Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-24
The Case of the Striking switchmen.

The Case of the Striking Switchmen.
To the Editor of The Evening Star
An attempt was made to wreck a fast ex-
press train on an embankment near Linden, n
y, on the y. Y. L. f. and W. railroad A
dastardly attempt it was, surely, but who are
the guilty parties? Whoever they may be they
have Not yet been captured, and it is certainly
unfair to accuse the Buffalo strikers without
proof little more tangible than any yet ad-
duced
1t is a well-known fact that the United States
Is infested with a horde. thousands strong, of
tramps who have foresworn work and live only
by begging and stealing. They raided village
IN 1ennsylvania in broad daylight only few
weeks since and were driven out by force of
arms. Wherever there is unusual excitement
they are found In numbers.
few months ago a successful attempt was
made to wreck a fast express on the Western
North Carolina railroad. The purpose, I'M
doubtedly, was robbery, and several men we're
driven from the scene which was at night who
made attempts to rob wounded and imprisoned
passengers. Although reward of $40. 600 was
offered for the arrest and conviction of these
cowardly desperadoes they are still at large
ask If they were ignorant dupes Of such men
as Sweeney?
At the frightful wreck by flood at Johnstown
Pa. several years since scOundrels mutilated
less several other cases will occur to the
thoughtful reader of train wrecks accompanied
by robbery under circumstances that plainly
Indicate the wrecks to be the means of plumber
Many among this army of tramps frequent
the line of the Erie railroad. riding on freight
trains ana even on passenger trains. To say
that they know the road as well AZ the train
men themselves would be the literal truth.
That they should make an attempt at this time
70 wreck a fast express for robbery, knowing
that 1t would at once be laid against the strikers
Is not improbable.
Last week We reed that .'freieht train" at
Cheektowaga was burned by the strikers Now
1t turns out that the long string of cars which
was burned were incuTable "cripples'' which
the company had consigned to the scrap-iron
and kindliag-wood heap. Had destruction of
property been the strikers object tbev could
easily have burned hundreds of cars of mer-
chandise; but they did not do any such thing
When we reflect that it is cheaper to burn
these old cars than TO pull them to pieces. and
further, that, burned they were during
riot. the county of Erie must pay for them
it is easy to think that the railroad COMPANY
may not be wholly innocent in the matter
Now a word to the strike itself The
switchmen employed in railroad yard have
peculiarly hazardous occupation. They must
go between moving cars to make and unmake
couplings; jump on and off swiftly moving cars
and engines: quickly throw switches 70 as to
more parts on as many different tracks. ali this
and more in light and JarLness sb;na or ~ LIE
when the tracks are coated with siaat os walI a,
when thew are free and drv daiiv ,;st a af
fatal accidents to these nimble SONS Of roll
would be a surprise to ali who are not fsm;I;ar
with it. Often one is caught between the
bumpers and quickly crushed TO ie,Iv. tber arc
run down by engines and fall from cars int
eternity. The men who have struck at Buffaio
recaivc 81 e6 ard a TX 90 a. 90 49, a.
fifteen hours. For three months tbev bave
urged their EMPLOYERS to reduce the dov 70 ten
hours. which is a legal work-day in New YorL
for the same nav. bEt without success Thew
they struck. Who saws thew had not the right
or that .bev have not a inf corso2 oA'
At the highest rate paid. and allowing for tho
different lengths of time wrought for a day
tbev receive only about "fnnrth n. ,n,oh a"
departmental clerk of the Lowest class Wbara
ia tha;r comnensat;on for r;sr2 Ma iou LEY.