Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-20
A RAILROAD CRISIS.
New York Central Firemen May be Or.
dered Out Today.

dered Out Today.
The great railroad strike is approaching a
crisis. ANY moment may see q general tie-up
on the entire New York Central system. II
seems to be the general opinion of the men
that Mr.. Webb's action in refusing to arbitrate
! will result in the train conductors fremen and
switchmen being called out and q prodigious
| strike declared.
The labor leaders held conference. which
lasted far into the night, to determine what
action they would take, and it is not known
whether or not the fremen will be ordered out.
but such is the general impression. The con-
ference, it ia true. will have jurisdiction over
/ the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. but
| at the same time il is one of the ruIes NJ the
| brotherhood that they will not and cannot work
! with non-union men, 30 that if the fremen
should go on strike a matter of course there
| would be nothing left for the engineers but to
| quit work also.
That the railroad officials are frightened at
! the outlook Is shown by the following state
ment, which Third Vice President Webb sent
| to the Associated Press:
| NEW YORK. August ia statement has been
sent TO Albany and along the line OF this road
that expressed Indifference this morning as
70 "hetner the hremen in our employ went out
on strike or not, and that alleged that had
plenty OF men to I'LL their places There is not
WORD OF truth in the statement and I would
| thank you to insert this denial in your report.
H. WALTER WEBB,
Third Vice President
PISKERroS's MEN WITHDRAWN.
1t having been alleged that the Pinkerton
men riding on the tops Of the freight trains in
cited the stoning of trains at Albany Supern-
tendent Bissell ordered that the Pinkerton
guards be withdrawn from the tops of freight
trains passing through Albany He did this
after consultation with Chief Willard who said
IT was these men brandishing their guns "a
they passed the crowds which melted the ston-
ing OF the trains There has been no stoning
OF trains whatever In consequence. The duties
OF the Plnkerton men now are confined to
patrol duty. Chief Willard thought the Pink
erton force should be taken away altogether.
when superintendent Bisseii asked him If he
anu MS men would be responsible for the pro-
lection OF the roads property in case this was
DONE the chief said he would give all the pro-
lection possible with The force at his command
and II necessary would appoint fifty special
men he added he did not think there would
be any need of other protection than that
which his present force and fifty special men
could afford. The West Albany yards are in
the town OF Watervliet outside of the iurisdic-
tion of the local authorities. 1t is there that
three-fourths Of the Pinkerton men are sta
toned
HIRING MEN IN PHILADELPHIA.
dreds of men went to the employment agency
at 18th and Arch streets, Philadelphia, yester-
day to fill strikers positions on the Central
railroad of New York. The lad" called for
head brakemen, ordinary brakemen and
switch tenders" The mems paw was to COM
mence when engaged. Manager Fralich said
that week ago he wrote to Vice President
Webb offering his services agent to secure
men for the Central He received a telegram
from General Manager John NJ. Toucey-an
order to ship one hundred men to Buffalo at
once" Over two hundred men applied before
noon and we're examined as to their qualifca-
tions for the work by former Reading rail-
road engineer named Daily. The men who
passed muster were engaged as head brakemep
at so per month, ordinary brakemen 500 and
switch tenders S55. and all we're pledged pro-
lection against violence by strikers
batch of ffty-one left Broad street station
for New York on the o'clock train, being scat
tered among the regular passengers. After be-
ing engaged the men were marched to A North
4th street, where they were questioned and
each given card having on the reverse side
the stamped word reported" and on the OBJ
verse the name of the bearer. The men were
given rigid examination by Expert DAILY, and
many old railroaders employed.
We have l.lO0 applications since Monday"
said Mr.. Fralich. and we are not hiring green
men. l received the order from the Central
railroad to ship men and am filing it. Three
hundred men leave on the $50 train from 9th
and Green streets fo- New York. fifty to go to
Troy. fifty to Palmyra and twenty five to Lyons.
The res are to be distr ibuted indiscrninately
along the Central route. Now, every one Of
thess men is a knigh: of Labor.
The did not tell me so, but / am certain
they were and they were nearly all from the
Reading railroad. Their taking these posi-
tioEs Is in retaliation for the action of the
knights Of Labor three years ago. when the
knights went back on them in the Reading
strike. They will all be provided with board
ing houses and lodgings and transit free.
While We send 300 by special train from the
9Th and Green streets depot at $50, we expec:
10 send fully that number every day, and ex-
pect thai W. will have 1000 applications by to-
morrow"
reporter watched all outgoing trains from
$50 until 8 O'Clock last night at the Philadel-
Fhia and Reading railroad depot at 9Th and
Green streets, but no such body of men left
nor was there any special train made up ac-
cording to the officials employed III the depot
The train dispatcher. yardmaster and ticket
seller deny all knowledge of such O train
1t would take at least six coaches and Dos
sibiy seven" said the train dispatcher to ac-
commodate that number of men, and we have
received no orders to that effect neither for
$50. nor later nor earlier"
At the Broad street station the only contin-
gent known TO have gone out was the fifty-one
who left on the 5:45 train.