Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-08-26
RIOFING In BUFFALO.
Serious Results of a Switch
mems Strike.
Railroad Property Burned and
Troops Ordered Out.

1enl2h a1leV RAILROADS at buualO, ~. =,
has turned out to be serious matter. There
had been more or less trouble between the
strikers and their sympathizers and the men
who were doing the strikers work, and few
desultory assaults occurred. Things began
to put a more serious aspect at two
o'clock IN le morning when series OF IN
cendiary fires broke out slmuit4ne ously IN
the Lehigh Valley yards. Eighteen or
twenty freight cars filled with wool,
cotton. hay and various other mer-
chandise, two passenger coaches and two
watchmen's houses were burned. The fires
occurred at places where the hremen could
not successfully stay the flames. on account
of an absence of water, besides the difficulty
of access to the fires.
The fire first discovered was in what is
known as the east-bound yards. Here the
watchnan saw flames burst from the little
office building, and ran to give the alarm.
This spot is fully h. If mile from the west
yards.
He had not gone half the distance when
he turned around and saw that the flames
had burst out among the 500 or more cars.
In the meantime Yardmaster Mead,
at the west end of the yards had dis
covered flames in the two pas
senger coaches which were uSad to carry
workmen up and down the road, and all
alarm had been turned in from William and
Dingens streets. Toe ireroen were delayed
owing TO LQe OaQ OF D!QSeuS
street, and when they got on the tracks the
two cars and the little building had been de-
stroyed.
Other fires broke out in different places,
and more freight cars were destroyed The
damage by fire was estimated at 500 OOO
Passengers on the Erie and Lehigh Valley
trains that were ditched stated that strikers
went through the coaches, detached the
engine and broke the air connections.
81. Dickerman, a commercial travel
the trains, said no violence was attempted
with any OK the passengers. He continued:
"Three strikers boarded our train
They were all apparently sober and
met with no resistance. They politely
Informed the passengers that ths train
tall fellow, light complexion and with sandy
hair. He simply stated that he was striker;
had wife and family TO maintain, and the
road would not do the square thing by the
men,"
The cars destroyed we're in the midst of a
great mum Der of other cars. The firemen
uncoupled a number of cars and removed
them from danger. A dozen or so cars were
thrown from the Lehigh tracks, and a SIM
liar number from the Erie, by misplaced
switches.
There was little disorder through the
following day, but several freight cars were
burning i'll the Erie and Lehigh yards, and
it is estimated that more than 100 were
burned between midnight and daylight
Some of these contained Brussels carpets
and other costly goods. While
the flames burned the strikers ieered at the
fremen. and in some cases interfered with
them. In the afternoon Sheriff Beck went
out to the scene of disorder with a posse of
forty-two men, each armed with new ash
clubs and shining handouts. The men
had been on the grounds only
short time when they were
met by thirty or forty strikers and asked to
disarm. The deputies promptly surrendered
their clubs, which the strikers considerably
gathered up and piled into Sheriff Beck's
buggy. The Sheriff drove back to town and
at once asked General Peter Doyle to call
out the militia.
General Doyle ordered out both regiments
of the National Guard. They were ordered
to wait at their headquarters under arms
till call was made for them to do active
service in putting down the lawlessness at
East Buffalo and beyond.
Later reports showed that the Lehigh
Valley had lost seventy-two freight cars by
the fires and the Erie fourteen.
At I A. NJ. the Sixty-fifth Regiment was
sent to Cheektowaga to guard the Lehigh
Valley and Erie yards, and half an hour
later the Sevenry-fourth Regiment was
called out protect the Central and West
Shore property.