Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-07-02
TEARING UP TRACKS
Exciting Railroad War in Pro-
gress at EastOn, Pa.
A WARRANT FOR THE MAYOR

Objectionable Rails Secretly Laid Across
the New Bridge ~ Night Destroyed BY
the city Authorities and Lively Com
aIct Ensues-Bad BLOOD Engendersd
and More Trouble In Prospect.
EAsToN, Pa. July 2.-On Saturday
last local contractor had big force of
men at work cutting down the grade at
the Easton approach to the monster iron
bridge now being erected across the Lee
high river at the foot of Third street.
The contractor told the reporters that
the grading was done for the purpose of
relaying the street car track to and on
the bridge on Sunday. That was all
that any one appeared to know about
the work. AT midnight on Saturday
night, while the labOrers were still cut
ting the grade, Roadmaster John Oman,
of the Lehigh Valley road, arrived with
another force of men, a car load of 'sT''
rails, and car of ties, and commenced
to relay the track, while at the same
time the same companys engineering
corps was on duty to see that no mis-
take was made in the line and grade.
By s o'clock Sunday morning the track
was down, tamped, filled in. cars were
running. and the workmen had left for
their homes. The secret work was con.
trary to notice served on the street
car company last week that 1T" rails
should not be laid at the point men
toned.
Destroying the Tracks.
By direction of the highway commit.
foo Of councils f1so fasev,, -,
highways, Mayor Lesher, the entire po-
lice force of the city,sand large gang
of laborers, proceeded to South Third
street at 10 o'clock yesterday morning
for the purpose of tearing up the 'T''
rails mysteriOusly laid on Saturday
night. When they arrived on the ground
they found the road blockaded by street
cars and more coming. Mayor Lesher
ordered President Sage and Secretary
Cooley, Of the Street Car company, who
were on hand to defend their line, to re-
move the cars at once. Cooley asked
permission to run the cars across Third
street bridge to South Easton, and the
request was granted. Laborers were
then put to work, guarded by police
men. Several hundred people gathered
about the men, and before the city
authorities had time to discover the
trick Cooley had the cars scattered along
the track laid on Saturday night and
the brakes locked. Policemen boarded
the cars, but were unable to control
them, and were compelled to step aside
and let them remain. The labOrers then
began removing the rails between the
cars.
At o'clock Mayor Lesher ordered the
officers to take charge of the cars and
run them out of the xtav Chief Til.
ton, Detective Simons and the mayor
boarded car at the north end of the
blockade and they were met there by
Secretary Cooley, who had charge of
the brake and refused to give It up.
They wrenched it from his grip and had
all the cars away in short order. The
tearing up of the rails was then finished
without further interference.
Warrants for the Mayor and Others.
Warrants have been issued by Alder.
man Fenicle for the arrest of Mayor
Lesher, Detective Simons, and Chief
Tilton on the charge of assault and bat
terry, on complaint of Mr.. Cooley. Presi-
dent Sage says that he proposes to bring
a criminal suit against every man who
helped to tear up the tracks, under the
law passed in 1870. He also SAID that
he will sue the city for damages and for
the cost of relaying the track which the
city had torn up at the same point a
week ago to cut down the grade at the
approach. He will also apply to the
court for an injunction to restrain the
city from interfering with the line, and
will relay the track as soon as that dOcu.
ment shall have been granted. He Is
determed in this matter and will fight
the case to the end.