The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-16
SwITCHMEA ON A BIG STRIKE.
The Erie and Lehigh Valley EN-
ploYes Resort to Violence.
Freight Trains Hung up in tho Yards and
Passenger Trains Derailed = An At
tempt to Move n Train Proves a Fall
ure-The Sheriff Ordered Largo
Crowd of Deputies to Preserve Or
der-The Militia Ordered Out.


in special policemen on account Of the
railroad strike. The sheriff is also busy
swearing in special deputies for duty in
the yards at Cheektowaga. The work of
the men at the freight car fires was
much impeded by the cutting Of the
hose by some unknown parties. Twelve
lengths OF hose were cut and rendered
useless during the night. A largo num-
Der of Erie and Lehigh Valley cars were
destroyed by fire. The number is va
riourly estimated from 100 to 200.
At p. m. reports were received from
East Buffalo and Cheektowaga showing
that the Lehigh Valley had lost sew
enty-two freight cars by the FIRE and the
Erie fourteen. All the railroad men
profess to be utterly unable at present
to mako an estimate Of the loss. They
are acting very cautiously on this point,
for the reason that claim will be
made against the city and county for
damages and the amount has not yet
been figured up. 1t is known, however,
that many OF the cars were old and
empty The Erie train reported in
previous dispatches as being on. fire did
not contain merchandise Of extra value.
Forty-seven special deputy sheriffs
left for Cheektowaga at 1890 and more
will be sent GU. during the afternoon.
II the sheriff finds he cannot preserve
order, he will appeal TO the governor for
military aid. The passengers on the
Erie and Lehigh Valley trains that were
ditched did not reach the Eric depot
until 12:45 a. ~. They stated that the
strikers went through the coaches, de-
tached the engine and broke the air
| connections No violence was attem pied
with any OF the passengers.
A party of actors in the Glands Across
the Sea" Company were mistaken for
non-union men and were closely in
spected by the strikers, but found TO be
actors and were not molested. Grand
Master Sweeney, of the switchmen's
union, is quoted as saying he did not
believe the strike would extend to other
roads besides the -Lehigh Valley and
Erie. These roads, he said, had not
treated the switchmen properly in the
matter of wages and hours, and had at
tempted to bull-doze their men and re-
| fused to listen to grievances.
ELMInA, N. Y, Aug. 15.- s oecial l.
Great excitement prevails at Waverly,
N. Y. and Sayre, Just over the State
line, on account of the strike of the
Lehigh Valley switchmen. Fifty.one
Lehigh men are out. Only four Of the
Erie switchmen at Erie are union men
and these had not been ordered ous this
morning Two Lehigh freight trains
slipped out, the trainmen doing their
own switching, but with those cxcop.
tions no trains have goue through Sayre
since Saturday night. Between $500
and 5000 cars are tied up at Sayre
Sheriff Geer Of Tioga county, N. V, is
at Waverly with twenty-five deputies
sworn in, and Sheriff Powell, of Brad
ford county, Pa, is at Sayre with a
large force of deputies.
Great excitement resulted from the
attempt to run an engine and caboose
out of Sayre this morning. A collision
between the strikers and the sherif's
forces seem likely at every minute.
Men surrounded the engine and refused
to let it proceed. Sheriff Powell turned
tho switch himself, but it was ilnmed-
lately turned by the strikers. start
was made but the strikers pulled out the
coupling pin between the engine and
caboose and caused another delay. The
sheriff tried to arrest some of the men
but they wore Immediately rescued by
their comrades. Supt. Stephenson and
the sheriff mounted the pilot but could
not keep the men away from the engine.
AT noon the engine had gone about
200 yards and the strikers were in COM
mand of the situation. No trouble has
occurred at Elmira or Hornellsville A
special from Sayre says that sixty men
were ordered to report to Superinten.
dent Stephenson this morning to take
the place OF the strikers. They. reported
but refused to go to work. A meeting
OF union train men was held this after.
noon at Sayre and it was decided that
the trainmen would not do the switch
mems work north of Sayre. The tur-
moil subsidized this afternoon, the sheriff
admitting his powerlessness, but more
trouble is threatened when he under.
takes TO make promised arrests with a
larger force. One striker was hurt in
one OF the meloos with tho shoritt's
force.
PHILADELpnIA Aug. l5.-lSpecial]-
Inc following was issued this after
noon:
"NoTIcE-A reward OF $4,000 will be
paid to any person or persons who will
furnish evidence which will lead to the
arrest OF any person or person who
shall be guilty of violence to the COM
pany's employees or destruction W It's
property.
"(Signed) A. A. MCLEOD,
president
Reading official in speaking Of this
notice said: The Reading Company
means by this announcement that sum.
mary measures will be adopted to pro.
tect itself against acts OF incendiarism,
assaults upon it's employees criminal
attempt to obstruct travel and bring
about general obstruction to life and
property. 1t is a question between prop.
erty and crime.
The notice has been printed in large