The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-05
RIOT AT CHICAGO.

Freight Train Ditched and q Riot Fol-
lows-Another strike Which Soon Ter
inmates
CHICAGO, March 30-The first encounter
between the sympal hizers Of the striking
swltchmen and the men who had replaced
them took place at 30 yesterday afternoon
when 2 switch engine and its crew at
tempted to transfer some freight cars to
the northwestern tracks. A crowd Of
switchmen OF other roads we're about the
place and began to jeer at the new men on
the y engine and when the train reached
klnzle street and Western avenue it ran on
on switch that had been turned and q
number Of cars were dItched. The mob
then set upon the crew of the engine and
train and the fireman and engineer took 10
their heels. getting numerous cuffs as they
escaped. The new switchmen followed
suit and were pursued and roughly used by
the crowd, which was made up OF the
toughest kind OF citizens
The Pinkerton men, Of whom there were
SIX or eight on the train, attempted to pro-
tect the trainmen, but the mob set upon
them with savage glee and dissrmed them
in twnkling, and after they had made a
few efforts to defend themselves they took
to flight TO escape the drubblng they were
receiving at the hands of the furious mob.
Several OF the PTnkerton men were hurt
and one Of them is thought to have sus-
tanned serious injuries. On the same train
was Division Superintendent John Besler,
OF the Burlington. When the trouble COM
menced he hurried to the front and some
one In the crowd recognized him. The dis
closure of his identity was the signal for
the mob to fall on him and beat him. The
attack came from all sides and it was only
after having been badly used up that he es-
capped and ran to switchhouse, where he
locked himself IN and escaped further pun
ishment
The riot created great excitement and
the Pinkerton men and officers flocked To
the scene, but the mob quickly dispersed
and only one man was arrested. His name
was William Quirk, and he is locked up at
the West Madison street police station.
Police were ordered to the scene of the
disturbance from nearly all the stations.
Quirk is Chicago. Milwaukee & ST. Paul
switchman, aud his arrest precipitated a
strike Of III switchmen, twentv-eIght en-
gineers and twenty eight tiremen on the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road When
1t was known that he had been arrested q
crowd followed him to the West Madison
street station and endeavored to get him re
leased. Numerous offers of bail were
made, $500 surety for his appearance be-
ing offert d and refused. He was locked up.
When tue crowd realized that their COM
rade had to remain in the police station,
the Milwaukee d st. Paul men in their rage
decided to strike and Immediately deserted
their engines, The whole yard force of
switchmen. engineers and firemcn, 227 in
all, quit work, leaving twenty-eIght en-
gines standing on the tracks. 1t was rumored
the brakemen OF the same road would also
go out The strikers say the Milwaukee
& ST. Paul road has been particularly
friendly to ,ha Burlington, and they have
been ready and willing to quit for some
time.
The strike of the st. Paul came to an end
as quickly as it had begun. At $50 p m.
the officials of the st. Paul Company sue
ceeded IN having Quirk released on bail
and he went at once to where the strikers
were in session and was greeted with en-
thusiasm. His presence put the men in
good humor and it was speedily resolved
that a resumption OF work was the proper
course to pursue. At nine p. m. the men
were again at their posts and every thing
on the st. Paul was moving along smoothly
as though nothing unusual had happened.
Division Superintendent Besler, who
took refuge from the mob in switch
house, had both eyes blackened and was
very badly bruised up. The fireman and
engineer Of the train which was attacked
were also badly pounded.