Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-16
The STRIKING SW|TCHMEN,
Little Progress Made Upon
Either Side.
The Strikers Offer Resistance
to a Sheriff.
The State Militia Called Out to Pro-
tect Property.
Losses by Fire Greatly Exaggerated.
Sixty Non-union Men Refuse to Go
to Work-The Strike Affect
Ing Other Roads.


by the Assoclated PIess.l
BUFFALO, Aug. 15.-The police COM
missioners today are busy swearing in
special policemen on account of the rail-
road strike. The sherig is also swearing
in deputies outside the city limits, after
which the sheriff will call on the mili-
tary, only as last resort. In the ruins
of one of the cars burned last night, the
police have found the remains of an
empty kerosene can, showing the man
ner in which the fire was started by the
incendiaries. The car department men
claim the work of the men at the freight
car department was much impeded by
the cutting Of hose by unknown parties.
Twelve lengths OF hose were cut and
rendered useless during the night.
FIRES AND DEPREDATIoNs.
1t is estimated that from 120 to 200
cars were destroyed by the incendiary
fires. Everything was quiet at the yards
up to noon. 1t is reported that the
strike will be likely to spread to the
Erie yards at Hornellsville. Grand
Master Sweeney mphatically- condemns
the acts of lawlessness, and states that
it was the work of irresponsible indi-
viduale who could not be controlled,
and not the act OF strikers.
1t was reported that during the morn
ing gang of men pulled the pins from
Erie trains near the William-street
crossing, and extra police were sent to
the scene.
CHARGED WITH ASSAULT.
Two striking switchmen, John Gibson
and John Shafer, were in the police
court this morning, charged with as
savlting Charles Hershey. Frank
Brundage of the Lehigh Valley, and E.
@. Sprague Of the Erie, appeared to
prosecute. The case was put over to
Thursday.
A rumor prevailed at noon today,
that freight conductor Martin Nevils of
the Erie, had died this morning from
the result of bis Injuries. Nevils was
hit on the head, it was supposed by a
slungehot. He was dazed for short
time, but at noon today he was on the
streets.
IN THE SUBURBS.
Reliable reports received from East
Buffalo and Cheektowaga showed that
the Lehigh Valley had lest 72 freight
cars by the fire and the Erie ID. All the
railroad men profess to be utterly una
BILE at present to fix the estimate of the
loss. They are acting very cautiously
on this point, for the reason that claim
will be made against the city and county
for damages, and the amount, of course,
has not yet been figured up. 1t is
known, however, that many OF the cars
were old and empty.
The Erie train, reported in last
nights dispatches as being on fire. did
not contain merchandise OF extra value.
Forty-seven special deputy sheriffs
left for Cheektowaga at 12 go and more
will be sent out during the afternoon.
If the sheriff finds he can not preserve
order he will appeal to the governor for
aid.
SENSATIONAL RUMoRs.
Many sensational rumors are in circu-
lation in which the extent of incendiary
work was greatly exaggerated, but the
above can be accepted as reliable and
correct.
Passengers on the Erie and Lehigh
valley trains that were ditched did not
reach the Erie depot until 2 :45 a. m.
They stated that the strikers went
through the coaches, detached the en-
gines and broke the air connections.
Dickerman, drummer, who was on
board one Of the trains, said no violence
was attempted with any of the psssen-
gers. He continued: sThree strangers
boarded our train. They were appar-
emily sober, and met with no resistance
They politely informed the passen-
gers that the train would go no fur
ther. The spokesman was tall fellow
with light complexion and with sandy
hair. He simply stated that he was q
striker and that he had a wife and
family to maintain, and the road would
not do the square thing by the men,"
A party of actors were mistaken for
non-union men, and were closely in
spected by the strikers, but were found
to be actors, and were not molested,
OTHER BUFFALO ROADS.
Grand Master Sweeney, in an inter
view this afternoon, said: "The strike
has spread to Waverly, and will proba-
bly, go to Hornellsville and Bradford,
where the switchmen are dissatisfied.
1t has not spread to any of the other
roads in Buffalo. We have come to an
agreement with the Western, New York
and Pennsylvania on the hour basis,
and will have no trouble with that road.
A conference with the general superin-
tendent Of the Buffalo and Rochester
and Pittsburg has been arranged for
today. ! expect settlement will also
be made with that road"
| Sweeney further stated that the Erie
and Lehigh switchmeR had been treated
badly. Their advances were spurned
by those in high authority.
TRAINS FoRcrBLY DELAYED.
This afternoon twenty or thirty strik.
ing switchmen boarded freight train
pulling into the city, to set the brakes
and stall the train. They pulled the
coupling pins. threw the pins and links
into stagnant pools and disappeared. A
new supply OF pins and links was pro.
cured, and the train proceeded, amid
considerable excitement.
The only Lehigh valley train that
moved today was coal train, which
went out at $3.50, guarded by eight 20.
| licemen. The Nickel Plate succeeded in
r.