St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-28
Over the Great Crossing Wa
Between the Manitoba
and D., G. & N.
The Polk County Sheriff Ar
rests Several OF the Man
itOba Men.
Judge Mills Telegraphs the
Size iff From Moorhead to
Prevent the Crossing.
People of Crookston Take a
Hand, But Finally Conclude
to DeSiSt.

CRooKsToN, Mimi, Oct. 27.-ThiS
morning the bitter crossing fight that
has been brewing for the past week be-
tween the Manitoba and the Duluth,
CrOOkston & Northern railways Was
commenced. The plans for making the
crossing had all been perfected yester-
day, and at IL o'clock this morning
nearly 200 men started out from this city
to reinforce the forces OF the Duluth,
Crooks on d Northern people and assist
them to make the crossing. The Mani
plans and were waiting to receive
them. They had four heavy trains of
ears on the track manned by large
force of men. 1t did not take long to
discover that it would be impossible to
make the crossing at the point first
chosen, and the CrOOkstOn & Northern
people had to abandon the crossing at
that point and attempt to get by over
the town road fifty feet to the east.
They had obtained PERMISSION from the
town officers to use this road tempo
rarily, and, as the Manitoba had been
enjOiDed from obstructing it, a new
grade was made to this point, and
AT DAYLIGHT
the rails were laid up to within a few
feet of the Manitoba track. Up to this
tine the Manitoba forces had made no
attempt to interfere. but as soon as they
had reached this point Supt. James Or
dered his men to prevent any further
work. He had no sooner given the
order than he was placed under arrest
for obstructine the highway. He re-
sisted arrest, and called upon his men
to prevent it, but the officers
we're backed up by the Du-
Iuth, Crookston q Northern men,
and as they greatly outnumbered
their opponents, Mr.. James was soon
overpowered, and his men driven away
from the crossing. Owing 10 the eX-
ceIIent discipline. maintained over the
Twen by the officers of the Dc. & N.
company no damage was done. although
1t looked for a moment as if there would
be bloodshed. The men were around
with spades, crowbafs, ETC., but made
no attempt to use them. Supt. James
was taken to Crookston in charge of
two officers. He gave orders to
his men to blockade the cross
ing. Before his orders could be
carried out, however, team was driven
over the road aud was stopped upon the
crossing. This prevented the Manitoba
from closing up trains upon the cross
ing and it looked as if the crossing
would be made, but it was not to be, for
the engineer started up his engine with
full force and the team was removed
from the track just in time to prevent
being run over. On the other side of
the road stood train of fiat cars, and
into this the engine was run with full
force, the idea being 10 wreck the train
with the engine on the crossing, but the
cars were not loaded and the effect was
to upend the first car and
SLAVE IN THE HEAD
of the engine. The engineer was at
cnce arrested and sent to Tower and an
a tempt was made to run the engine off
from the crossing, but the other train
had moved up and it was impossible to
move it an inch. The constable then
organized posse of deputies and placed
the engineers of all the engines under
arrest, but not until after some pretty
sharp fighting had been INDUCED in.
A call was made for volunteers
to run the engine back out of
the way. but no one would
take the responsibility. Thus things
remained for two hours. People
seemed to be afraid to act. The result
of the injunction proceeding had not
been learned. After they had obtained
complete control of the situation they
held long consultation and finally de-
cided to abandon the attempt to cross
until the injunction is dissolved. If the
Judge decides in their favor they say
nothing will prevent them crossing to-
morrow. In the meantime both sides
are making further preparations to
renew the fight, which is grow
ing more determined and bitter
each hour. The Northern Pacific
company, tits said. is backing the Du-
luth, CIookstOn & Northern company,
and this is probably the cause of the
Manitoba making such determined OPP
positions. Crookston is a city of COCO
inhabitants, and heretofore the Mani
toba has had monopoly of the traffic,
and does not like the idea of another
road coming In to divide the business.
Public sentiment here is all on the side
of the new road, and though the Mani
toba succeeds in keeping it out of the
city until after the 1st of November, it
is thought it will get the bonus just the
same.