The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-26

the Firemen.--A Critical Situation.
NEW YoRK, Nov. 25.-All the firemen
employed in the New York Steam Com
panys great plant in Greenwich and
Washington streets, between Cortland
and Dey streets, struck at ten minutes
past II o'clock this morning against
reduction OF wages. This reduction
had been ordered by General Manager
St. John on Wednesday to take effect
to-day. The men had told their supe-
riors when informed OF the decided cut
in wages that they would not work for
less than they are getting and were
then reminded they say that if they did
not choose to accept the company's
terms they were at liberty to seek work
elsewhere. They decided to quit at the
midnight change of men last night, but
they did not serve their employers with
definite notice OF their intention.
The company employed about fifty
firemen on tile fifty-six boilers located
around the bases OF the great chimneys,
which are among the most prominent
landmarks OF the city. Eleven Of these
men work from midnight until morn
ing, because in those hours there is not
so great demand upon the service.
The night watch gathered at the four
corners of the block on which the plant
stands shortly before midnight last
night, and were soon Joined by nearly
ali the men OF the day shifts and large
number of sympathizers who had LETT
their beds to see the beginning OF the
fight. They were all resolved that they
would not go back unless the proposed
reduction was abandoned.
THEIR TROUBLES.
While they waited they told the story
Of their troubles. They had been re-
ceiving % cents an hour, and had been
working from eight to ten hours day.
The company has announced that here
after they would be paid but 20 cents
an hour, and would be expected to
work twelve hours day. Nearly all OF
them had been steamship fremen, and
those said that this reduction would
bring their wages down to q lower
figure than they could get at sea, espe-
cially on American boats, and all joined
in saving that it was physical impos.
sibility for man to fire the boilers OF
the steam company's plant twelve hours
day for many days in succession. The
steamship men said that the fre rooms
OF the plant were hotter than that OF
modern steamer, where o man only
l.. r. - ~ kRh aNN1
was allowed to rest eight hours, to say
nothing Of the long vacation with full
pay when the vessel was lying in port.
A few policemen asked the meaning
OF the meeting, but did not molest the
men when they learned why they had
assembled and saw that they were
orderly.
PLAYED HAVOC.
As the hands OF the big clock on
Courtland street ferry pointed to the
zenith the strikers all assembled at the
entrance to the big boiler house. The
men at work finally left their posts ono
by one and as they stepped out upon
the sidewalk were greeted with cheers,
and, in some cases, caught up and car
ried on the shoulders OF the strikers to
the corner. There was not fireman
left in the house, and before the men
left they had opened the hampers, let
ting great volumes OF cold air into the
furnaces. Engineer Clarence, who was
in charge, rushed out into the street
and begged the men to return, but was
mot with a peremptory but polite re-
iusal. Then he caught up q directory
and began to hunt up the residences Of
tho officers OF tho company. As he
tnrned to the telephone to call mes
senger his eye caught the needle OF the
big steam guage on the wall travelling
rapidly toward the zero point. He
changed his plans and darted back into
the building, starting up the big blow
ing engines and shouting to three
switchmen to help him. These were
the only people in the building. They
ran 10 the boilers to raise what steam
they might with tho firesthat remained.
BUSINESS OF THE CITY EMBARRASSED.
The strikers were jubilant with the
CONSERVATION they had caused. They
said the newspapers, which get their
power from the company, with the ex-
ception OF one, which has its own steam
hOuAA bG lAk1 vi bAlO 9NANGNo a.
they could come out at all, and the
postoffice and Western Union telegraph
service would be seriously hampered
and that tho big Office buildings down
town would be cold, This morning be-
foro o'clock tho steam had fallen from
the regular pressure OF eighty-fve
pounds TO the square inch to less than
fifty pounds and was still rapidly fall
ing. The elevators IN the Western
Union Telegraph building ut Broadway
and Dey street had to stop running; and
in this building and in hegeneral post
office the electric lights were out, rs
there was not power enough to run the
dynamos, There was IL great hurryinR
around to start fires beneath the long
idle boilers OF their steam plants and
there was pandemonium in those OF the
morning newspaper offices that were
caught without power at the very hour
when their presses were about to start.
The papers rose to the occasion and
their editions were run of, but in hun.
drods Of Office buildings where the
steam compnny's power is received,
there is great climbing OF stairs.
a Forgrr's flight.