Evening journal., 1892-08-16
SOLDIERS UNDER ARMS
The Switchmen's Strike at Buff
falo Increases in Violence.
OVER 200 CARS HAVE BEEN BURNED


alton Is becoming Extremely critical.
BUFFALO, Aug. iG.-Two regiments Of
state troops have been ordered out TO sup
press riotous demonstrations here conse-
quent upon the switchmen's strike. They
are resting on their arms, ready to respond
at a moments notice.
Passenger trains arriving are carefully in
spected by strikers who go through the
cars inquiring Of each passenger whence he
came, whittier he is going and what his
business is Trains Of freight cars have been
fired and strikers have Knocked those who
strove to quench the flames Travellers
have been robbed, though it is said that the
robbers are not strikers, but lawless men
who have taken advantage Of the situation.
Perishable freight is no longer received at
some points along the lines affected. The
railway authorities express determination
- conquer in the struggle, and the switch,
men manifest equal determination to carry
their point.
Mail trains have been stopped and the
government has been notified, which adds
to the seriousness Of the situation, and
scenes of further violence are feared The
hospitals are all in readiness for emergency
calls Every ambulance ia the city stands
IN front Of the hospitals ready for service.
The full force Of surgeons has been ordered
on duty and is in the hospitals in waiting.
Burned $50 Cars.
A party Of strikers set fire TO twenty
empty cars on the Erie tracks at Cheekt0
waga, mile beyond the city line. In all
about $50 cars have been burned. The
strikers held a meeting in Gamielh Acl be-
hind closed doors No information was
given out Grand Master Sweeney was
present, and 1t is reported that he oensured
the men for their recklessness in destroying
property.
sheriff Beck met with poor success in an
swer 20 his call for deputies at s. u day.
They deserted as fast as they reached East
Buffalo. and the sheriff decided 10 call out
the militia.
The sheriff and Chief Of Police Morgen-
stern visited the scene Of the strike and
gave instructions TO their men. There isno
possible doubt now that the strike is q seri-
Gus one, and that the strikers viii stop at
nothing to compass their ends. The policy
OF the strikers seems TO be to stall trains by
sidetmckiug them, delay them by pulling
pins, and wreck them, If possible, by letting
them run into open switches The strikers
are said 10 be ready 10 adopt any methods
OF attack calculated TO delay or stop trains
aud block the traffic Of the road.
The Situation Worse.
The situation at the Erie yards is worse,
II anything. than yesterday aud the day
before. All the assistant yurdmasters have
gone out. and only Mr.. Barrett, the general
yardmaster. remains on duty There is
not wheel moving in any OF the yards"
said one man. But this can hardly be taken
literally, as many passenger trains are NOV
ing. What was meant by the expression Is
that no freight trains were being moved
and that an the switch engines were tied
up. That seems 20 be the fact. for there
are 80 least twenty-five switch engines in
the yanis that cannot be stirred. Every
now and then one Of them Is moved back
and forth along the track 70 show that the
switchmen do not hold complete sway.
At least 800 men. switchmen, assistant
yardmasters and Others are out These are
confined entirely 20 the three roads on
which the strike originated, but It is more
than likely that men on the roads viii join
IN the strike
A quarter Of a million dollars worth Of
property Is spelling IN the thousand or more
cars which cannot be moved. The cutting
Of the wires and poles has seriously affected
the train dispatcher's business, and he now
has lnemen at work repairing the work
done BY the strikers. All the wires which
ran into the Erie depot of which there were
at least q dozen, are down, and IL viii be
several hours before communication can be
established again between the disconnected
points
A message from the head Office Of the
Philadelphia aud Reading road in this city
states that the road will issue formal an
nOuncement Of a reward Of 5000 for in
formation leading TO conviction Of any per.
son injuring its property or interfering
with its employees in the discharge of their
duties.
Several Assaults Committed.
Several more or less serious assaults were
committed by strikers. Charles A. Hershey
OF 523 North Division street, was working
IN the Erie yard The strikers told him Il
desist, but he refused. A striker beat hin
on the head aud face with a coupling pin
He was taken to the Emergency hospital
-Four men were arrested for the assault.
Henry Schrader, of Port Jervis VIII,
acted as conductor on a train bringing work
men from the east TO take the strikers
places, was badly beaten. AS the train cam
into the yards It was boarded by the strik
ers, and Schra0er was at once recognized
He was knocked down with coupling hi
aud then kicked about the head, face an
neck
Conductor Nevells, Of Elm street, was OF
dered out with an east bound train. As
was leaving the yards he ran into an one
switch, and cutting the train in two Newell
took the engine 20 run TO the shops for IN
working crew, whereupon he was struc
with pin and knocked senseless.
Frank Gilday, a brakeman on the Err
ROAD, was attacked by gang Of strikers
the yards this morning. He was struck O
the head with a coupling pin and received
severe scalp wound
Sweeney Frowns on Violence.
Frank Sweeney, grand master Of Il
6witchmens union, was seen, and in rep
10 questions be said
u believe in fighting fair / do not b
lieve in injuring property nor In assaultn
men, nor 10 any lawless act. We can do Ii
roads harm enough by withdrawing OF
men. The stalling of freight cars does
great deal more injury than the burning
a few cars. These lawless acts are not oou
tenanced by me nor by the local leaders