Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-15
A RAILROAD ROW.
The Eagle Rock Branch Re-
moved Under Protest.
AN INJUNCTION AVOIDED.
The Work Commenced After Night.
fall-Legal Trouble An.
ticipated To-day.

One of those exciting episodes which
occasionally occur during railroad con-
struction enlivened the Eagle Rock val
ley yesterday, to the disgust, however,
of the residents of that place. The Gar
vaDza, or Rogers Railroad, es it is better
known, has been so often mentioned in
these columns that detailed description
of it is unnecessary. A section of it,
about AZ miles in length, was built from
Garvanza west into the Eagle Rock val
ley last spring, but was never used for
more than week, as it was claimed that
the patronage was not sufficient for
its support. In point of fact, it
was only "boom" road con-
ceived by Rogers when things were
at their best, and although Eagle Rock
Valley is not thickly populated the in
habitants on having pointed out to them
the immense advantages which were to
accrue to them through the road, subsi-
died, it is said, the affair to the amount
of $15 600. They therefore regarded the
line to certain extent as their own and
although it was not in operation they
jealously watched it when the Rogers
lines, including OF course the Eagle Rock
branch, were transferred to the Nathan
Cole syndicate. They were somewhat
aroused shortly afterwards, for TIE rumor
got about that Eagle Rock was to be BOOM
ed up again, but their hopes fell with a
terrible crash when, few weeks ago,
the road passed into the hands of COM
pany controlled by Captain John Gross,
the President of the Los Angeles, Glen
dale and Pacific Road. The announce
ment was then made that the main line
was to be extended into Pasadena at
once, but although it was not openly de-
clared, it was generally understood that
the Eagle Rock branch had been declared
useless by the company. The dwellers
of the little valley determined, however,
to keep their road where it was,
and Captain Cross and party realizing
the situation determined to bring the
matter TO focus by taking up the track
at once. The plan of action was, how
ever, kept very quiet, and Contractors
McCrabbe and Backman were instructed
to have force of men and teams on
hand on Saturday last after nightfall,
and to start in and remove the disputed
branch line.
In THE bHADOWS OF NIGHT.
At o'clock on the night appointed,
ITO men and sixty teams drew into Gar
vanza, and at once commenced the task
before them. They removed the bolts
and spikes. and by daybreak yesterday
were hard at, work tearing up the
rails and ties and freighting them
into Garvanza. The residents of
the Eagle Rock Valley soon got wind of
what was going on, and came down in
force and ordered the workmen to desist.
1t looked at one time as if big row
would occur, but the contractors ex-
planned that their laborers were simply
acting under orders from headquarters.
An endeavor was then made to get writ
of injunction, but it being Sunday this was
supposed to be impossible, Capt. Gross
having laid his plans to thus prevent any
legal interference. There was nothing
to be done, therefore, but to look on at
the work of destruction, and at in the
evening the last wagon-load was started,
and the unpleasant task of the workmen
was over. Altogether about 800 tons of
material were removed and freighted
into Garvanza, where it now lies and
will be used on the extension of the main
line. The citizens, in the neighborhood
affected, declare that they will not let
their rights be over-ridden in such
manner, and the affair will doubtless
get into the courts to-day.
AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.
One very sad incident was connected
with the occurrences of the
day. One of the teamsters named
Fuller, while engaged in his work
had the ill-luck to get hfs horses scared,
and they ran away, throwing him to the
ground and running over him with the
heavy wagon. Both of his arms and
one of his legs were broken, and he also
received severe scalp wound. He was
taken to his home, where he now lies in
a precarious condition, although the doc
tors say that his injuries are not neces-
salily fatal.