Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-01
STRIKING SEWERMEN.
One Hundred and Sixty Men
Out on a Strike.
They are Afraid the B anks Will Cave in
on Them and are Wanting $50
Per Day for Their Work.

One hundred anc sixty negroes
at work in the sewerage
system went out ol a strike this
morning. The trouble dates back to
yesterday when tile bank of the
sewer ditch in tho alley between
College and Main streets caved in,
partly burying one ilan. The cause
of this cave-in was hat an old well
had been filled up al the place few
years ago, and the bank of course
was soft. This banl, caving in filled
a few superstitious regroes with fear.
They began talking about the banks
caving in all along the line, and the
result was that the majority of the
negroes got out Of the ditch and
began discussing the matter. Mr..
Quinn, the contractor, saw that they
were uneasy and thought it best TO
stop operations for the evening,
though there were many men in the
crowd who expire ssed a desire to
keep on at work. But the contract
ors saw there was trouble brewing
and told the men to go home and
come back this morning.
About o'clock this morning fifty
or sixty negroes assembled at the
place where the bank caved in and
decided that they would not work
and that they would compel those
who were at work on College and
Spring streets to join them in the
strike.
Some eight or ten negroes armed
themselves with clubs and rocks
and headed the gang for the College
street sewer. They came down
the hill to where the men were
at work yelling and cursing,
and ordered all the men TO get
out Of the bitches. The men being
taken by surprise were scared out
of their wits almost and there was
TO see who should get out
FIRST. Some ten OF twelve negroes,
though, who had more grit than the
others remained, and it was for Il
time thought the,e was danger OF
bodily harm to them. The entire
police force was called to the scene
and soon quoted the most boisterous
of the strikers, and stood guard over
the men that wanted to work.
When quiet wai restored and the
negroes had gotten over their scare, "A
was nude to Mr.. Quinn
that they would &c back to work for
$50 per day. This was promptly
refused by the conf ractOr The men
are paid one dollar per day, and get
their money every Saturday night.
They refused, how ever to get back
to their work for less than $3.50 per
day, and the most outspOken ones
say they never will 60 back for less,
and that they will not let any others
work for anything under the figure.
A LEAE. CHRONICLE reporter
talked with some Of the quiet men
and learned that there were many of
them willing to go back to work
only they are afraid of bodily harm
from the others. While they are not
afraid of them, at the sewer, with a
police force to back them, they claim
that the strikers will whip them
when night comes
Thus the matter stands. Out of
III negroes employed on the work
only about twelve are on duty to-
lay. The Others are standing
around in knots, discussing the sit
nation, and occasionally guying the
)nes who are at work and threaten
ng to throw rocks on them.
Mr.. Quinn says he has fifty appli-
.aiions for work every day, and that
Is ON as the little excitement sub.
ides there will be no trouble in get
ing them to work. He thinks that
~ Monday there will be a full lorce
IN the work and that the strike will
)e almost forgotten.
LATER DEN ELOPMENTs.
Warrants were sworn out about
noon to day for the leaders Of the
'rowd that went - the College street
ever and stopped the men from
work. There were seven or eight
Who were in the lead, and three of
hem have been arrested and lodged
II Jail. Mr.. Gu mn is filling the
'laces Of the strikers with new men
IS fast as they ca get them and ut
he time OF going press had about
half force at woik.
Building Permits.