Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-04-14
s1sE STRIKE SITUATION



10 o'clock had but begun to get their
engines started when a message came
to the Western avenue round house that
the men should wait until Assistant
General superintendent Earling had
seen them before resuming work. Earl
ing stated the case briefly to the men as
he understood it, and then said:
I'VE have submitted to many acts
that we have considered unjustihable
on your part This afternoon the men
in our employ deliberately derailed and
wrecked a number of cars that are our
property. We will consent to overlook
this. and you can go to work, but the
first thing that is done will be to replace
these cars upon the track"
THIS the men positively refused TO do,
as the cars were pulled by 80" en-
glne. The strikers hung around for a
while and one by one went home and
the strike was on. The men who struck
last night embraced twenty-four switch
ing crews, total of 100 men. The
strikers held big meeting in the hall
adjacent to the round-house, lasting
until late this morning. They were en-
thuSiastic in the position they have
taken.
The switchmen, engineers and firemen
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul.
who struck yesterday, assembled at the
wards at Western avenue and kenzie
street this morning, but none of them
went to work. They are reticent and re.
fuse to talk of their action or outline
their demands, but were unanimous not
to return to work.
Superintendent Collins, of the St
Paul, said this morning that his company
would Mt once begin preparations to sa-
cure new switchmen and switch eng-
neers to take the places vacated by the
strikers yesterday. He said the St Paul
being direct competitor of the 60"
had maintained strictly neutral posi-
ton since the Burln ,ton engineers
went ont, and he knows no reason why
the switchmen quit work. The riot Of
yesterday habits effect on the new switch
men in the empty of the Burlington.
Only those whose duties kept them with
IN the % yards were on duty this
morning. Those delegated to work
with engines along the tracks between
the different points refused to 90 to
work unless they were given arms to
defend themselves with if set upon by
the strikers. They stood about the 80"
yards on Western avenue, steadfastly
to risk themselves ON the out
side engines. There were ten engines
at work ut 9 o'clock this morning, and
matters were going smoothly Nine
trains of stock are expected at the
yards to-day. If the 20" switchmen
attempt to take them into the yards it
is likely collision between the union
switchmen at the yards and the 30"
men will result.
Ninety-eight switehmen from the
Reading road arrived in the city, last
night, over the Fort Wayne road. They
were taken to the Briggs house, where
they encountered several strikers at the
entrance. The new arrivals were
warned not to go to work on the 60"
and quarrel ensued in which the Read
ing men drew their revolvers and de-
clared they would protect themselves if
interfered with. This morning they
were escorted to the so" yards by
Pinkerton men. Twenty seven more
switchmen from the east arrived this
morning. This morning at o'clock a
train of stock cars left the 80" yards at
Western avenue for the stock yards,
with fourteen Pinkerton men guarding
it. As the train passed the Chicago,
ot. Louis q F1ttSDurg engine, brake
man on the latter threw two coupling
pins at the crew of the 80"
engine, one of them striking w. W.
Thomas, the fireman. in the right eye,
knocking him senseless. A Town of
Lake policeman saw the occurrence,
but made no effort to arrest the man
who threw the pin. The Pinkerton
man at once telephoned the Western
avenue station to have the crew of the |
Chicago, st. Louis & Pittsburg engine |
arrested, and trouble is likely to result. |
A second train reached the stock yards |
1T 1890. As the train passed the Chi
caSo 4 Alton crossing somebody threw |
a coupling pin at the switchmen on top |
Of the cars. 1t struck one of them but |
did no injury. After the early violence |
1t the stock yards the Burlin toms bust
ness went on steadily and BY noon nine |
trains of stock had been sent cat Gen |
eral Manager Stone gave instructions |
.or reduction of the force of men in
he Burlington shops at Aurora, neces-
'itated by the burning of the paint
hops and the expenses of the strike.