The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-14
SEEING TRAINS.
Chicago Police Temporarily Over
awed by Strikers.

awed by Strikers.
The strike of the Lake Shore Railroad
switchmen at Chicago resulted in serious
disturbance on the 25th. Shortly before ten
o'clock the officials with the assistance Of the
police attached an engine and caboose to q
waiting freight train. Beyond the e1postula-
tions of the crowd no trouble was ex-
perienced until after the caboose was at
tached to the train. The latter consisted Of
ten tars destined for South Bend. The crowd
grew in proportions and more threatening.
The police and the railroad employees were
cursed and threatened with violence. In the
meantime the small fore was divided be-
tween the train and in guarding the switches,
to prevent the latter Icing turned so as to
make impossible the fres movement Of the
train.
With O shout, responding to the cries of
several leaders, the crowd rushed for the
police and turned thu switches in spite Of the
latter. The police had their clubs drawn
and used them in few instances, but they
were either so thoroughly astouished or over
awed by the crowd that they could make no
successful resistance. A portion of the
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withdrawn and cen thrown away.
During the melee the police sue
ceeded in making two arrests. The ex-
citenent in the vicinity was very great:
the Executive Committee of the Switchmen's S
Union. 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 how.
ever. No other demonstration of any kind
was made against the passenger train opera
tiveS or the passengers.
A NE ,ting of the general managers and
superintendents Of the railroads entering
Chicago was held during the day to discuss
the strike and the course to be pursued by
conrectin roads The meeting ad .ourned
after agreeing to stand by the Lake Shore,
and discharge any man whorefuse to handle
Lake Shore business.
! Som, Of The imported swift hmen were at.
tackled by the strikers shortly after noon, and
several were injured. A number refused to
work. owing to n fear of violence.
At I o'clock fifty Piukerton detectives ap-
peared ut the Fort y-third street yards OF the
Lake Shore road accoml aIicd by thirty
switchmen. The strikers still remained i'll the
vicinity, and when AL attempt was maze
to take an engine from TIE roanu
honse, the crowd made al effort to
rim box car on the track.
The police charged them, however,
knocking two men down with their clubs.
These men were placed under arrest. The
crowd then retired q short distan e, ard q
train was successfully made up unle' heavy
guard and run north to Thirty eighth street
where it rassed upon tho main track:
Guarded by fully one hundred police, it
again proceeded south and passed out of the
city.
In the evening train of thirteen flat cars
on the Rock Island track, which are parallel
to those of the Lake Shore, was boarded by
several hu .drcd of the strikers and theii
friends At Fcrty- sixth street five
of the flats were uncoapled anCt
thrown d:asonally a'ross the t,aci
over whi:h the Lake Shore freight cars pas.
At Fifty-fourth street seven box cars were
uncoupled, and likewise thrown over the
tracks of the Lake Shore A force OF men
were soon put to work clearing the tra ks,
but for many hours traffic was blocked.
The next day several collisions occlrrec
between the police and strikers, and a mum
ber Of arrests were made. On the 18th thu
company pl 'ure thu services of 1W specia
policemen, armed with rife, and with thei1
assistance succeeded i'll sending out eigh
loaded freight trains and bringing i'll thre;
trains from the East