Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14

had been temporarily suspended
and the ticket agent would
refund all money paid for tickets
if called upon to do so. Late tonight,
J. Holland stated that he had not ordered
a strike, but thought the head of the local
division of the Knights of Labor might
have done so.
Several strikers we're interviewed on the
matter but declined to talk further than
to say that it would prove to be the big
gest strike, before it was over, that the
people OF the east had seen for some time.
At a late hour it was stated by some
strikers that the Lake Shore road as far
as Chicago was in the same tied
up condition as the Central.
This rumor however, could not
be verified. The scene about the depot FIVE
minutes after it became known that a
strike had been ordered, was one that will
long be remembered. The waiting room
was crowded with passengers. For some
time the real state of affairs did not dawn
upon the passengers. When the fact at
last became known there was a Wild rush
for baggage, and raid was made on
the hotels. The West Shore line
was in shaky condition tonight but up
to midnight a strike was averted. The
postofice authorities received TELEPHONE
message at 1920 o'clock from the Grand
Central station, saying that no more mails
will be received over the New York Cen
trail tonight.
NEW YORK, Aug. 9.-The first train
which left the Grand Central depot this
morning passed out at $50 o'clock. Four
mail cars were attached to this train, but
there were no passengers aboard. The
tie up on the road was complete. Every
trainman, brakeman, switchman, en-
gmeer and conductor. except those
OF mail trains, stopped work on
| the order of the executive board
of the Knights. The railroad men,
enough assistance to allow the mail trains
to run, but they had determined that not
single passenger nor a pound of freight
York Central & Harlem River railroad
after 10 o'clock last night About 6
o'clock this morning a great number of
trainmen, who did not belong to the
knights of labor, reported at the yard for
work. They were instructed to set about
clearing the track for passengers on the
incoming trains were compelled to get
off the cars at Mott Haven instead of
coming into the Grand Central DEPOT as
usual, and they had to rely upon the ele,
waited railroad and street cars to bring
them down town. The strikers all con-
Quoted themselves in an orderly manner
| They say they are determined not to
work until the discharged men are re-
instated. The executive board of district
assembly No. 246 was in session all night.
There was considerable improvement in
the situation at the Grand Central depot
this morning as compared to that of Last
night, and the notice announcing the tenn
porary suspension of passenger trains has
been taken down. Between six and ten
clock seven trains came In, some through
and others local, made up of cars stalled at
Harlem and Mott Haven. At the general
Managers office Vice President Webb said
he did not think the matter would assume
any large proportions, and that men would
be found to man the trains. A ma ority
of those who have left are switchmen and
yardmen, anC their places are being filed
as rapidly as possible. This morning
large crowd of railroad men came over On
ferries from Jersey City. They are mostly
switchmen out of work. Those available
as competent men were employed. Among
the trains sent out this morning was the
Chicago limited, which left at $50. The
officers of the road are of the opinion that
by tonight they will have the road running
in fair order. No disturbances of any
kind are reported along the line.
Not single freight train left the yards
today, and none arrived Mr.. Webb will
make ID strenuous effort to run the freight
trains on Monday, both on the West
Shore and New York Central. I'VE will
hole meeting tomorrow, said Mr..
Webb, land decide what we will do in re-
gard to the freight trains. | think we
will have enough men by Monday to get
everything in good running order. | am
well satisfied with the way in which the
passenger trains were sent out today, and
| | don think | will have any more diff
Guilty with the freight trains
Mr.. J. J. Holland spent most of the
! day in the Grand Union hotel in confer
ence with representative strikers. He told
the reporters that be could not say any
thing about the probabilities for Monday,
beyond that the men would fight hard. He
could not tell, he SAID, whether the broth
erhood of locomotive engineers would call
out their members or not.
| There were many statements made to-
day regarding the number of men on the
strike. The men themselves said there
vert three or four thousand, while the
railway officials maintained that there
were but three or four hundred men out
At SIX o'clock tonight sixty-four of the
night force Of the freight switchmen at
the West Shore depot at Wehawken, re-
ported for duty.
At 7:40 o clock the locomotive whistle
rang out shrilly in the yard and fifty of the
swltchmen left their posts. put on their
coats and departed. This action left
| the yard almost deserted Preparations
to meet the emergency were Immediately
made. Freight conductor Kane, who acted
as spokesman for the striking switchmen,
! told the yard master that personally the
men had no grievances. They had been
ordered out by the knights of labor, and
ooeyed.
At 10 o'clock everything in the Wesf
Shore yard at Wehawken was quiet, and
| the work of making up trains was going
| on. All the incoming trains arriving at
| the depot on time. The station officials
said no other men were out on the road,
but this the strikers deny.
In conversation tonight with a striker