeGreu ana abused repfesen@
tatives OF the company at the gate, CALI
ing them the most OpprobriOus names,
/ the police by their presence only prevent
! ing the inf Fiction of violence by the infu-
rated women. At 2 O'Clock, when the en%
| gines appeared again, sully 1000 women
and children were tDTOnging the tracks,
and apparently as determined as before
10 hold them. Capt. Hunt, with sixty po@
icemen from Hyde Park, had reported in
the meantime and attempted TO clear the
tracks. but could do IL only with great
difficulty.
THE WOMEN VICTORIOUS.
The women feeling sure they would no6
be clubbed, refused 10 move, or moved
very slowly, when told 10 DO 80, ana
closed up again on the tracks unless alb
sOlutely held back by the officers. The
engines were unable 10 get by them withf
out killing them. The greatest excite
ment prevailed and all attempts made tOi
move the cars proved futile, na
NEW COMPLICATION.
During the evening the tracks were
finally cleared OF women and children.
Then new complication arose.
The trainmen refused to lift a hand
toward moving two cars loaded
with s0-called scab" rails. Tbe
Rock Islands officials at once discharged
the entire crew-Jbe engineer, fireman,
and all concerned, including the switeh-
men. There Is a possibility that tha
affair will lead 20 serious trouble be-
tween the railroads and various uniOns
Of which the offending traInmen are
members.