Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-19
GROWING MORE SERIOUS.
Fresh Complications in the
Switchmen's Strike.
The Strikers Ranks Steadily
Augmented.
Trainmen Ready to Go Out If Asked
to Do SO.
Eight Thousand Troops Being Massed
at Buffalo to Maintain Order.
Far-Reaching Effects of
the Trouble.
By the Associated Press. !

| day Of the switchmen's strike closes
with increasing complication. The
leaders witnessed the massing of troopi
with growing determination to lnee'
every move of the opponents with 9
counter-suoke. Fully 5000 troops will
be here by tomorrow, guarding against
800 strikers. The railway officials rely
upon the presence OF the soldiers tc
| permit them to raise the freight block
ade with non-union men already en-
gagged. As a counter-stroke, it iH CON
sidered probable that the frenien and
trainmen on sill lines where strikes nov
prevail, viii be called out.
switchmen is ninety men in the Nicke
were asked to handle boycotted freight
Thus the switchmen upon the entire
Vanderbilt system in the vicinity are
that the Vanderbilt system at this
point is blockaded and inactive. They
claim, also, that the Erie, Lehigh Val.
paralyzed. They do not feel that 1t will
be necessary to callout the men in the
allied trades, though reserve force will
possibly be the calling out of the Della.
ware, Lackawanna and Western, the
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg, and
the Western New York and Pennsylva.
MIA switchmen.
The switchmen of the Lake Shore
road struck this morning. The engines
we're run into the round houses, and
the fire dumped. At 2 O'Clock not q
wheel was turning in any one of the
three Vanderbilt yards.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern, which has already conceded the
demands of the men, went even further
today, and formally notified them that
they would not handle boycotted
freight.
No doubt. before yielding the fight,
| the leaders will extend the strike west,
even to Chicago, and eastward to New
York, ultimately calling ont perhaps
NOT only the switchmen but the FIRE
men and trainmen. The strikers ex.
pect developments in the next three
days. The strikers claim full sympathy
| on the part OF the fremen, whom they
state, will quit their engines whenever
the order reaches them. 1t is said the
trainmen are ready to join the switch
men whenever ordered, but the firemen
will probably be first called out.
As to the condition of the tied-up
roads, the officials make statements
strongly contradictiDg the claims of the
men. The New York Central is moving
freight, not in a desultory way, but in
trains. Tonight il is claimed by the
Central officials that their freight traffic
in and out of the East Buffalo yards is
progressing without interruption. The
Central will tomorrow resume work at
the Black Rock and Erie-street yards.
They estimate that by Monday freight
business will be moving normally.
Preparations of a suggestive character
were made today at the Fitch hospital.
Over twenty cots, with bedding, have
been arranged, together with several
field stretchers. Several surgeons have
signifed their intention OF assisting the
staff, should the necessity arrive.
The troops are complaining greatly
at the way they are treated, both as to
food and accommodations.
Inspectors General McGrath and Ro-
selle arrived this afternoon, and they
will look after the matter and see that
the men have proper attention.
3 One or two skirmishers. with gather
ing crowds, were reported during the
day, but the incidents were not serious
People gather and taunt and annoy the
troops.
Late last night jeering throDg gath
cred about little detachment of SOL
diers in the switch yards and became
so threatening that reinforcements
were sent for. The crowd, which num-
bered 5000, did not disperse at the order
of the officer in command, and the SOL
diers charged with fixed bayonets,
prodding many of those nearest them in
the legs. The mob was soon put to
fight.
Some effort was made during the day
to move trains at the Babcock. k.street
crossing of the Erie road, but the nom
union men refused to work, and de-
| camped. One train was finally made up
and sent out, but it could not get
through the blockade.
The state board of arbitration and the
attorneys of the roads involved had a
conference to arrange for submitting the
| difficulties to arbitration. The Phila-
| delphia and Reading refused to arbi-
trate, however.
A marked falling off in passenger bust
ness on all railroads leading into the
city this morning was noticed.
| Charles O'Hara, of Oswego, private
OF the Forty-eighth company, while on
duty at the Central yards at East Buf-
falo, this morning. was struck by an
engine and instantly killed.
A meeting of firemen tomorrow night
will be one of the most important crises
in the strike. If the firemen conclude
to 60 out 1t will be on all lines on which
the ewitchmen are out. The trainmen
will hold a meeting at some time be-
tween now and tomorrow evening. They
will doubtless act in conjunction with
the firemen. The conductors are known
to be in touch with three other organiza'
tions, and if the climax is reached they
will work in harmony with them.
| The strikers expect the engineers
firemen, conductors and brakemen on
the Lehigh Valley. the Erie, the New
York Central, the West Shore and the
Lake Shore to join them before Sunday
The grand officers OF all the unions are
| in line, except Arthur of the engineers
who 10 attending q meeting at Toronto