Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-16
BLOOD MAY BE SHED
The Striking Switchmen Do
Great Violence
ALONG THE LINE OF THE ERIE
Trains Deraiied, Cars Burned and a
Reign Of Teros Practically
Inaugurated.

BUFFALO, y. V, Aug. l5.-There were
fifty freight cars ablaze between Lam
caster and Cheektowsga tins morning
and nothing could be done to save them
or stop the progress of the flames in
any way. Being outside the city limits
the fire department cannot go there
and it RACES nnfought. 1t was thought
that the engines might remain inside
the city and run out long lines Of hose
for the railroad men to handle, but
that Was found to be impracticable af-
ter water had been turned on few
cara which were near the line. There
are probably |. 500 crrs between Butfa-
10 aud Lancaster, and unless something
is done to stay the progress of the
flames they will be destroyed. So far
the absence Of high wind has prevented
the rapid spread Of fires which have
been started. Should q heavy wind
storm spring up the tres would spread
in all directions in the closely packed
yards.
Presented . Sorry Scene.
The Lehigh & Erie yards ut East Buff
falo presented q sorry looking scene
this morning and showed the effect of
the fire and rloting since Saturday
night. Upward of 100 cars have alIeady
been burned. All along through the
Lehigh yards beyond William street
the blackened and charred trucks are
still standing on the side tracks. as in
most cases the body of the cars have
been completely burned down. Occa-
sionaily q car Is seen with the roof
burned out >Or q part Of the side
charred and splintered.
At every point where trouble is
likely to occur police are stationed.
The reserves from all the precincts in
the city are at East Buffalo ready for
duty.
Non.Union Men Brought in.
When Lehigh passenger train No. %
arrived this morning it had . car OF
switchmeh who had been. picked up
along the line of the Reading road.
The train was an hour late. and ar
rived in Buffalo at IL O'Clock. Before
the tram had left William street a
number Of the strikers jumped on the
platform of the car.
"Tnere they are. the -- =, in
there" they growled, but the guard
coon drove them off the train and they
disappeared.
All the way through the yards and
until the train pulled into the Erie STA
tion the passengers in the other cars
We're constantly expecting an attack
would be made upon the train. When
the tram reached the station one Of the
guards said to reporter:
Everything 1T . Standstili.
"There are thirty-three of these men,
and they are all employees of the Read
j. Z road. We have brought them from
different points all tho way from Read
ing. They have been brought here to
do the work in the yards, and We in
tend to put them to work right away.
officers of the Reading road"
When asked If they we're union men
be said he did not know.
Everything Is at a dead standstill in
the Erie and LehIgh yards. Two yard.
masters are trying to do little work
in the Erie yards, but their efforts
practically amount to nothing.
Train Held Up by STRIKERS.
When Lehigh freight No. So attempt.
cd to get out OF the yards this fore
noon 1t was held up by the strikers.
The tram had moved slowly as far ~
Bailey avenue, when suddenly a moi
OF strikers darted out from among the
cars on the side tracks and other places
of concenlment and commanded the
engineer and fireman to get down and
give the train into their hands. They
were compelled to do it. The cars
were uncoupled and the train stands
helpless. Not single policeman or a
deputy sheriff was IN sight. The police
were telephoned and q squad of them
came after the trouble was over.
Coal Train Burned.
At2 O'Clock this morning coal train
on the Lshlgh Valley caught fire nj
each end aud burned fiercely. Here
and there at intervals OF few minutes
fires broke out all along the line and as
many "a dozen different blazes were
seen az one time, while the sky was
lurid with the reflection of the flames.
About this time oil the switch lights on
the Ere railroad between Smith street
and the Western New York ahd Penn.
sylvania target were stolen and the
switches could not be seen in the dark
ness. A wrecking train left the city al
o'clock to bring IN the passenger:
from Erie train No. on the other eide
of the fire and Lehigh train No. 2;
from Philadelphia. The trains were
both late as they approached the city
and were thrown from the rails by the
turning Of switches. At 2:45 O'Clock
the Erie passengers we're brought into
the city tired and disgusted.
children Frightened.
They were not moles,ed nv the strik
ers, but the IadIes and children wer,
considerably frightened by the riotins
and the boufires made of freight cars
LehIgh Valley train No. % arrived a.
the Erie station at 3 p. IN. II had beer
lying At William street since 10 O'Clock
lsst night. The strikers lad the I'M
preston that the extra train. which wa
flled with actoTs from tho Hsns,
Across the Sea company. was car oi
non-union men TO fiji the places Of th,
strikers. The strikers searched u, bG
| failing 20 End sny non-unicn men the,
withdrew without injnrInz anybody
Members of the theatrical cumpsn,
| stated that the confusion aud fire jus
beyond William street was ppsling
Around the burning cars strikers snc
their sympathITers were enjoying tb'
result II their lawless work. Perches
high On rox cars they Knocked ans
jeered At the rsiirosd men working a
| the blszing wrecks
Up TO midnight reports from Ess
Rufsto Indicate that everything .
Quiet AZ AL points Several email fire
we're started IN the evening. but yer
| quickly extInguished. The militia vii
march 70 the scene ~ the strike At ~
early hoDr tonorrow.
| Fs..Istv q, . f.rrtr