New-York tribune., 1886-03-25
RIOTOUS ACTS IN ST. LOUIS.
A TRAIN GOES IN SPITE OF THE STRIKERS.
POLICE OBLIGED TO DRAW THEIR REVoLVERs-
oRDERIN4 OUT THE MILITIA.
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

ORDERING OUT THE MILITIA.
tDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSsl
ST. LOUIS, March 24.-The strike eliminated
in this city to-day in series Of riots in which the weak
OF the authorities apparent that the Gov
errnOr this evening ordered battalion Of militia under
arms. The Missouri Pacific yards three miles long
and half mile wide and at 10 O'Clock this morning
10 900 men we're the yards Nearly twothrds OF the
number congregsted in that portion known as the
Seventeenth Street yards from which the freight tran
to started. Opposed to this crowd
was a police force Of 500 and about
200 officers and detectives OF the company. About
10 o'clock switch engine loaded with police appeared
and began make up train which It the intention
OF the company to send out The crowd surrounded the
engine and requested the engineer and remen to get OIL
The request obeyed and then some OF the more
daring attempted to kill the engineer. The police, un-
der the commond Of the chief charged the men sur
rounding the locomotive and forced them back from the
tracks Several hand hand struggles occurred and In
the midst OF this trouble shower OF stones came down
the police from Tayon Avenue Bridge which over
looked OF the officers drew their re-
yolyes and evelled them crowd but Chief Harri
gan cried out:
Don't shoot II is bettor to stand few bruises
than to kill people"
Putting up their revolyers, they again charged on the
mob forced it from the tracks Five men were
While this going on some one had dis-
abled the switch engine that of no further use
~
teen made up Tho mob took possession OF the
Wabash yards adjoining but offered no resistance. In
the night the frogs and switches we're Displaced ana inc
attempt pull the train to the spot where the
regular engine to be attached resulted IN throw
ing two cars off the track. delay of an
hour was caused which tie mob howled and eered at
the police. when the train again ready four police
placed each four on the cab two on the
tender and two in the pilot OF tho engine. In round
numbers eighty guarded the train. It started and
while going at lively rate a man jumped Oh. Swinging
between the cars right under the the police he
attempted to pull pin. The officers drew reVovers and
pointed at the fellow and he quit the train. The mob
followed the to the shops and stopped An instant
later a freight engine under the escort OF hafd0zon
police down the yard and was stopped by
the mob The engineer was ordered OIL ana the
steam was let out OF the boiler. Tho
officers were told that the engine going to explode
aud they abandoned their posts terror The strikers
laughed at the success OF their and "kled" the
engine on the main track.
This excited them and the cry, "On the shops
repeated from mouth to mouth aud 5000 men made a
rush for the stronghold. In tue shops were about
twenty five locomotives and dozen mon at work. They
were guarded by policemen and five detectives.
The mob wanted the men, more particularly the man
Haller who killed Pralle. "Kill the scabs! hang EN-
they cried : they rushed past tho police.
"Dont you boys" shouted gray haired striker,
:" YOU II ruin Leave the shops alone"
The mob had by this time reached the doors. Tho de-
tectlvcs aud working inside had drawn their re-
volvers and waited ready to sell life dearly.
"Come back. boys" cried the elder leaders. Then
counsel prevailed and the shops were not moested
telephone message sent TO police headquarters that
the mob had sacked the shops aud fifteen minutes later
detail OF 100 policemen arrived and drove the crowd
from the railroad property.
The police who went tho freight train loft 1t at
Laeede, twenty miles west. Twenty of tho conpanys
detectives Shers posse then took charge OF the
train and 1T Pacific. No., 200 strikers made demon IL
straton threw the switches and blocked tho track but
the officers drew their and after delay again
started and by night all reached Chamois. where the
train placed on n side-track.
greatest excitement now prevails in the city over
the eveopmcnts OF the day The meeting called by the
Knights Labor at the Mercantile Library Hall FOR to-
night in which they requested the citizens to confer
with them, mas been postponed by the knights In
series OF resolutions one OF which states;
Resolred That the riots of this morning the direct
result OF long deferred justice and persistent nOnrecJg
rnn ~ our manhood and rights; that we condemn in
unuea,urcd terms the American and ung ntlemanly
attitude OF the railroad officials who refuse TO treat
win s on basis of eGti lty aud seek to get the
we represent beyond CONTROL that, in of their
In provoking riots ana thus running all hopes OF
our tonight, hereby recall the meeting and
await events.
It's rumored tonight that the Wabash knights Will be
called out and that the East st. Louis switchmen will
follow.
mlttee Of the Merchants Exchange in joint meeting
to-day adopted resolutions demanding that the strike
Upon the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Gould South
west system of railroads shall cease and as means to
this end that the strkers upon these roads shall either
nrn TO their positions discontinue hinderng
those who are willing work The resolutions also In
woke the civil aud military powers OF tho city, counties
and States, and II necessary, OF the United states 10
enforce law which shall put an end TO the strike
disDatch 10 The Post DtspGfch from AtchisOn, KAN,
says: Tho Missouri Pacific officials made two at
tempts send out freight trains over ther
roads but failed. The first train succeeded without en-
counterng interference in running to point about
one mile from the Union Depot where q number OF
strikers the brakes. The engine was killed and
brought back to the Cliy by switch engine
second attempt then made this time under the
lection of the city marshal the sheriff and number OF
pocamen The succeeded I'm getting as far as the
took control OF 1t and brought It back to the yards.
There wa. considerable excitement here but no serious
disturbances All the Missouri Pacific engines here, eX-
cept two are now disabled"
day the yardmen in the Hannibal ana ST. Joe ana the
Kansas CITY Joe and Council Bluffs yards quit work
and freight ira 'tic Is entirely suspended -
There are six roads running into 81 Josepn-Iho
Hannibal and st. Joseph, the Council Buns, Missouri
Pa ,inc Rock Island the Grand Island, Nebraska and
St Joseph, and Des Mones Narrow Gauge. While IL ls
these lines involved report says that the strike
is general. Yardmasters switching some cars OF
perhabe freight that they may te unoaded, other
wise no freight Is moving. It ,- c,. r..
Scott and Gulf road whose Office In Kansas CITY
conference railroad officials was held this afternoon
at o'clock, gave out TO the public that compronlse
mad boen effected with the swtchnen and that the men
will 20 to work at once
NO TROUBLE FEARED IN CHICAGO.
Chicago, March 24.-An order was issued by