The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-23
HOW THE STREET WAS SEIZED.
Railroads Lay Their Track and Bluff
the Police Force.

the fO1icc force.
A little after o'elcck last night nine railroad
laborers with foreman and assistant foreman
appeared on Columbus street, just east of West.
hall dozen planks were hastily drawn from the
side Of the street ard thrown together to form
low barrier against teams, and then two dozen
ties were brought GA the mems shoulders from
pile near the railroad track, little farther
south, and put in position to
bear the iron rails which also
were in readiness. The ties were laid side by
side, stretching across the street diagonaIly
from the alley between West and Front streets
TO the sidewalk on the south side OF Columbia
street The work WAS done quicker than il has
been described, and in ten minutes from the
time the first tie was thrown down upon the
solid roadbed which the contractors have been
at woIk on for the past week ior the city, the
rails were spiked in place.
Three men, evidently deeply interested in the
proceedings, stood on the sidewalk and watched
The work. conversing in low tones, and laughing
softly at intervals. The trio were Colonel ]. c.
Haines, attorney for the Columbia & Puget
Sound railway; J. b. Metcalfe, attorney for the
Puget Sound shore railway, aud J. y Nadeau
acting manager for the latter road
The work was not long without spectators
In short time the workmen were surrounded
by curious citizens, and eager questioning was
heard ON sill sides.
at is the greatest Northern doing this work
SAID Ny. Mctc3ife. I'VE are putting a track
across the street at night that We viii not in
teFfere with the city traffic during the day.
Every man is getting double ray for his labor
after regular hours, but we are willing 10 go To
the extra expense TO save trouble for the city
and the people.
down across the street. and then there was lit
lie Strengthening Of the line, inserting Of adii-
tional ties where the gaps had been
left very wide in the haste Of the work
men. and Mr.. Nadesu and Mr. Metcalie lent
hand n trimming up the inequalities. At ten
minutes past 10 o'clock the foreman OF the gang
struck bis PICK into the sidewalk on the south
side OF Columbia street, and the blanks were
sOou out Of tbe Way and hall dozen shnvels
cutting through tie grade. At lo-I5. Capt
Henry sheehan, ~ the city police, accompanied
by Pstrolmen Kelly, sanstruna, and Jaycox
came hurTying down the street 10 the side az
the excGvating.
Where's the foreman OF this work." asked
the captain.
Il am in charge OF this wo.s," said Colonel
HaineS, who had pushed forward ..If YOU
want 10 arrest anybody. arrest me and Mr. Met
calie We are in charge here
officer.
swered colonel Haines. ..we have permission
from the corporation counsel.
Where Is your reminiscent Iwant TO see it
Aud Captain Sheeaza jumped down upon the
'.our permission Is fled in the court. Co
lion II you want % see # We got permission
permission i nled II Judge LAchtelbeFgs court,
SAID Mr.. ActC&Iff.
=. Well. yop have 10 right To DO raiIrossf con
structIon WORK Inside the city limits between
o'ciotS az night and q clock n the morning
Tie new charter to1hiis il. l0u must stop o. I
shall arrest you- TscEseyereG the officer. The
mayor said foE me % step this work and In go
ing % stop l."
.sYca can't srreS; snybody without war
rant. said colonel ESiaeS. s'iaSt vOy try 81
resting anybody here without a warrant 60
-
here, and be sure you src right before you do
anything. The ciry might have big suit far
dAInsges ca IT'S hands i ycu pzst any Of Us in
There was 3 haiti for consideration. Capfaiu
>heeaaa paused 70 resect. and drew one os his
pstrolUsen aside. Police oa3cer Kelly drew Mr.
Metcslfe u one s3Ge aD2 conferred with him.
Presently Captain SheeA&a started up the
street.
I'm ind cut about this, said he.
There were houts and 5eers from the crowd.
many evidently hoping 20 see some sort cf a
conflict Meanwhile the work went on. The
grade AT the waIS wss eat down toc1. ties were
hUrriecly buried Il the earth, ties were brought
sud laid upon them, the ends in the street meet.
ina those brsT placed, and TIE south ends pro
.ectnS out into The az some ioGr or ave fceg
from the ground.
The grade Is somewhat abrupt." said Mr.
MetcSlie. 9otQlarly. "bgt that eau he Fixed al
rShH. ot course, wc sire not Euins over this AZ
TIE raIe q sixty miles an hour for some time
ySt Ana hIs cog2panloUs smiled aHdiblv.
I ne minutes @ent by swiftly, and the men
Z
IS many clrectors = wcrkIleE, bat there ,saS
no eau1 asioc, and all orders were given IL lru
bGt distinct tones lhS crowd oi Sysse-st =
vas lsEseg but i ha6 frequent additions ana
GesSEttalS- Several members q The city Gown
eli were seer eyelrs The work With Sozse;h,r-
more earnest tszn idle curiosity l. their 49,
Captain snyder. O. The h9ESe q ,.eyerss..,
hailed NJ. Mstcslfe cAee-llv.
- On ris2 yc1E bll11 81 gsSht vita TIE ca.sca-
men, sud tie GeseSzfe. shut yr- cgtsl6u=e
make Il wCrS With ne You re wS-Nirc .rr ~
0o-lAgS and cents. ef coarse. ard don his~se
You. bat It's ois hle1 after az
~MeTS al right SAID TIRE stto-rev we
alSt wanted 70 80 or track Gowu without
S2t6sslIs the paellc- That a..
here vas gaJgcA barred argEC,eas II the crowd
same o. lie Eoileeule2 present tol6 What rhev
would Go = they VEre u power. Afto-ner Me-
Gallo adjourned 70 Tue saloon sa7scent SO =.
yi1cd number 81 byslEnGe-s 10 5osn h,~7
Several. intending 5 detective ard = Y,S}5eS
ofncef. went n with hIEa- All took heer ..Ncsgs
TIE policeman. n hc sccDfs.eG & cS-a- instead
Al u - Captain >eeaSS0 returned f.;1 hi< ysra
n las more lelSure-y than when he cane ry~t
!" us al right said he - TIE thru rsl,rasss
cfhclalS, " 20 Csrg.e forward % rzest hin ~,
eSn pU1 Soyn the track, but yoD mustn't tear ID
the Sidewalk" -
You re 81 right. Henry zEreed NJ. Ne,
cafe with p2tronlzins smile. "Yc1 know
year business.
They've % right 20 work here, building a
rsitTcad after night. said vo5cc In The crowd
: &C CHARTER toss.sis i. anG yog knew = Whv
CoS yoG stop tners
Il kuOw h&t I IA doing ssai t,s,..ssr -,
- :. y Is 81 :, t-se s4a4sefs aA9 We went -
sSiaSE TO The corporation eoSasel's Aouse lis