Hillsboro recorder., 1888-01-05
A GREAT STRIKE.
COAL OPERATORS AND THEIR
L Il EMPLOYEssAT WAR AGAIN.
After Settling mp their Differences with
their Employers, the Men Ordered Ont
Agnin-5OO "Pinkertonn Men ON Duty

1
After Settling mp their Differences with
their Employers, the Men Ordered Ont
y Agnin-50O "Pinlertonn Men on Duty
The coal strikers who resumed work
reported for duty as usual at Post Richt
mond: A few were late, but majority |
were on time and went to work appar.
emily with 4 will. Freight along the
whatyes was handed as usual, and in the
round house all was hustle and activity.
Z Some OF the men, however, were not 80 I
cheerful and discomfort was plainly writ.
ten upon their faces. The discharge Of |
the four men who had been prominent in |
the proceedings OF the executive board OF |
the Reading assembly, Bernard J. Shark
ey, Ambrose Hide, Thos. b. Bennett and
John B. Kelly--was the cause of this
dissatisfaction. The sudden change Of
front on the part Of the railroad officials
was a great surprise to the leaders and
the rank and file of the strikers and caus.
ed considerable indignation. The strik.
ers thought the company would only in.
sist upon the discharge Of disobedient
employees, and that the men who were SO
summarily dismissed would not be dis
turbed. The determined attitude of the
rallfoad company annoyed the men and
made them very stubborn, and they
threatened to renew hostilities.
Most Of the men were at work along the
wharves, but there were not few idlers.
They gathered at various meeting places
and exeitedly discussed the situation.
Some OF them roundly denounced the
Reading officials for what they termed
the persecution" of their leaders.
Reading railroad Knights Of Labor at
Shamukin declare, that they will not re-
turn to work until their discharged asso-
ciates at that place are reinstated. Three
train crews OF non-nnion men are at work,
but there are 35 locomotives there with.
0ut crews. The coal miners in that local
ity are all idle owing to a lack of trans
| poriation facilities. Railroad strikers,
however, declare that the miners will 90
on strike as soon as requested to do so.
Good order prevails amoug the strikers.
Chairman Lee, Of the executive com.
mittee of the knights I Labor. revoked
tho order TO go to work, and once more
called out Philadelphia and Reading men,
| The TACT that about thirty members oil
The Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers
obtained engines held by tho Knights
has made the feeling between these par.
ties very bitter, and probably 800 new
hands have been employed in the place Of
old ones and sent to points where they
were needed.
At noon the whistles of one of the
engines was blown FIVE times, as a sigma
to stop work. The crews Of seven OF the
engines needed the signal and put out the
does. The superintendent Of the com
pany states that the other seven crews
r mained loyal to the company.
Over 700 coal handlers left the yar,i
aud leaders said thay obeyed an order tc
strike and the superintendent said thet
had gone home on account OF the rain
and intended 10 come back again.
Superintendent Keim denies that there
Il q strike, and while there was no tron
ble Of any kind during the day, tht
company sent for additional police anG
obtained the services Of 80 uniformed
men. II has, in addition to these, SOC
pinkerton detectives ana private police
men scattered around the coal piers and
vicinity. The reason for this action wns
fear that some damage to propert,
might he attempted. The men assert
there is,no excuse for sending policemen
10 the scene, and they say that they In
IA anxious as the company, thatno prop
erty shall be damaged.
The following notice was posted a
4 Willow street wharf in Philadelphia
"A reward Of $1,000 will be paid an,
person OF persons who will furnish evi
lencc which will lead to the arrest aut
conviction Of any person orpersons guilt,
If violence TO company employees or Ii
property. J. A. Swicgard, General su
pcrintendent." In the afternoon, ncarll
300 cot. and freight engineers, brakemci
and iiremen were called 10 Reading. pait
off and discharged for the part they tool
In the strike.
Notwithstanding the fact that knight
of Labor leaders at pottsyille declare tha
tberc Is gene aI strike ali along the lin
II the Reading railroad, there il no pr
cppible interruption OF operations. 'rh'
usual complement Of coal trains If
mostly OF nen.union crews and Brother
haU,l engineers, n number Of whom ha
lost their places on the Reading roal
. through the Brotherhood lockout OF is7i
Their places were then taken by Knight
nf labor, and they now glcefulIy rcta
/ httc. Knights Of Labor leaders appea
/ liscomited and disheartoned at the sil
uatiOn and outlook. Around Port RiCi
, nond quiet prevails everywhere. .
: largely attended meeting Of local A.
D sombly No. 8,s35, which Il the largeI
O one on the Reading lines, was held d
| Mutual hall, until nearly midnight. Thi
4 assembly IL composed n Coal.handier'
/ stevedofes, and, in fact. all of the, cn
d pIoycs around Port Richmond, and has
4 membership Of nearly 5000. All
z those present were very enthusiastic, an
i we're loud In the declaration that m