The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-08-18
THE BUFFALO STRIKE.
STRIKERS DECLARE THEY DID NOT SET
FIRE TO THE CARS.
Railroads Loss Heavy, Both in Cars and
Freight-Incendiaris Continues and
Firemen are Impeded - Police
Force Being Strengthened.

the coal train down the trestle.
Grand Master Sweeney of Chicago, in
charge of the strikers, said it was alb
surd to think that any of the switch
men would be foolish enough to go to
such extreme lengths when the strike
was on. 1.-The Western New York
and Pennsylvania has given in to the
men," he said, land we have every
reason to suppose that in day or two
the other roads will come into line on
the new scale and all will be settled.
Under the circumstances it is foolish
to imagine the switchmen are con-
cerned in this incendiarism." A
significant incident that was
connected with the fire was that
when the firemen arrived at the yards
and failed to couple their hose to the
hydrant they were approached by
mum Der of men who told them not to
hurry, they had plenty of time. This
action seems to have been concerted,
for about the same time the hose men
were approached by the engineers Of
the steamers and were told to take it
easy, as steam might be shut off.
Just what the damage will amount
to is not known yet and cannot be
known until all waybills are exam
ined. The loss to the company
in the destruction or its cars and
buildings by fire and smashing
of the big water tank and coal cars
which were let down the trestle, will
amount to more than $40, 900. AS near
as can be estimated, all the burned
cars were loaded, so the loss of their
contents must be large. The contents
of the cars, which were not burned,
were soaked with water. Fruits and
meats in refrigerator cars were almost
baked by the heat, and a great por-
tion will be lost.
d MORE INCENDIARIsM.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Aug. 15.-At 2
o'clock this morning train of twenty
cars filled with fine merchandise was
set on fire mile west of William
street. Having no protection it burnt
fiercely. At 8 o'clock the passengers
of two trains which were ditched near
Williams street were brought to the
station. Nobody was injured but
none cared to repeat their dreadful
experience. Superintendent Brunn
at that hour reported fires still raging
among the cars and said the sheriff
seems powerless to interfere, though
he has been called on to help protect
1ortxy I.Ql nthirnor Il 10
occurred. The fire appeared to be
then under control. The Western
Union lost all their wires, which they
attribute to fire.
STRENGTHENING THE POLICE FORCE.
BUFFALO, Aug 15.-Police commits
soners were busy today swearing in
special policemen on account of the
railroad strike. The sheriff was also
busy swearing in special deputies for
duty in the yards at Heektowaga
which is outside the city limits and
beyond the jurisdiction of the city
police. The sheriff will not call upon
the military except as last resort.
The fire department complain that
the work of the men at the freight Car
fires was much impeded by the cut.
F ting of hose by unknown parties
Twelve lengths of hose were cut and
rendered useless during the night.
CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 15.-The
switchmen's strike on the Lehigh
: Valley railroad, while viewed with
becoming seriousness by the Reading
management, occasions no apprehen
sion as to the outcome thereof. Men in
numbers more than sufficient to fill
the places of the strikers have beer
|, secured, they say, and thus far there
has been no absolute stoppage o.
traffic. Three freight trains were
moved this morning. None of the
perishable freight was stopped. In
an interview today Mr.. Mcleod gave
some very interesting information re-
grading the strike:
ITO intelligently understand the
situation at Buffalo," he explained
"you must know that Buffalo is the
dividing line between the Western
roads and the trunk lines
Both concentrate there, and thai
point forms geographical line be
tween the western and eastern rail
way systems. 1t likewise supplies ,
line of differing conditions between
the eastern and the western roads
Roads west of Buffalo get higherrate
for traffic, classifications are highe
and everything is on higher scale
and the cost of living to railway EN-
ployes, hence they are paid higher
8 wages than are paid east. Some year
= ago the labor organizations, starting
: at Chicago, inaugurated movement
7 for higher wages along the western
l lines, moving eastward in their worl
: of arbitration. One by on,
t they took in various railroad
yards, until Buffalo was reached
Here the two systems meet, and here
as at Chicago, the employees of tn
!, western roads get higher wages be
; cause western roads, receiving bette
rate, can afford the difference. Walk
ing delegates jumped at the opportun
ity and urged equalization of wage
It Notwithstanding the widely differing
j. conditions. When asked for an ad
II vance the Eastern roads, at Buffalo
u all declined to accede except the Dele
ware, Lackawana and Western rail
j. way, which granted the advance, al
# though in so doing exercised NANTES
j. discrimination against other employe
IN tho Fact A Ithouoh tho obi ul