Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-23
FIGHTING GUERRILLA TACTICS.
0utrages Charged Upon the Strikers-oper-
ating in Small Squads.

outrages Charged Upon the Strikers-oper-
ating in Small Squads.
BUFFALO, n. T., Aug. 23-It is difficult for
persons at q distance to clearly appreciate the
indignities which are daily imposed upon the
present switchnen in the railway yards here
and upon the militia who are protecting men
and property. Gen. Porter characterizes the
situation in this respect as guerrilla warfare.
The men who left their work in the railway
yards ten DAYS ago are alleged by their leaders
to be innocent of any depredations. The onus
of the assault and Of the attempts upon prop
erty, which are of almost daily occurrence. are
charged upon the class of floating vsgrants.
The former svitchmen condemn the sheriff be-
cause troops were ordered here. and il is as
serted that should they be removed no violence
would be done IN any direction During the
three DAYS past. and while vehement demands
had been made for the withdrawal of the sol
diers, a correspondent has collated several in
stances, which if not an evidence of hostility.
may be left for construction or characterization
bv those who protest against the presence of
the troops and who claim that no violence is
being done.
ATTRIBUTED TO STRIKERS.
switehman employed about the New York
Centrals main depot said to Superintendent
Rossiter of the Central upon this subject: .Of
course they do not trorble US here about the
depot, because they dare not but they have
frightened my wife nearly TO death. going TO
NV home and threatening her that my house
would be burned unless quit work"
Freign: train No. SO stood in the Erie wards
at East Buffalo between Babcock street and
Bailey avenue. Despite lire of militia pick
cts on each side of the tracks coupling pins
were pulled and the train was cut into dozen
parts. As Niagara Falls train over the Cen
tral came into this city at night a switch was
thrown out almost at the entrance TO the sta
tlon. and the man who did it ran away in the
darkness. The Central ST. Louis express train
coming into the city at night ives attacked by
men, who had been crouching behind freight
cars. and stones and scraps Of iron were hurled
at the engine and through the windows of the
coaches. flying spike fractured the arm
of trainnan. Frightened men and
women alighting from the, rear coach
were jeered by men in the darkness.
Four We're arrested. One confessed him
with scrap iron. the switchmen at work are
cursed and stoned. and this morning the cap
tain of separate company whose men
had been for some time targets for fying pieces
of coal. shouted to the men who threw them
that unless they quit the troops would swap
lead for coal piece for piece. The temper of
the intruders is evidenced by the response:
I'VE can't fight lead with coal. but we would
like to be on an even footing with you for about
twenty minutes; We would teach You to come
here and interfere in our business"
READY TO DEFEND HIMSELF
Among the new switchmen at work in the
Seneca street yard Of the Erie is W. II. Esterlin.
He is about thirty years DID, is attired like cow
boy and is believed TO have been one. W. A.
Hester, traffic master Of the Erie. found that
Esterlin had pistol. So did the strikers The
butt of huge weapon stuck out of his pocket
and the skirt of his jumper had caught upon
1t, revealing IT TO any one who saw the man.
Esterlin's post is close to the sidewalk Of the
stree where the strikers stood in q line
along the walk. They demanded of the police
that the switchman should be arrested for
carrying q concealed weapon. "Do you call
that weapon concealed?' asked Esteriin, who
speaks with a drawl I'm not carrying a con-
cealed weapon" The police decided that
he might not carry the pistol and demanded it's
surrender. Mr.. Hester, however, said that he
would take the pistol and lock II up. Esterlin
objected. "h you let me keep my gun" he
drawled, 81 don't care q rap for the police or
militia I've been pretty much used to taking
care Of myself" From o clock to pm. Es-
terlin worked at his post, enduring the foulest
abuse from the roads former employees. Once
he remarked to his tormentors, "I can't fight
your tongues, but il you'll lay hand ON me,
one at time, I'll knock OF work and have some
fun with you When he went to supper at 2
O'Clock Mr.. Hester restored to him bis pistol
Next day as Mr.. Hiester passed through the boy
was at his post. He dropped one eyelid half
down in a droll fashion and hunched one hip
significantly. He had his big pistol under
cover. Esterliu was preceded at his post by
Thomas Griffith, who occupied IL Just twenty
minutes and then ran away in deadly fear Of the
men who were abusing him.
oPERATIxo THE SMALL SQUAD.
''This strike ID different from any other We
have had to contend WITH" remarked promi-
nent police officer this morning. "You notice
the strikers do not assemble in riotous crowds.
where they could be charged and dispersed by
the police and militia. Instead Of this they
travel in tvos and threes, and overt scts are
done ON that policy. II makes detection ex-
ceedingiy difficult unless, OF course. thew are
caught in the act These are Gases at random
and their counter acts. or worse, are occurring
daily within the railway district, which has 4
sweep Of twenty miles. Naturally those Who
sce and know Of these overtures from the idle
men ask themselves and others what, In view Of
these facts, while the territory h guarded would
be the conditions Of men and property With the
troops Withdrawn and the Prssent svitchmen
left with only their Asts for protection = they