The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-07
Shots Fired by Soldiers.

rhe first shot since the beginning Of the
strike was fired at eight o'clock n. of the
seventh day. The peacefulness that had
been characteristic Of the day was broken
by another riotous demonstration out at tho
Erie yards. Two men entered the trestle
overlooking the yard near Baily avenue,
East Buffalo, aud began pelting crew OF
yardmen who were engaged in making up a
train.
None of the railroad men were hit, but
they gave the alarm to guard OF soldiers,
who ran toward the trestle on double time.
They were met with volley Of stones and
promptly returned it with volley OF bul
lets.
The men on the trestle ran and two more
voleys were fired after them, but the bu.-
lets whistied wide of the mark and the stone
throwers disappeared in the darkness. The
shots alarmed the pickets all along the line,
however, and in few minutes company
Of soldiers were in hot pursuit.
Amember of the Twenty-second Regiment
of New York City was seriously stabbed.
The soldier was assaulted by three men on
lift Farm, where the regiment was sta
toned. He received three serious cuts in toe,
left arm, the wounds being deep. The
soldier was sent into Buffalo and taken to
New Yo.k.
Grand Master Switchmsn Sweeney, leader
of the strikers, stated, in all interview, that
in all AIS men were out on strike, divided
among the roads as follows: New York, =
Lake Erie and Western, SS; Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern, g.: New York, Chicago
and ST. Louis, A; New York Central and
Hudson River, l2S; West Shore, IL; Lehigh
Valley, "a, Buffalo Crees, %; Buffalo
Creek (non-union men>, ).
During the day two OF the strikers were
z,,l, %, OF IL q
rsilrcads and lockei up. The Chief of Police
also ordered the arrest Of all persons making
any disturbance, and, as result OF the
order, more than 300 persons were taken to
the police stations of Buffalo in patrol
wagons during the evening.
1t was claimed by the railroad officials
that as far as the switchmen were concerned,
the strike was at an end, as during the DAY
freight trains were moved with almost ac-
custome6 regularity.
Master Workman Sweeney in the evening
addressed TO officials OF tied-up roads q
formal letter reciting the history OF the de.
mauds Of the switchmen for ten hours
work at previous rates. for overtime
and for the right Of appeal OF dis
charged or suspended switchmen to
higher authority. he then proposed ar5i-
tration Of the differences between the roads
and the men by three persons one each to
be chosen by either side and the third by
these two.
The Lake Shores response to Mr..
Sweeney's letter contradicted many OF his
statements with regard to the company's ac'
ton towards its men, and closed without
definite statement as to what course Will De
taken by the company.
Railroad People Moving Freight.
During the next two days the railroad
people succeeded in getting many men to
take the places Of the striking swltchmsn:
and claimed that they were able to proceed,
to run trains and forward freight on
schedule time. A Buffalo dispatch sent
on the ninth day of the trouble gave this
picture of the condition of affairs:
1.-Two men have been shot and no less than
twenty more have been stabbed with ba?-
onets in this city sincs three o'clock yester-
day afternoon. and the shooting and tho
stabbing are still going on. THERE'S not now,
nor has there been, any sorganizsd riot.
These cases are iSoiated ones. They took
place in parts Of the city widely separated
from each other The trouole that maue
them necessary serves we'll to SHOW the In.
dividual lawlessness OF the strikers and OF
their friends. 1t illustrates the necessity OF
the presence Of the troops to protect the lives
and the property OF the peaceful AMI law
abiding citizens Of the city. II the troops
were withdrawn tomorrow thers is hardly
a doubt that this individual lawlessness
would become organized lswiessness, and
would. perhaps result in condition OF af-
fairs slmiIar to chat which existed In Home
stead before tho arrival OF the Pennsylvania
National Guard"
Gen raj Porter during an inspection OF the
various camps was surprised to see every
moving freight train coveret with soldiers.
He had a talk with the colonies and COM
mandsrs OF the various camps and told
them that the men should not be given that
sort Of work except in cases OF absolute
necessity. Most Of the officers agreed
with him that it was not soldiers
work, but that unier certain circum
stances it was necessary to nave
the trains guarded when they were sent out
through dangerous points. The General
said he did not want to withdraw protection
where it was actually needed, and finally
left the matter to the discretion or the camp
commanders.