Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-18
THE RESULT OF A HOAX.
sANTE FE TELEGRAPHERs TAKE A
DAY OFF.
The Business of the Entire System
Brought to a standstill by
Forged Order to Strike.
Tho Joker Fired.

TOPEKA, Kan, Oct. 1.-THE great
strike of the telegraphers on the Santa
Fe system, which began this morning,
was all the result of hoax. The oper-
ators were informed by Chief Ramsay
tonight that the order directing them to
strike was forgery, and instructing
them to return at once to their posi-
tions. The operators Immediately re-
turned to their keys, and the work of
Strengthening out the tangle caused by
the strike began.
Op orator Baker, at Dodge City, after
reading the account of the strike on the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe divisions
OF the Santa Fe system, thought he
would play joke upon the manager of
his office, and wrote out message order
ing a etrike, and signed Chief Ramsey's
name thereto, and laid it on the man
ager'e desk. Manager Sweet after read
ing it, Immediately repeated the mes
sage to the next station. Within fifty
minutes it was received by every opera
tor on the system, and fifteen minutes
later, every one struck.
Baker is doubtless the only man who
got any fun out of the joke, for it was a
moet eerious business tor the Santa Fe
road and the operators generally. i
was not until O'Clock this evening thai
| Chief Ramsay was put in pos
| session of the facts, and he
Immediately ordered the men bacl
to work. During the day the entire sys
tenn from Chicago to the Pacific Coast,
and from Kansas City to Galveston, was
practically tied up, over 1000 operators
being idle. The only man who re-
mained at his post was the operator
at Barclay, Kan, who says he knew the
order was hoax. The loss to the com.
pany is very great, while the only bene-
fit to the operators ia in showing the
perfect manner in which they are organ.
| lied.
Joker Baker was discharged. e
| THE RIO GRANDE STRIKE.
DENVER, Colo, Oct. 1.-THE strike oi
engineers, conductors and trainmen on
the second and third divisions of the
Denver and Rio Grande railway re.
mains in almost the same condition as
last night. Business on the divisions
is Almost at q standstill, anC
the effects of the strike are felt along the
line. The men on the first and fourth
| divisions are still at work, and it il
learned the conductors and engineers or
these divisions will not strike unless
forced to do 80 by their superior officers
| Chairman Vickery, of the Order O
Railway Telegraphers said today thai
unless a settlement of the trainmen's
strike was made, the telegrsphers on the
Rio Grand would all come out. Tht
strikers are peaceable and no disturb
ance has occurred.
Trains are sent out from here, but gl
only to Pueblo and Csfion City. NJ
trains are yet crossing Marshall pass, OF
running on either of the lines between
Salida and Grand Junction. All bust
ness for Alamoea and Santa Fe goe
from Pueblo via Las Vegas pass. Pas
senger business from California is trans
ferred to the Colorado Midland at Crane
Junction.
THE GULF LINE STRIKE.
GALVESTON, Tex, Oct. 17.-Promptl.
at 7 O'Clock, Sunday evening, almos
every operator and station agen
of the Gulf, Colorado and Sant'
Fe system struck. The caus
of the strike was the refusal of thu
company to comply with the demant
for $50 monthly maximum pay, instea,
of $50, with IL hours to constitute
days work.
The strike tonight is in statu quo. al
the operators and agents on the line
except about 20, are out.