The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-21
ALMOST A RIOT.
Jersey Central and Lehigh
Valley Workmen in
Collision.
FIGHTING FOR THE row PATH.
The Presence Of Chhief Murphy
and His Policemen Alone
Averts BIoodshed.

Last evening between six and seven
O'Clock Roadmaster Hige ms. OF the Cen-
trail Railway, appeared on the scene Of
the catastrophe between the Central and
Lehigh roads at the Griffing Iron Works.
with two hundred men armed with picks
and shovels The men commenced work
at once, making preparations 70 lay SIN
gle track along the canal three feet from
the towpath. Within half an hour near
ly two hundred feet Of track hnd been
laid, and then gang Of Lehigh Valley
employees put In appearances and At
tempted 10 stop the work OF Mr.. Higxin$
men By sinking ties between the rails
laid, SO as to preyeLt a train from being
run in from the Central spur
A fight between the laborers seemed
inevitable, and word was at once sent to
Captain McKaig 70 send squad Of police
to the scene. When the police arrived the
Central employees were tearing out the
ties put In between the tracks BY the L<e-
high men. At half-past eight O'Clock
Central railway engine with five car loads
of steel rails steamed In from the spur
and crushed through the high board
fence into the stock yard Of the iron
works. The greatest excitement pre-
vailed, and word was sent TO Police
Headquarters for more men. Chief Of
Police Murphy at once dispatched squad
of police to the yard, with orders 10 ar
rest any man who attempted to inctte
riot.
THE LEHIeH's SHARP MOVE
A short time after the extra bluec0ats
arrived; the Lehigh Valley employes.were
ordered of the grounds Of the Central
Company. The Lehigh Valley then COM
menced TO lay a track on the towpath-
Il took but short time to ascertain what
their new move meant: the newly laid
track Of the Central Railroad was to be
undermined and thrown out of the way
and the Lehigh Valley track put down Ia
its stead.
Roadmaster Higgins upon learning Of
this sent for q train load Of rocks and
within two hours the work of the LehlEh
employees was successfully checked Dr
the dumping of tons Of stone outside the
Centrars track. This caused q fight bs-
tween several Of the laborers, and fear
sent TO Headquarters for more men,
Chief Murphy quickly appeared on the
scene with another squad or men and
prevented any more trouble.
Work was continued all night by both
roads and this morning at nine o'clock
the Central had finished laying single
track from its Newark and New York
branch on the driveway Of the Iron
Works to Communipew avenue
THE CITY OFFICIALS ON HAND
Commissioner Dugan, OF the Board Of
Street, and Water Commissioner. and
Street Superintendent Tunulty were on
hand promptly and ordered Captain Nc
KAig TO arrest any man who attempted
to lay rail across Comuunipaw avenue
The Lehigh Valley employees are now
widening the tow path with the intention
Of placing track all along sthe canal to
connect with the tracks south of the
Pacific avenue bridge. A large force Of
men are working also on the Pacific ave
que end and the tracks viii undoubtedly
be connected by sun down.
Roadmaster Higgins has still force Of
seventy men at work tearing up the
driveway leading to the Griffing Iron
Works, and laying sleepers between the
tracks, making access 20 the works by
this way utterly impossible. In order to
prevent any attempt TO tear up the tracks
already land. Mr.. Higgins has three en-
gines and thirty-five heavily loaded fiar
cars chained 70 the tracks All traffic on
the canal is stopped as the towpath Is i'm
passible.
Captain McKaig and large force Of
men are still on duty at the scene pro-
tecting the city's property, and prevent
ing any breach Of the peace.