Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-31
TROUBLE COMMENCED.
Striking Switchmen and sympathizers At
tack and Seriously Iniure Several Pin
kerton Guards and Badly Beat Division
Superint ndent Besler.

CHICAGO Marsh sn-Yesterday afternoon
there was serious encounter between the
sympathizers of the striking Burlington
switchmen and the men who have replaced
them Thu crew OF % switch engine
were engag in transferring some freight
cars to the northwestern tracks, and while
they worked crowd of switchmen of
other roads gathered in the vicinity
and began to jeer them. When the
% train reached kenZie street and
Western avenue it ran of a switch that had
been turned and one or two cars were
ditched The crowd of switchmen came
running to the spot nd set upon the 90
trainmen in a savage manner. The engineer
and fireman took TO their h els. getting
many severe blows as they escaped. The
new switchmen followed suit as quickly as
possible, but they were pursued by the
angry crowd and some of them were
roughly used before they could get
, away. The Pinkerton men, OF
whom there were six or eight on the
train, attempted to protect the traiumen,
But the moh set upon them with savage
glee and disarmed them in twinkling.
They were powerless, and after making q
few efforts To defend themselves, took to
flight to escape the drubbing they were re-
ceiving at the hands of the furious mob.
Several of the Pinkerton men were hurt.
and one of them is thought to have sus-
tanned serious injuries
On the same train was Division Superin-
tendent John Bcsler. of the Burlington.
When the trouble commenced he hurried
to the front and some one in the crowd
recognized him. The disclosure of
his identity was the signal for the mob to
fall on him and beat him. The attack
came from all sides and il was only after
having been badly used up that he escaped
and ran to switch house where he locked
himself in and escaped further punishment.
As soon as possible policemen were sent to
the scene and dispersed the mob. One of
the Eiotss9 namsd William Quirk was ar
rested.
General Passenger Agent Morton, of the
Burlington, said in reference TO the affair
that it was not wholly unexpected. as the
company had anticipated trouble of this
kind. He said, however. that he did not
think it would occur again, as the company
would take preventive measures.
William Quirk, who was arrested by the
police for participation in the riot at West
ern avenue this afternoon, was a Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul switchman.
His arrest precipitated a strike of III
switchmen, 2S engineers and 2S firemen on
the Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul road.
When it was known that Quirk had been
Madison street station and endeavored to
get him released.
Numerous offers of bail were made.
s., 900 surety for his appearance being Of
fered and refused. He was locked up
When the crowd realized their comrade
had TO remain in tie public station, the
Milwaukee 4 St. Paul men in their rage
decided TO strike and Immediately deserted
their engines. The whole yard force of
switchmen, engineers and firemen, 227 in
all, quit work, leaving twenty y-eight engines
standing on the tracks.
The strikers say the Milwaukee and ST.
Paul road has been particularly friendly to
the Burlington, and they have been ready
and willing TO quit for some time. A
meeting of 800 engineers tiremen and
switchmen was held at Fourteenth and
Jefferson treet. yesterday afternoon. There
were representatives from all the roads
present, and il was resolved that a general
boycott be declared against Burlington
freight ON ali roads.
The sentiment was that the Burlington
road had gone too far. There was no rea-
son why the engineers demands should not
be complied with. They were reasonable
and the time had come to enforce them.
The Wabash men, in defiance of the court
will 60 into the matter as strongly as any
OF the others