The Portland daily press., 1888-03-28
voLLEYs OF cossLE STONES.
First Signs of Riot Among the strik-
ers at Chicago.
Switchnen from Reading Working
In the Strikers Positions.
The Men Say They Quit to Avoid
Being Killed.

CHICAGO, March pa PinkertOn man
was knocked down at the Chicago stock
yards and several scabs injured last even
ing. He was hit by coupling pin thrown
by some unknown person. The missile
struck him on the left side, shattered two
ribs and necessitated the removal of the in
jured man to the hospital
1t was the first lawless act committed, and
it is chargeable to crowd Of hoodlums. The
strikers say that they hadn't anything to do
with the matter.
At about o'clock, a stock train hove in
sight at the ''Y," point eight miles distant
from the centre of the city. The crew that
manned the train was Of the scab order, and
when the train appeared at:the..Alton cross
ing it brought forth derisive yells from sew
eral hundred thousand throats. The train
men remained in the caboose till the cross
ing was passed, when they emerged and
took their stations. The oaths, yells and
cat-calls grew more numerous. The mon0t-
Ony was changed by boulderS and Jumps OF
coal being thrown by the incensed crowd at
the new employees. The latter had great
trouble in lodging the misscls. Many failed
to do so and were seriously cut.
To add to tine terror that pervaded the
ranks Of the trainmen, the train was cut In
forward, and on Stacking the rear car collid-
ed,causing much damage and Gripping many
cattle.
The train by this time had reached forty
first street, three blocks from the stock yards
The crowd, or rather the mob increased in
numbers and a regular fusilade began. When
q scab appeared on the roof OF the train, he
was at once made target for the sharp
shooters among the strikers. To climb down
the ladder on the side Of the car was out OF
tho 0nacti0n tn hmm meant at least
broken limb or death. so the trainmen re-
manned, but not long. Finally the disturb
aDce was quelled by the arrival OF the police.
Today there has been little change beyond
the arrival Of number of Switchmen from
the East to take the place of the strikers.
Twenty new arrivals were put to work this
afternoon in the yards at Western avenue.
They said they were from Reading, Penn
sylvania, and were a portion OF eighty. more
that arrived last night. and were distributed
between Chicago and Aurora today. The
company had six switch engines at work to-
day and the yard master said there were 40
swtchmen at work in the yards. The COM
pany is endeavoring TO haul such freight as
requires immediate attention, and Is still re-
ceiving freights for all points In Illinois not
reached by other roads, The lumber district
is in bad condition, as this lis the busy sea-
son of the year, and the lumbermen will lose
a large amount of trade. A meeting of the
lumbermen this afternoon discussed the situ-
alton but failed to formulate plan for rails
ing the embargo ON their business.
No trouble has come from the strikers to-
day. The railroad officials are taking every
precaution to protect the new men.
The 20" switchmen have made a public
statement as to the cause of the strike. They
say the reason was the Incompetence OF the
new engineers. They told Trainmaster Bes-
Ter ON the 23d that they could not work With
the new men, enumerating hundred instan-
ces where their lives had been endangered by
the present force of switch engineers who
don't know the most simple signals. They
lives more than necessity required. 1t was
matter of life or death with them. They
quit Observation-Disclosures an organized strike.