The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-16
INCENDIARISM AND RIOT
BUFF4LO STRIKING SWITCHMEI
Commit Appalling .Lawlesnsss--A Freight
Blockade Results--What Grand Mas
ter Sweeney Says.
STRIKING SWIrcHME1

the main tracks. was set on FIRE at midnight
and in an hour there were fifteen or twenty
cars burned. II is estimated that the loss
will be s3O. coo. At I o'clock the fire had
broken out at three different places ID the
yards and indications were that serious dam
age would be done. as the fire was burning
hercely. Nothing could be done By the en-
gines attached 20 the trains. as the crews were
driven from their engines. and threats were
made il they attempted to move them. The
fire department was unable 20 do anything
on account OF the absence OF bydrants IN
the ne2hbOrhoOd. The Erie bad two stock
trains ready 10 leave for the East at
o'clock, but they were not moved, as the
strikers threatened to kill the crew If they
left the yards. An official call was made
upon the city and county by the Lehlgh
Valley for protection, and the Erie followed
suit.
MORE OARS FIBRD.
At O'Clock this morning train Of coal
cars on the Lehigh Valley caught fire ct
each end and burned fercely. Here and
there at intervals of few minutes fires
broke out all along the line and as many as
q dozen different blazes we're seen at one
time and the sky was lurid with the rehee-
tiOn Of the flames.
At about this time ali the switch lights
on the Erie between Smith street and the
Western New York and Pennsylvania target
were stolen. and the switches could not be
seen in the darkness. A wreoking train lett
the city at O'clock TO bring in the passen-
gers from Erie train No. /, on the other
side of the fire. and Lehigh train No 25,
from Philadelphia The trains we're both
late es they approached the city, and were
thrown from the rails by the turning Of
switches.
At 2.45 o'clock the Erie passengers were
brought into the city tired and disgusted.
They were not mOlested by the strikers. but
the ladies' and children were considerably
frightened by the rioting and the bontires
of freight cars.
AN APPALLING sCKNR.
Lehish Valley train No. % arrived at the
Erie station az 3 A. NJ. ID has been lying
at William atreet since 10 o'clock lass
night. The strikers had the impression
that the extra train which was filled with
actors from the Hands Across the Sea-
Company was car of non-uniOn men 20
fill the places Of the strikers. The strikers
searched il, but finding 10 non-union men
they withdrew without injurng anybody.
Members Of the theatrical compaey
stated that the confusion and hre
lust beyond William street WAS ap-
palling. Around the burning cars strikers
and their sympathizers were enjoying the
result Of their laWless work. Perched high
on box cars they Knocked and ieered at the
railroad men working at the blazing wrecks.
At $40 A. ii. the situation had improved
somewhat and the prospects were favorable
for clear passage. The flames were still
raging furiously at places, but not likely 70
increase 10 any extent. The Erie express
train Tor New York, that was due to leave
Buffalo at 1910 o'clock last night, had ar
rived at tho William-street station and as
soon as the tracks were clear would make
an effort 10 get through.
LAwLKssNEss BESEwED.
The striking switcbmen renewed their
lawless work this morning and the burning
OF freight-cers continues. In a short time
there were fifty cars ablaze between Lam
caster and Cheektowsga and nothing could
be done to save them or stop the progress Of
the flames in any way.
There are probably 1000 cars between
Buffalo and Lancaster. and unless some
thing is done 10 stay the progress OF the
flames they will be destroyed. The Lehigh
and Erie yards at East Buffalo presented a
sorry-looking scene this morning, aud
showed the effects Of the fire aud ri0ting
since Saturday. Upwards Of one hundred
cars have already been burned. Al every
point where the trouble is hkely to occur
police are stationed. The reserves from all
the precincts in the city arc NJ East Buffalo
ready for duty,
Everything Is at standstll in tho Erie
yards. large number Of specials were
sworn in by the sheriff He SAYS he Will
not equip them with reYolYers or any fire
,.,..o oo fV bfc opfufcr, ifffIev aoupnt puaII
the riots with clubs II will be time for the
militia e. take hand in the struggle.
"T hope TO quell this tonight, said Mr..
Beck. IF / cannot think shall call upon
a regiment of the State militia tomorrow.
Sheriff Beck called all tho county depu-
ties twelve in number, and will use them
as commanders of the recruited men.
YREIGHr HELD Up BY srRIKERs.
A detachment Of the specials were sta
toned at various points throughout the
yards.
The police are also taking steps 10 sup
press lawlessuess on the part OF the strikers.
About seventy officers are on duty in the
railroad yards and specials are being sworn
In at headquarters Four patrol wagons are
in the vicinity of the trouble. IL IS likely
the sWltchmen on some Of the other roads
will be ordered out.
When the Lehigh Valley freight No. Sc
attempted to get out OF the yards this
morning il was held up by the strikers.
The train had moved slowly as far as
Bailey avenue. whom suddenly q mob OF
strikers darted out from among the
cars on the side Of the tracks
and other places Of copcealment and COM
manded the engineer and tiremen 20 get
down and give the train INTO their hands.
lad 20 I.s IA
were uncOuped and tho train stood help
less. Not a policeman or deputy sheriff
was in sight.
WHAT GRAND MASTER SWEENEY SAYS.
Grand Master Sweeney was seen this
afternoon and asked what he proposed
doing 10 put q stop to the lawiessness prev
alent among tho strikers. lie replied tnat
strong measures would be taken at the
meeting tonight to put an end 10 II. Asked
as 10 the strike situation to-day from his
standpoint, he said:
1t has spread TO Waverly and will prob
ably spread 20 Hornellsvllle and Bradford,
where the switchmen are dissatisfied; IL
has not spread 80 any other roads IN Bur
fai0. We have come TO al agreement
with the Western New York ana
Pennsylvania on ten-hOur DAsis
and will have no trouble with tnat road.
A conference with the general superintend-
ent Of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pltts0nrg
has been arranged for to-day. He Is coming
here and | expect that settlement on the
ten hour basis will be made
Mr.. Sweeney further said that the Erie
and Lehigh switchmen here had not been
treated in such n way as to keep them IN
good humor. Their advances had been
spurned bY those in high authority.
srnIKERs MAKE THREATS.
A TELEPHONE message was received here
from Sheriff Beck at Cheektowaga where
the freight cars are burning, calling
for more help. All day the striker;
have been pouring down beer ana
whisky In the saloons around the
Lehigh yards and are becoming more
violent hourly. The strikers have vicious
look and indicative of nota pesceabie spirit
They watch every stranger with surly looms,
and nothing but profanity and insults are
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