Helena weekly herald., 1888-04-05
GENERAL TIE UP.
All Employees of the C. N. & st. r.
Quit Work.

meeting of the strikers last night proves
true. The engineers, fremen, switchmen
and brakemen and q number Of conductors
of that railway have quit work. The
strike includes employees on all divisions
centering in Chicago, both freight and pas
senger. The last passenger train manned
by Brotherhood crew left the Union de-
pot at II o'clock last night At the meet
ing held last night, which 700 st. Paul
employees attended, motion was made to
tie up the road, and carried, without dis
senting vote. The strike was not declared
by any organization of the Brotherhood, at
least not formally. The men say that it was
entirely an individual action on their part.
The Chicago Burlington & Quincy rail-
road is determined to call to-day on the
Fort Wayne, Lake Shore, Rock Island,
Illinois Central, and perhaps the Alton, for
assistance in raising the freight blockade
in its yards. This, it claims, it has the
right to do under the inter state commerce
law, and the roads called upon are liable
to damages under the act if they refuse.
The Fort Wayne and Lake Shore officials
have announced that they will haul Bur
lington cars if called on to do so. The
Rock Island has already refused to take
sides with the Burlington. What the
others will do when called on is a matter
of conjecture, but it is understood they will
unite for mutual protection, and make
FIGHT TO BREAK DOWN
the influence of the Brotherhood and
Switchmen's Union. The moment the en-
gineers, switchmen and firemen on other
roads are asked to assist in moving 90"
freight, they will strike. Thus the chances
are favorable for general railroad tie-up
on lines converging in Chicago. The
Brotherhood, switchmen and brakemen on
all the roads are now working harmonious
ly, and they appear as determined to win
as the railroad companies. This is practi
cally the situation to-day Chairman
Hoge, of the grievance committee of the
Burlington road, virtually admitted this
morning that the engineers, switchmen
and fremen of three, and perhaps four,
other roads would 60 out some time to-
day, thus precipitating one of the greatest
strikes ever known in Chicago. The roads
marked for a strike are the Alton, Fort
Wayne, Panhandle, Rock Island and
Santa Fe.
CHICAGO, April 2-The Rock Island
managers declined once more to risk tie
up of their road by attempting to receive
freight from their competitor, the Burling-
ton. 1t was in vain that the officials and
lawyers of the latter road telegraphed and
dispatched messengers to the Rock Island
road officials this morning. A reply was
finally returned that the Rock Island re-
fused to take any cars from the Burling-
ton.
This afternoon, speaking for the Rock
leland niyioiop Sunoriptopdont Cha m her.
lain said /: ave have not only returned
verbal answer to the Burlington to the
effect that we would not touch their cars
but we have issued general order to our
employees not to handle them"
An effort toward compromise of the
strike on the c. B. & @. was made this
and firemen. A card embodying concise
statement of the situation from the mems
standpoint but giving no new facts, was
issued by them.
This afternoon an attempt was made to
get train of twenty cars from the Alton
& Q. road to the Chicago & Alton. AS the
train passed by the depot, at Sixteenth
street, the engineers of the other roads re-
fused to allow the train to 60 by. They
stopped its progress by crossing and re-
crossing the tracks which intersect the
road at this point. These tactics were
kept up for two hours, and the 90" train
was finally taken back into the Western
avenue yards.
CHICAGO, April 3.-The Burlington Off
cial announced this afternoon that the de-
livery of cars to large number of roads
would be attempted tomorrow, and the
final struggle in the great strike will prob
ably then take place. No attempt was
made by the company to do business to-
day, as the police were needed at the polls
throughout the city, where the municipal
election was in progress.
An inkling of how the Burlington's
general advance may be met tomorrow in
some quarters lies in the fact that in order
to reach the Grove street yards, where
connection is made with at least six other
roads, the 80" has to pass over the section
of Alton tracks where they were so vigor-
ously obstructed yesterday. The switches
on the Rhode Island yards are locked, so
that no 20" cars can be run in.
The officials of the st. Paul road to-day
discovered that the switches connecting
the Northwestern tracks at Western ave-
nue. were spiked. The st. Paul people say
that the Northwestern probably think this
the safest way in which to avoid trouble,
as the spiking of the switches precludes
the possibility of any freight being tender
ed the Northwestern and ST. Paul. They
hold that the spiking was done at the in
stigation of the Northwestern officials.
The unconditional surrender of the Mich
igan Central strikers to-day was due to the
influence exerted by delegation of Broth
erhood men from jackson, who arrived
this forenoon. The Brotherhood engineers
were greatly adverse to the strike, and posi-
lively refuse to back it up. The business
of the Michigan Central is proceeding now
as usual.
The Burlington road this afternoon ap-
piled to Judge Gresham for an Injunction
against the Belt line, to restrain the latter
from refusing to handle %" freight. This
is the original suit reinstated, and seems to
indicate that the Belt line is being badly
pushed by its employees, and has agreed to
the reviving of the original bill. Judge
Gresham granted temporary writ.
CHICAGO, April 3.-Two thousand dele
gates, representing the engineers, fremen
and switchmen of all roads leading to
Chicago, held meeting this afternoon.
General Manager Jefreys, of the Illinois
Central, made a speech, and at its conclu-
sion it was resolved that the men on each
road be allowed to use their own judg-
ment in all questions growing out of the
strike. This is considered to be virtual
endorsement of the Michigan Central men
to-day. The Fort Wayne strikers to-day
asked the general superintendent whether,
if they returned to work in the morning,
they would be taken back. He replied in
the affirmative, provided they would ham
die all business without discrimination.