Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-08

These quarters are the regular meeting place
Of the brotherhood of Union Pacific firemen,
and last night was one of their nights for the
transaction Of business.
Under the existing circumstances connected
with the strike Of the Burlington men, they
however, varied their rights and admitted
the engineers and firemen of the latter road
so that free discussion could be indulged in.
Several representative engineers and hremen
from the Burlington were present, and the
meeting was considered union one of
engineers and fremen under the pledge that
1t was q 'love feast" all around.
The circular letter of Assistant Vice Presi-
dent Kimball, OF the Union Pacific railroad.
was read and was laid to one side 1t excited
but little discussion, and was treated with
very little concern.
The main topic of discussion was the pres
ent status os the strike; and to a man it was
resolved TO stand firm by the strikers, aud
the principals Of the brotherhood. sEsS9$E%Rs: s!sS9ER:
After the meeting dissolved the firAmcn
business pertaining TO their order. If the
the kimball letter was considered, IL is only
known to themselves, as members seen re-
fused to answer questions.
The grievance committee chairman sent to
Chicago to confer with Chiefs Arthur and
Sargent had not returned up to
last night, and stories set afloat
that meeting was called to hear from them
were unauthorized. They are not expected
back for some DAYS, so a BEE reporter learned
from gentleman in authority.
Previous to the meeting BEE reporter
spoke with Union Pacific engineers. They
had not seen the Kimball letter, and being
told its import, one replied:
"Well, the road can't compel us to stay on
our engines If we feel inclined not to pull
Burlington cars we can walk out, and that's
what we'll do. The brotherhood is loyal and
don't let it be forgotten"
A FREIGHT TO THE WEST.
The only new feature in the Burlington
strike yesterday was that freight train was
sent to the west last night, the first one since
the strike. II was a long one, and from the
fact that IL was capably manned gave cred
ence to rumor that an old engineer had re-
effectively denied. At the passenger depot,
the old remark, nothing new," was heard
Train 3 to the west, the Kansas City train
and the eastern trains were run out last
night nearly on time.
The Situation in Chicago.
' CHICAGO, March 7.-Chiefs Arthur and
Sargent were seen at noon and told of the
strike on the Burlington & Northern and
rumor of one coming on the Milwaukee & St.
Paul. Both professed to know nothing what
ever of the matter. 81 have not had the
slightest intimation of such thing" said
Arthur. "If the men on these roads are
striking, they are acting on their own re-
spOnsibility."
Chief Arthur stated unreservedly to the
Associated Press representative about noon
to-day that to use Arthur's exact words,
there was "serious danger'' that the strike of
engineer and fremen would now spread
widely "It is impossible to appease our men,"
he said, "when they know the railroad COM
panies all over the country re'givihg aid to
the Burlington. We are continually in re-
ceipt of kilograms showing that the compan-
les are rendering this assistance and it is not
in my power or the power of any other man
to use restraint unless such things are
stopped" Arthur showed the following as a
sample Of the communications with which he
is deluded:
AURORA, Ill, March 7.-P. M. Arthur,
eer, says he was in the employ of the New
York Central and was forced to come here
and run or consider himself discharged In
vestigate. r. A. BAURIEsoN.
Another communication was picked up from
pile by Arthur and handed over with
request that the identity of the sender
should not be disclosed. The message was
from jackson, Mich, and said in part "On
Saturday, March 3, the following was sent
to ali agents of the Michigan Central road:
All engineers wishing to go to Chicago to
work for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy,
send free.'" This message was sent under
the character, "No 49," which is used by no
one but the general superintendent or acting
6"Now," said Chief Arthur, "when you
know that men have information like that
and more is coming constantly, you can un-
derstand the danger that this strike will
spread 1t is not to be expected that they
will submit to such proceedings but will put
a stop to them effectually."
Alarming reports that another general
meeting of delegations of engineers and fire
men Of majority of the railroads centering
in Chicago was to have been held here
h; nft a,,l %h,A
to the PRONUNCIATION OF an order
for general strike were in circulation until
late this afternoon. The reports went into
details and gave the place of meeting as
McCoy's hotel. The rumors proved wholly
unfounded. The only basis for the reports
was the fact that the grievance committee of
each lodge Of engineers and firemen on the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad convened
at McCoys hotel. Instead of 100 or more
delegates, there is not to exceed thirty, and
all were employees of the Chicago & North
western road
Strike on the Gulf Inevitable.
KANSAS CITY, March 7.-Indications to-
night are that strike on the Kansas City
Fort Scott & Gulf system is inevitable. The
Burlington road notified all roads entering
here of its readiness to resume all business
as usual and followed the announcement by
pushing twenty-five freight cars, from the
f1dnnlDal DIVISION lnuO Ine SulI yaruS. Inc
Gulf road has announced its willingness to
handle the freight, and unless it reconsiders
it's determination the men will surely go out
About five hundred men are employed on the
system as engineers and firemen. Assistant
General Superintendent Fish, of the Bur
linGton, declares he has received
assurances from nearly all roads
shat they will accept Burlington freight Ii
the face of these facts, the men declare as
soon as any of the roads attempt to hau
Burlington freight the engineers will strike
1t is accordingly thought a crisis has beer
reached and that tomorrow will bring forth
startling developments. 1t is the genera
talk among the men here that the Atchison
Topeka & Santa F'e, the Missouri Pacific, anC
possibly the Union Pacific, will be drawn
into the strike in a few days.
Still Firm at Lincoln.
LINCOLN, Neb., March 7.-[Special Tele
gram to the BEE. THE day has been event
full in railroad matters regarding the strike
The fact that the Union Pacific would not
take freight from the Burlington in car lots
has been known for some time and traffic on
the Burlington remains entirely local A
number Of the new Reading men have de
parted homeward. BY far the larger number
of new men who have been employed here
are not Reading men but strays from al
| points, except those who are promoted brake
mon an1 ann1urtOrs Tho hrothor