The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-24
A VERY UGLY PHASE
OF the Strike of the switohmen
in Indianapolis.
SYMPATHY OF THE ENGINEERS
With them in the Fight and no Trains
able to Move-Rumor that it will
Extend to all Roads East of
the Mississippi is Denied.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Nov. 23.-Th
strike OF railroad switchmen is taking al
ugly phase. Not a single switch engin,
in the city was moved this morning. Ii
the freight yards everything is in con
fusion. The morning trains were aban
doned half made up or not made up a
all, except in the Monon and Lake Erie
and Western yards. The men, however
declared that not an engine should bt
fired this morning. In all the yards
business was at a complete standstill.
In several places engineers and fire.
men or other employees Of the roads
pressed into service, tried to go on with
the work, butthc strikers interfered and
successfully prevented the departure ol
any trains. Although some disposition
to blockade the tracks and obstruct the
progress OF men who desired to work
was exhibited, only one instance OF posi-
tive violence was reported during the
night. .
A serious phase OF the strike is that
the engineers and liremen are in close
sympathy with the switchmen and make
no attempt to man their engines. In
nearly every instance they have quit
work, run their engines into their stalls
and drawn the fires when the switchmen
requested it. This adds much to the
complication Of the matter. While
switchmen may be replaced by inexpcri'
enced men and traffic resumed in Il short
time, provided the engineers and fire.
men will work, without them nothing
can be done. Inexperienced will not do
to trust upon IN engine.
Mfr. Sweeney, Grand Master oil The
Union, has returned to Chicago. All
forenoon the strikers have been going in
gangs from yard to yard, warning ap-
plicants for work that il they undertake
TO handle the switch engines they will
be handled roughly. Fearing trouble
the officers OF the road called for police
protection at noon.
A new feature of trouble, and which
promises to lead to important results, is
that this afternoon the managers OF the
lHNlulupullGt OCGAbuI ~ hNotSlA SOu
ceded the demand OF the striking
switchmen and the latter returned to
work. The switchmen are jubilant over
this victory, as the indianapolis, Deca-
tur & Western is considered one Of the
lightest roads in the city in which to
work, and if the company can afford the
advance, they believe that other compa-
MES will be compelled.
Later developments to-day show that
the engineers and tfremen in the yards
have not joined in the strike. When
they went out during the night it was
because for lack OF switchmen they
we're unable 10 proceed.
Conversation with the engineers
evinced the fact that they are in SYM
pathy with the strikers and earnestly
hope the company may grant the in
crease asked for. They state they have
taken no action in regard to the matter,
aud do not know that they shall.
All the roads have sent out along the
lines for new men, and it is expected
sufficient force will arrive tonight to re-
sumo work on most roads tomorrow.
The leaders OF the strike counsel against
violence, and no serious trouble tu.mor.
row is apprehended, but there will
doubtless be minor disturbances.