Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-15
FORCE In A STRIKE
The Railroad Men at Buffalo.
n. ",
STOP A PASSENGER TRAIN
4 Supposed Non Union Man Severely
Injured in the Melee-Ths Men
Are Excited.

BUFFALO, Aug. 14.-The second OF
the strikes Of railroad switchmen was
marked with several acts of lAwless-
ness- Cars were set loose TO run down
an inclined trestle. causing = wreck.
An incoming train Vas boarded by men
on the watch for ''scabs" and about
nifty men were driven from it. Sew
sral men were assaulted du-
ring the day. More trouble
Is feared. and there are rumors
that the strike will spread. lltogether
the situation seems critical. The ex-
element caused BY the nights fires
and wreck had nearly Gained down.
when it was started anew by the board
ing Of an Erie tram, due at ll:l0, by
the strikers. The affair happened At
the William street crossing, where there
Is a junction. AS the train stopped q
number of men got aboard and drove
something over car load of men from
the cars. The supposed "scabs" ran off
aud were driven in every direction.
One at least Was badly hurt aud driven
to the hospital. his name 10 Henry
Shrader.
Scattered tho IncomerA
When the incomers had been scat
tered the strikers let the train 60 on its
way. The men who were driven out
were believed to be a party OF men who
were being brought here to take the
strikers places. superintendent Brunn
OF the Erie on being asked about the
sioppage OF the train and the clearing
out OF the passengers admitted that the
train had been stopped. They were
passengers" he SAID, land l suppose
the strikers had an idea they were men
Coming here to take their places"
While 1t the hospital Schrader was
very anxious that Superntenden ent
Brunn of the Erie should know of his
condition, saying he and his men had
been sent from New Jersey to take the
places Of strlkers. His injuries were
not serious. being only q few scalp
wounds and badly kicked chin.
Chief Sweeney Of the Switchmen's
union received . telegram tonight from
Master Workman Powderly stating
that nifty nop-union men we're on their
way from Philadelphia to take the
strikers places In the Buffalo yards.
Doing Other Damage.
Many switches were turned and to
avoid danger the engineers of all trains
were given positive orders to run care
fully through the Buffalo yards and
watch for open switches. During the
afternoon train of perishabIe goods
on the Buffalo and Southwestern
division of the Erie was boarded by
men between Seneca street and the
Western New York 4 Pennsylvania
crossing and the pins pulled from every
car. stalling the train. 1t WAS some-
thing over an hour before the train
could be moved into the yards. A
train of beef stands on an Erie siding.
the switchmen refusing to allow it to
be switched to the Lehgh tracks TO
proceed to its destination. The divi-
sion superintendent of the Lehigh
Owego for protection. Tomorrow, 1t 10
expected the Erie men will 90 out and
traffic will be At q standstill. The men
are not communicative and their
movements are unknown. The position
of the other railroad orders is OF con-
siderable interest. The Switchmen's q
Mutual Aid association. the Bother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, the
Brotherhood of Firemen and the train
men and Brotherhood of Road Con-
ductors mp t. 8 year ago were in a body
known as the Federation of Railway
Employees.
May Become General.
On account of the action of the train
men IN taking places Of switchmen on
the Northwestern today was practic-
ally dissolved. This leaves the switch
men practically acting alone. but as
the conductors order and trapnmsn
also have grievances, they have
promised TO JOIN the switchmen iu
the fight. The violence of the
strikers reached its furtberest point
this evening when an attempt was
made - throw train loaded wi tn
passengers into the ditch at the Erie
yards in Cheektowsga. That there
were no serious losses Of life, or al
least injury to soine of the passepge rs
is miraculous All CITY bound passe n
ger trains wero obliged to make
the run from Lancaster to the
city over the eastern track
owing TO the blockading of the west
hound track bv two loaded freight
tF3lDs. WHICH pttfl bfOuSub I'D \
standstill by the strikers and left dis
abled on the main track. About
o'clock the Hornellsville sccommods \
tion train, No. IL, reached the Villa m,
street station, where II was to
be backed no and take the west
hound track to make the re
msindsr of the run into the CITY
Before the train could be brought to .
stop. however, and while stIll movins
at rate Of three or four milessn hour
the switch directly opposite the tele
graph station was pulled back and thu
train was sent crashing over the track'
and sideways. There was four coaches
ON the accommodation and sil vers
crowded with passengers. many OF then
stsnding on the pIstf rms at the time
The engine stuck to the track. bu
the baggage car was thrown diagon-
ally across the space between the mar
track and the side track INTO which th'
switch opened. The first coach wa
svsv over to the sde of the hsgrags
car AMI partially over the side track
Fortunately no rerson was hurt. and
the passengers we're taken TO the cit,
hv three ears.