Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14
DEPEW'S ROAD In TURMOIL
The New York Central and Wander
bilt Railroad Lines Are
Tied Up.
The Cause of the Strike is the Dis
charge of Knights of Labor
Men.
Great Excitement Prevails Among
the Men-Scabs Are Expected
togo to Work.

Central and Hudson River railroad begun
at 1870 tonight No train left the depot
at Forty-second street since that hour.
New YORK, Aug. 8.-The rumblings of
the expected storm among the thousands
Of employees of the New York Central and
the Vanderbilt lines, owing to the dis
charge of the Knights of Labor and Broth
erhood men, broke like fash from the
clear sky tonight All the length of the
Central was tied up. Trains were left by
the crews where they stood when the or
der came. Two passenger trains were
left at the 80th street tunnel. The latest
report is that the West Shore road is tied
up throughout its length, as we'll as the
New York & New Haven road. Great
throngs of people crowded the Grand Cen
trail depot trying to have tickets changed.
No one seemed to know how it was,
or who ordered the strike. Even J. J. Hol-
land, the labor leader, denied that he
knew who ordered it, or even that it was
ordered Representatives of the railroad
company called upon acting superintendent
of police Byrnes, for protection, and all the
reserves on the east side, above And street
to Yonkers, and on the west side, from St.
John park to Yonkers, were placed on
duty, guarding the tracks and property.
The depot at And street was under the
protection Of a full force of police, assisted
by the members of the boat patrol. In
spector Byrnes detectives guarded the
switches and the signal stations along the
road 10 Yonkers. After these arrangements
had been made, word reached the police
headquarters that some of the strikers In
tended to take possession of the switch
house on 7th street and 4th avenue. In
spector Byrnes Immediately detailed two
detectives tie watch that point, the in
spector himself decided to remain at
headquarters all night. Vice President
Webb, of the New York Central, on be-
ing interviewed by a reporter, said the
strike extended west only to Albany
All of the men who went out from
the employ of the road tonight
Webb said, would be promptly discharg-
ed in the morning. Those men who re-
manned would be taken care of and amply
protected, DIS we'll as the men who came to
work for the road. The road would take
on all the good men who applied for work
in the morning as far as they were needed
to fill the places of the deserters. With
great emphasis tee vice president an
nounced that he would fight the strikers
to the bitter end He said the new set
of demands he had never seen and knew
nothing about-in effect these de-
mandS are for minimum
day S wages of 81 50; the station agents to
receive an increase OF S. month; the men
in the yards at Troy and Green Island shall
receive the same compensation as at
Schenectady and East Albany; all of the
tiremen on the six wheel connected engines
shall receive 212 cents per mile; all engi-
neers on the same 4 cents; four wheel
engineers 80 cents per mile; the fremen
2 cents per mile, for all over time double
pay. Mr.. Webb announced that the
fast mail had pulled out of the
depot at nine o'clock with four mail
cars but no passengers were
attached to the train The vice president
further announced no attempt would be
made to run any trains tonight. There
are no means to get to Albany or New
England tonight but the opening up of the
great avenues of trade would be begun to-
morrow.
ALBANY, Aug. S.-LIe Central-Hudson
road is tied up from Buffalo to New York.
All the Switchmen deserted their posts.
The trains are allowed to proceed to the
terminal divisions and then the switch
service is refused
The strike was ordered on account of
the discharge of certain employees. Under
the orders every train was to be abandoned
no matter where it might be. Travel was
not only blocked on the Central railroad,
but also on the New York & New Eng
land, and the New York & Harlem roads,
which use the tracks of the Central as far
as Melrose. There is great excitement at
the depots, where great crowds of people
are gathered, who expected to take trains
out of the city. The hotels in the neigh
borhood are crowded with disappointed
travellers.
Mr.. Webb stated that outside of local
short distance trains there were fourteen
trains that ought to have left the station
between 7 o'clock and midnight. Only one
of these trains went out-the fast mail
train They surely would have trains run
ming in the morning.
j. bland, of the executive board of
knights of labor, has been seen only few
minutes later He expressed himself as
firmly I'd Webb, only his way of put
ting it i, = the trains would not move
for seve,,t mornings. In Webb 5
office telegraph instrument was clicking.
A reporter, who could read the instrument,
heard Utica call up New Yolk and ask
for men to be sent there to get the pas
senger cars out of the yard. Another mes
sage from Palmyra said the freight in the
yards at that point was blocked, and that
all freight is at stand-still. Then New