New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-17
ATCHISON MEN "TIRED."
fnHILAI FUH QUITTING IIfEIK PLACES.
ALLEGING ALSO THAT THKY AIMED A BLOW AT
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHIEFS OF THE
BROTHERHOOD SURPRISED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE J

lEf TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE
CHICAGO. March l6.-Nobody ventures pre-
dction as to the strike to-day The action of the
Santa Fe men has upset all calculations, and no
one knows what to expect. One thing is certain
and that is that the action of the Atchison men
was as complete surprise to the Brotherhood
officers here as to others. To-day Chief Engineer
Arthur received dispatch from Chairman Conroe,
of the Grievance Committee of the Santa Fe road,
at Kansas City, stating that the reason why the
brotherhood men on that road went out was that
the Santa Fe had violated It's contract with the
men of the Brotherhood by carrying Burlington
freight. AT first 1000 men went out, but altcr-
ward about 500 of them returned to work because
they were on portion of the road owned by the
Construction Company, between Fort Madison and
Kansas City. Chief Arthur ordered Chairman
Conroe to come to Chicago at once
lhe situation to-day is precisely the same as IL
was last night at midnight said Mr.. Smith the
first vice-prcsidcnt OF the Atchson, Topeka and
Santa Fe. I'VE are simply waiting Developments.
The men demand nothing ask no concessions.
What the developments are likely to be / don't
know. The men don't admit that they have gone
on strike They say they are tired or sick any
how they don't want to work. The only reason
apparent, far, for their action is that they wish
to avoid individual liability for refusing to haul
would be called upon to handle O. freight and
gait beforehand to avoid it,
Don't you think that the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy has about exhausted the supply Of
unemployed competent engineers"
That is the general mpr ssion, l think but
my own belief Is that there still more good men
in the country who could be found ready to go
to work, if the demand was made upon them"
Mr. Smith declared that the strike OF the 1900
engineers and fremeD on the main line from Kan
sas City to III Paso WAS complete surprise, as
the company had an agreement with the Brother
hood that thirty days notice would be given in
case OF strike. lie asserts that the road had
not been handling @" freight, but Intended to
do SO, the engineers consenting 10 this arrange
ment he understood
On the santa Fe there are about 700 engineers.
the number Of hremen and 2.oOO trilninen,
and all are thrown out of employment by the
strike OF the engnemen. General Manager Ood-
dard says the amount Of pershabie freight on The
line between California and Chicago Is ABOUT
eighty-hve carloads, nearly all Of which l. STOCK
and fruit 1t cannot now be moved, and II the
strike continues any length OF time the company
will be liable for the whole amount. In addition
to this there are over 900 Carloads Of merchan Use
tied up on the various divisions.
interviews with the striking engineers on the
Santa Fe road at Kansas City show that they have
examined the lists of stockholders on the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy and the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe, and find that a considerable number
Burlington They say that they came to the con-
clusion to dip into both pockets a. once, ana let
these men feel the full effects OF the Strike Dy
crippling their resources
The following dispatch was senI nom hansas
II. B. stone General Manager G., n. & q, Chicago.
We wish you to Understand that we viii hold the
Burlington system responsible for all damage To
our company account of tho strike
This was signed by the general superintendent
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.
WOMAN ACTING As FIRrMAN.
Ar 1925 "Ben" Johnson, foreman OF the
Atchlson. Topeka and sante Fe roundhouse at Ar
ceniine backed an eug gne up to the Union Depot
and conpled TO train No. 8. which is the through
California EXPRESS ben" Wharton, who has
been an engineer on the sante Fe for ten years,
mounted the engine He Is not brotherhood
man, having been expelled In the strike or 1871
He has since applied for admission, but has been
rejected. Shortly after Wharton donned his over
alls q sensation was created in the crowd by tue
appearance of woman. who pushed her WY
through to the enEGlne Ednas ana WbartSn %aS She @
declared her intention to act fireman on the trip,
and covered her clothing with rubber ulster ana
placed brennan cap jauntily OH her black halr
Promptly in response 10 the conductor slRnH-aO
11:38-the train started and proceeded siowig Oh
its way. Every car was packed with pa, a,senger-
as the train carried those persons who nad IicKei5
for No. 3. which was due to leave az ltlo; Az
OF her trains on the santa Fe were TO be aDanuoneu
j ust before the train started paper was han9e9u
10 Wharton. containing an offer 10 pay MN uouoio
wages and all expenses In the city; , .,
Tue woman as fireman was Hattie keed, torineFy
fireman for her husband from Galesburg to bur
lincton 1he engineers say that Wharton Is
Grst-cass engineer and had promised them tnat ne
would not 90 out.