The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-13
A GREAT TIE:UP,
Twenty Street Car Lines in New
York Stop Running.
Scenes Of Disorder Followed By
Many Broken Heads.

A desperate Industrial struggle was in
augurated in New York few days since,
with something like 1000 men on one side and
dozen powerful corporations on the other.
The announcement that this contest was
about to begin came like thunderbolt on
the latter, who we're ill-prepared for it.
With few exceptions all the men employed
on twenty leading street-car lines ceased
work and declared their determination not
to resume until their employers meet their
representatives and agree to remedy their
grievances, which they said were too CALLING
to be borne.
The railroad corporations at once put on a
bold front, declaring that they would never
submit to the dictation Of their employees.
The struggle began before daybreak.
As early as three O'Clock in the morning
committees were sent to every depot and
they took stand near by. As each car
came along the drivers and conductors
were notified that the tie-up was be.
gun. They remained around until day
break to tell thu early man who had finished
work the night before. When they appeared
they learned the news. According to re-
The day was stirring one and was
marked by scenes of violence and
wild disorder. Fifty thousand men were
on the streets at one time or another and
they were apparently against the
companies, for they Joined with zest and even
desperation in the attacks upon the cars, the
non-unionists and the police. These on.
slaughts, fortunately, did not result seriously
except in one case
There we're frequent collisions With the
police. Only fifteen cars were placed on the
streets by the tied-up companies, and these
we're manned, guarded and occupied by blue
coats, locusts and revolvers in hand Some
Of the cars were overturned. Many strikers
heads were broken. Others were arrested
and fined or held for trial
The Inconvenience and delay caused by the
lack Of transportation facilities probably cost
the city thousands of dollars.
The Stste Board Of Arbitration opened an
investigation into the trouble. The Railroad
Presidents refused to attend or notice it.
In Brooklyn there was q similar state Of
affairs. The strikers we're determined, and
succeeded in preventing a single car from
running. The police protection seemed
inadequate to cope with the strikers, and It
was thought the military might have 10 be
called out to quell disturbances.
Second Day Of the Strike.
The second day OF the wholesale tie up
passed with a great number Of COLI.
sions between the police and the
crowds of strike sympathizers There were
few cars run during the day on most of the
lines No steps were taken toward settle
ment and the company managers expressed
themselves confident OF victory.
Twenty street-car lines were still tied up
and the 1000 men who usually operate them
were devoting their efforts to stop
them from running. More cars, how
ever, were placed on the tracks than there
were on Tuesday. Violent MODS dio
damage to the rolling stock and rails of the
Third avenue, the Broadway and other Lines.
The police wounded many Of the rioters. A
few pistol shots were fired. There was no
hope Of an immediate settlement OF the strike.
Perhaps the largest outbreak Of the day oc-
Cured about 5 o'clock at Tenth avenue and
Forty-second street. About AIS large part
Of the police stationed On this line had been
sent to other stations. At o'clock there was
not an officer in sight for block in either di.
rection. The few strikers then banging about
saw their opportunity. and In about two min
utes had secured crowbars and were tearing
up the rails. The crowd gathered around them,
and when the fourth rail bad been torn up
fully SO9o people stood around and howled
with glee In the meantime word had been
sent to the stables, and Roundsman OBrien
and eight men started for the mob.
They swung their sticks right and
left, not stopping to arrest anyboly,
but simply hitting. The mob acted like sheep,
each getting In everybody else's way as the
officers chased them up the street. 1t was
clear case Of every man for himself and the
night stick hit the 'hindmost. Upward OF a
score OF men were left in the wake OF the mob,
stunned or with bad head wounds People
in the houses were apparently with the
strikers, for cans, bricks, and even small
articles Of furniture were thrown
officers were hit with sufficient force to
be disabled It took ten minutes hard
fighting to scatter the crowd Then the Of
ficers returned, but the wounded had all been
carried away by sympathizers. Four man
who had been knocked senseless were taken
into one house until they regained conscious.
ness. There are probably ten times that
number who suffered In the charge.
A notice was nailed to the stable doors
that unless the strikers returned to work by
o'clock that day their places would he
filled. The men laughed at the warning