The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-17
THE STRIKE AT CHICAGO.
A Quiet Day at the Stockyards-Heavy Force
of Pinlxerton Men ON Guard.

A Quiet Day at the Stockyards-Heavy Force
of Pinkerton Men on Guard.
CHICAGO, Oct. 16.-''It is war now for sure"
ead stockman. an he stood on the Transit
House steps after his breakfast At this hour,
usually SO marked by the crowds of men on their
way to work, there was little sign Of life on the
street Where week ago thousands of men
trooped through the big gate leading to the
yards, scarcely dozen at time could now be
seen. Over in the Exchange Building usually
teeming with cattle buyers and sellers at this
early hour. eager and noisy as
so many Board of Trade spectators,
the great hall was almost deserted.
passenger train came in on the Michigan
Southern tracks. but instead of pulling up
the usual side-track at the depot, the engine
Kept on around 'the Horn" and took the three
coaches up to Forty-seventh street, and stopped
1t the alley which leads down to Armour & Co.'s
houses Nearly two hundred men alighted and
walked TO the Office, where they were given
jumpers and overalls, and set to work in the old
house. The precautions for guarding the prop
erty OF the packers have been greatly
increased. In the Town Hall are
score Of cots. on which the regular police
sleep. Telegraph wires lead to each of the
packing houses, and night and day operators are
on duty. the watchmen at the packing houses
report by signal to the telephone office every half
hour, and the patrol wagon crew is ready for
duty at a moments notice. Electric lights have
been hung throughout all the aley-ways and il
illuminate every nook and corner. turning the
darkest night into the brightest day. Last but
by no means least, in the protective measure is
the Pinkerton force. Their barracks in Wash
ington Butchers Sons packing-house presents
the appearance of military camp. All
through the day and night sentnels, armed with
Winchester rifles. pace up and down the alley
ways and tracks which surround it. The strik-
ers have extended the boycott until it is now
absolute impossibility for Pinkerton man to
purchase anything in the neighborhood.
The usual crowds of idle men re-
manned in the vicinity of the pack.
lighthouses to-day, and besought all
men who could be reached not to go to work.
Applicants for work went out on the regular
and special passenger trains and were landed at
the doors of the packing houses which were
guarded by armed patrols The strikers stopped
@ wagon containing clothing and bedding for the
Pinkerton men. just outside the city limits to-
day, and handled the driver roughly. throwing
the clothing in the street wagon loaded with
bread for the Pirkerton guards was stopped
outside the city limits and when the police ar
rived the wagon had disappeared.
Messrs Butler and Barry, the Knights OF La
Dor delegates had conference this afternoon
with Samuel Allerton. Sidney Kent and Michael
We
representing p d. Armour. The conference
was pleasant one. Mr.. Allerton said that the
packers had tried the eight-hour system long
enough to be thoroughly convinced that 1t was
a failure. and they were now resolved
to have ten hours or nothing. The
delegates were informed that all the
packing-houses would start up on Monday with
new men, and by Saturday it was expected a
full force would be at work. If the strikers did
not report for work on Monday they would not
be taken back, as the packers would continue to
keep the men who had stood by them in their
extremity.
Tonight the stockyards were cleared of out
siders, one being admitted unless known or
possessing credentials. The force of Plnkerton
guards has been increased, and all parts of the
yards carefully guarded.
The Switchmen's Strike at Minneapolis.
MINNEAPoLIs, Oct. 16.-The switchmens strike
stands in statu quo. Superintendent Egan of the
strikers this afternoon uncoupled the and killed
the engines of tran-load of wheat that the company
trying move; Also that the police refuse in
1--WE have not had any trouble in moving trains in
st. Paul and don't expect any. Mayor Rice has or
dered his force to protect and property, and
they doing it,
In st. Paul trains are being moved and the places
of strikers being filled by conductors and brake
men, trains left by conductors being taken of by
baggagemen. Prominent men among the Minneapolis
strikers express willingness to adopt the suggestion
of the obbers association and submit the question to
arbitration.
THE FIRE PEc0pD