Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-15
OUT OF THEIR JOBS
Four Hundred Switchmen OF
the Northwestern.
THE RAILWAYS COUP SUCCESSFUL.

No Trouble, Except at a Few Points, in
Getting Men to Fill the Places of
Those Discharged-The Chicago Yards
Fairly Wen Manned-OfieIaIs at the
MISUNDERSTANDING of the situation
Editor Halls COMMUNICATIVE switch
mems President to Visit the Scene of
Wsr-Violence Begun and a New Hand
Assaulted.
CHICAGO, May 15.-In the early dawn of
yesterday morning General Superiutend-
ent Sanborn, of the Northwestern rail-
way, at the head of the superintendents
of the divisions centering in Chicago,
strolled through the Wells Street station
and down the yards to the Kinzie street
bridge. Just as the city bells struck
O'Clock the retiring night gang and the
day crew who were going on duty were
informed that they were discharged and
told to get their pay at once. The blow
fell like lead on the brawny switchmen,
aud before they could fairly realize what
had been done, special police were guard
ing each switch, and General Superin-
tendent Sanborn's stentorian voice rang
out: Every man who has been discharged
must leave the company's property"
Long ranks of police backed up this or
der, which was sullenly obeyed
The Coup d'Etat" Accomplished.
In Council Bluffs, at Winona. up in
Escanaba-wherever the Chicago and
Northwestern runs-similar scenes were
being enacted. Not a switchman was
spared. Everywhere the order was read.
Without an angry word or a flying mis-
sile the great coup de'etat of American
railroading was accomplished. The men
OF an entire department of great rail-
way were simultaneously discharged for
insu bordination. As has already been
said, the move has been under considera-
ton for nearly two months as a last re-
sort IN case which required dies perate
remedy.
High Omcisls Handling switches
The situation in Chicago was lively In
the Wells street passenger yard Luke
Wheeler the latest man on the road and
assistant superintendent OF the Galena
division, was hingiRg switches with til,
ease OF Veteran, while just across the
death line a large NUM- Der of discharged
switchmen nursed their wrath up TO a
boiling pitch in the hot sun. Down at
south Branch and Wool street J. II. Map
tin was in charge, merely attempting to
move perishable freight and live stock.
QUO Miller, superintendent of the Galena
o4Vlsion, was in charge at Western ave-
nue. and West Fortieth street. w. H |
Gardner, superintendent OF the Wiscon-
sin and Milwaukee, divisions, remained on |
the north side
kSery ing Running Smoothly.
At Il O'Clock Superintendent w. \. |
Gardner, of the Wisconsin aud Milwaukee |
divisions, reported to General Manager !
Whitman that on the lines under his jur. |
isdiction in Chicago and Milwaukee all |
passenger crews were full and all trains |
running on time. Yardmaster McNerny |
was reinstated yesterday morning perma- |
nently. The most serious trouble was on the |
Galena disvision, Upon touooD no freight /,
train We're. moving. AT that time one |
freight train was sent west from Clinton,
and the company had another ready to go |
east. Later three were sent out of South /
Branch,
The Situation Last Night.
At O'Clock last night a conference was |
held between General Manager Whitman, |
General Superintendent San born and the |
division superintendents. 1t was agreed, |
after the work of the day had been fully |
that affairs were in excellent |
shape, and it was decided to receive |
freight from eastern connections when |
business opened this morning Reports |
received from along the line by General |
Manager Whitman show that the change |
was easily and quietly made In Milwau- |
kee. the point next in importance to Chi |
eago, the worst delays were experienced, |
as only two-thirds force was at work in |
the freight yards at that place. At all |
other points everything was movi ny |
smoothly.