The Nicodemus cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Graham County, Kan.) 1887-1888, 1888-03-30
Another Strlk e.

CHICAGO, ILL, March 23-At exactly IL
o'clock tonight n strike was inauguaated
among the swtchmen employed by the Chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy railway Wits
pers of such move had been heard ever since
the beginning of the strike OF the Burlington
engineers and fremen, but not until the past
few days did the rumors assume tangible
shape. Notification of the reports was lacking
and to-day the importance at first attached to
the matter had dwndled almost 10 nothing.
The inactivity at the headquarters OF the en-,
gineers and firemen all day and evening was
so noticeable as 10 cause the remark that II
was studied but no outsider, it is safe to say,
suspected the surprise that was In store.
Owing to the unexpectedness of the event,
tie exact details of the situation were diff.
cult to obtain. The general impression is
that the strike was general over the entire
Burlington system and would include the
brakemen. A basis for this suppostion Law
in the fact that emssaries from Chicago and
elsewhere known to have been at work
among the switchmen and breakman along
the entire line Of road for some time past and
considerable active sympathy had been shown
by these two classes Of employees with the
engineers aud fremen, and In addition a plea
of self-protcction had frequently been en-
tered
The plea was that the switchmen and
brakemen were in constant danger of lie and
limb from the alleged Incompetence Of the
engineers and tircmen who had taken the
places of the Burlington members OF the
brotherhood.
The Inauguration OF the strike was cele.
brated By rOusing mass meeting under the
auspices Of the brotherhood at West Twelfth
street Turner ball. Everybody but railroad
men were excluded from tho meeting and
unaT1s war y1pcfnH at fla 1oCra nd
leading to the hall 10 challenge all strangers
who ATTEMPTED 10 gain admission. The an
nouncement that the swtchmen of the Chi
cago, Burlington and Quincy were in fun sym-
pathy with the striking engineers and fremen
and had decided TO stand by them greet
ed with roars of APPRECIATION kilograms
from points along the line we're TO the effect
that the swlchmen were united in sentiment
aud would 90 ont promptly At the hour desig-
mated. The meeting lasted until after mid
night, the hour set for the switchmen TO quit
work.
Al midnight the $50 swItchmen employed
in the local yards. or az many of them as were
on duty at the time, picked up their lanterns
and walked away from the tracks. There
was no noise and no confusion. They gathered
In little groups and were joined bv their com.
rades from more distant parts Of the Yards,
discussing tho situation with more or less
warmth and making their Hav TO the Twelfth
street hall. where the meeting at Which Il was
finally decided 10 strike was stili in progress.
Not sUitchman refused 20 obey the order.
but each willingly threw up BIS place and
joined forces with the striking engineers aud
tremen.
The effects Of the uew strike we're llustrst-
ed at once upon two locomotives that were
out on the tracks switching cars Ia the vlcini-
II Of sixteenth and Canal streets, both icing
compelled 20 cease operations
The sElicemen after the strike we're "a nnm
as before, except to intimate that they had
ASSURANCES that none Of tue mapv Knights oF
Labor among the new engineers and fremsn
On the Burlington would work With non-unlon
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