Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1888-03-16
The Cause OF the Strike Not Ex-
planned and Its Extent Not
Definitely Known.
The Atlantic & Pacific Engineers
FOrsaking Their Engines at
Ends of Divisions.
RumOrs That the Union Pacific ana
Kansas City, Fort Scott &
Gulf Will Join.
A National Calamity.


CHICAGO, March 15-Thirty-two hum
dred miles of railroad were tied up this af-
ternoon in exactly ten minutes by the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and
Firemen. The entire main line of the
Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe and all it's
branches were brought to standstill. A
stretch OF country from st. Paul on the
north to Ell Pas0 on the south, practically
the whole breadth of the United States, is
now involved in the struggle that started
between the Burlington company and its
employees. At $50 p. III. to-day the general
manager Of the Santa Fe system received
at Topeka, Kas., an official notice from the
chairman of the grievance committee of
the road stating that the engineers and
firemen would stop work at 4 p. m. When
the ten minutes had elapsed the strike had
taken place. Itoccurred on what is called
the main line of the Santa Fe, which ex-
tends
FROM KANSAS CITY TO Ell PAso,
including all the branches, such as the line
to Denver, but not the trunk lines further
west operated by the company. In giving
the notice no grievances of any character
whatever were mentioned. This was for
the moment at least apparently inexplica-
BILE, for the agreement recently entered
into between the company and the men
provides that thirty days notice shall be
given whenever a conference is wanted
before the men have the right to withdraw
from the service of the company. About
500 men: including both engineers and fire.
men, quit work. Their stoppage virtually
brought to a standstill probably not less
than 10000 persons.
AsURPR1sE.
KANSAS CITY. March 15.-The engineers
and iremen on the vast system of the
Atchison, Topeka 6 Santa Fe Railroad
company went out on strike at o'clock
this afternoon. The strike created intense
excitement and surprise in this city for the
reason that the road has not been handling
Burlington freight. That the strike was
ordered by some one in authority there is
no doubt, but in this city the men profess
utter ignorance OF the issuing of any such
orders and say that they have quit because
the trouble was at 4:SO O'Clock this after
noon, at which hour the Usage City ex-
press was scheduled to depart. Conductor
w. NJ. Murray gave the order to start, when
Engineer Higgins quietly stepped down
from the cab and refused to pull out. The
train was finally sent out an hour later
with Engineer Furst at the throttle. Furst
is a regular Santa Fe engineer, but he has a
grievance against the brotherhood and as
he mounted the engine he remarked: ''The
brotherhood gave me the worst Of it once
and now l am going to get even."
ALL ''TIRED."
At the same time that Higgins left his
engine at the Union depot forty men en-
ployed in the Santa Fe freight yards at
Argentine quit work, all declaring them
selves ''tired:" Nothing positive can be
said as to the origin OF cause of the strike.
The men had grievance about a month
ago and at that time had a conference with
the officers and they were granted all they
asked. The resolutions adopted at the
grievance committee meeting at Topeka
some days ago threatened strike if the
company accepted Burlington freight, but
it has been understood that the Srnta Fe
was not handling any of the boycotted
business whatever: 1t is not known at this
writing how far the strike extends, but it
is understood that it is general.
AT NEWTON, KAN.
NEWTON, March 15.-At O'Clock to-day
all the engineers and hremen OF the freight
and switch engines on the Santa Fe at
this point left their cabs and the strike is
on. ALI the passenger trains are still run
how how long they will continue. Newton is
the headquarters of the middle division of
the Santa Fe and the railroad yards are
fast filling up with engines and freight
cars. Everything is quiet and orderly, but
engineers are reticent and give no reason
why they. went out. It is understood that
they received orders from the brotherhood
this morning notifying them to quit their
cabs at 4 p. m. or as soon thereafter as they
should reach the end of their run. It is
supposed that the order was sent out be-
cause of Judge Gresham's decision in the
Wabash case, The railroad authorities
have but little to say.
THE A. 4 p. INCLUDED.
ALBUQUERQuE, N. NJ, March 15.-All
the engineers and fremen on the Santa Fe