The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-05
A TOUGH TUSSLE
On THE ROCK ISLAND ROAD
At South ChioaEo-Ths Attempt to Move
Cars Loaded with Nails Resisted BY the
women, Wives OF the Strikers, who
Place Themselves on the Track,

CHICAGO, June 4.-oaptain Hunt, of thr
Hyde Park police force, started for Cum
mings this morning, taking With him al
the available men OF his force. Thil
movement was made because OF anticipated
trouble between the Rock Island Railroad
and the striking nailmakers OF the Calu
met Iron and Steel Company, Two ireigh
cars containing nails have been standing
at Cummings for swesk, They were CON
aignsd to the Rock Island Road. Ysstsr,
day the road made an attempt to move
the cars, which was frustrated by the
strikers, who induced the train men to
abandon the attempt,
There was a report this morning at
Cummings that the Rock Island road
would move four cars Of nails by men at
the Cummings works. As several OF the
strikers has been enjoined from inter-
terring in any way with the working OF
the millsths removal Of these cars was pre-
vented In peculiar way. Ten o'clock was
the hour when the engines were expected
up from South Chicago, and before that
hour women and children to the number
ot two hundred, the wives and families OF
former employees, assembled with sticks
in their hands around the terminus OF the
tracks and opposite to the entrance Of the
nail works. Female spies were sent down
the track towards South Chicago to ap.
prise the party Of the engines approach.
While these were keeping guard con-
tingent was dispatched to the residence oil
Tom Bethel, non-union man who was
moving TO Colehour for safety. Mrs,
Bethel was alone experimenting the pack
ing Of the household goods when she was
startled by the beating Of tin cans and wild
boots. Several windows Were smashed
and she was beratsd roundly by tue
women and children. The police dis.
persed the party.
HUMAN OBSTACLES IN THE WAY.
They returned to the depot and at the
same time one Of the piCkets came run.
ming breathless along the track waving
her shawl and shouting ITO the cars"
This was signaling the approach Of the
engine. Then there was rush to where
the loaded cars were standing. Mothers
with young infants in their arms aud
dragging young sisters by the hand huE.
ried along. All ages were reresenGed.
The mothers grouped their little ones
along the track some distance
ahead OF the first freight car
and packed them across and along
the rails, the youngest toward the
approaching engine, the mothers and
grown up daughters taking position in
the rear. The engine steamed up slowly
4 short distance, but seeing the living
obstacles on the track reversed and 70.
turned TO South Chicago. Then the
AmRzons ieered and abused the repre-.
seAtatives Ot the company at the gate, call.
ing them the most opprobrious names and
the inhiCtion Of violence by the iniuriRted
men was only prevented by the presence
Of the police.
TAKE ADVANTAGE or THEIR sEI.
At2 o'clock, when. the engines appeared
again, fully two thousand women and chill.
dren were thronging the tracks aud ap.
parently as determined as before to hold
them. Captain Hunt with sixty police.
men from Hyde park, had reported in the
meantime and attempted 10 clear the tracks,
but did 1t with difficulty. The women
feeling sure they would not be dubbed,
refused to move or moved very slowly
when told to do 80, and closed up again
on the tracks unless absolutely held back
by the officers. Late this afternoon they
were still thronging about the cars and the
engines were unable to 90 by them with.
out killing them. The greatest excite.
nent exists there, and all attempts to
move the cars proved futile.
AMALGAMAIrD DA,sOCIATIoN.