Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09
THE SITUATION AT ALBANY.
Prospect Of the Biggest Strike the
Country Ever Saw.

ALBANY, MY, August 9-From observation,
at this, the almost controlling station OF the
Central railroad lines, it 10 evident that the
strike of the employees is going to be one
of the most stubborn and formidable in the
history of the country. 1t is here tina,
trouble is expected, for here are massed
the best OF the roads detectives
and numerous Pinkerton specials. The pres
ence of the latter serves to sggravato the case,
for the knights of Labor are bitter foes Of the
Pinkerton secret service. The railroad author
tiles here are inclined to be reticent, but NO
more so than the men themselves. Mr.. Wilson
). Bissell, general superintendent of the road
for this section. admitted TO the United Press
representative this morning that the strike had
assumed a most serious aspect.
No trains of any description are running
and the Buffalo yard went out this morning, "
said MIR. Bissell. I'VE have sent out the road q
ultimatum in the matter requiring the men to
go to work or else consider themselves dis
charged. We believe we shall be able to fill
their places. / do not know when We shall be
able TO send out a train. You understand that
our position in the matter is simply that we be-
iieve we have a right to discharge and hire as
We please. We discharged certain men be-
cause they were labor agitators. We shall not
yield an inch"
WILL SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS
Mr.. Bissell admitted that MIR. Vanderbilt,
through Vice President Webb had issued an
order to fight the strike even if they had TO
spend a million dollars. Mr.. Bissel further
admitted that he thought the strike would be
one OF the largest and most extended ever
seen in this country. Not a train has arrived
or left here since l o'clock this morning and no
encouragement is given by the road that there
will be any. There are eight long
freight trains lying here with thousands
OF dollars worth Of perishable goods in
them. Between here and Schenectady at least
ten trains are stalled and the blockade will take
many days to break even If the strike ends
The men thoroughly organized and claim
this morning that they have the best OF the
road. District Master Workman Lee said this
morning that the knights of Labor would issue
statement tonight showing Just what their
position is. If what they claim is true. thew
are able to paralyZe the commerce of the state
and partially the country. 1t is said that to-
night the West Shore and Erie roads will be
shut down and that by tomorrow noon there
will not be a railroad in the state in operation.
When asked about this Mr.. Lee said that the
central road would find that in their contract
to break the organization of the knights thew
had undertaken too much. II needs be the
knights could get the engineers and firemen to
go out and that would completely stop traffic.
Not only that but if goods shipped over the
road were taken by any boat line that line
would also be stopped.
COULD NOT MOVE THE TRAINS
Third Vice President Webb teiegraphed "a
Mr.. Bissell this morning to fill the strikers
places. but so far no action has been taken.
The Knights are in session at their headauar.
tiers and the doors are closely guarded 1t is
believed that they are preparing statement
The orders OF the knights are not to modest
and indeed to assist any mail train through
The mail from the west went through here four
hours late and the southern mail was five hours
lates The conductors and baggage men were
doing the breaking for the trains. No other
trains of any description are running.
The first attempt to send train through was
made this morning and was unsuccessful An
engine with six cars loaded with perishablt
goods was started out of West Albany. Hardly
had it gone twenty yards when the engineer
Was compelled to reverse his lever, the track
being filled with a perfect horde OF men who
said not word but refused to move When
the train stopped the men boarded the engine
and in a few minutes there was not a maI
visible the engineer and fireman having JOINED
the strikers. At IL o'clock this morning az
attempt was made to move a train in the depo
yard posse of police were present to await
the commands of Yardmaster Foster. The
strikers blockaded the tracks and defed the
police.
shall / move them?" asked the sergeant oil
Foster.
Foster looked at the men minute and ther
said; Il shall not give any orders"
Mr.. Bissen also seemed afraid to take tn,
responsibility, but suggested that the men b,
| arrested for vagrancy. This the police refused
TO do and tho train did not move.
THE MILITIA UNDER CALL
The militia have been warned to be read,
for call. Two thousand rounds of ammunition
have been distributed among four companies
| Squad warrants have been issued and the mel
! can be gotten together in an hours time.
At IL o'clock train for the west with q mai
car attached WAS allowed to proceed and on
] Tor the south soon followed The passsuge