New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-24

engineers should come TO the rescue. To Judge oy
the length of Swecney's face to-day, he has no
notion that the grand conference, which Will De
held here tomorrow next day-just as soon as
the various Grand Masters can get here-will re-
suit in anything more than an opportunity 1or
Sweeney 10 let himself down easy. by saying that
his brother grand masters had advised HIM to de-
clare the strike off
Sweeney il gaining q record for taciturnity
not equaled among strike leaders. His own lieu
tenants are completely in the dark as to what
his nolicy is. one of the members of his execu-
tive committee having said as much to the State
Board Of Arbitration. To-day Messrs. Donavan,
Purcell and Robertson attempted to learn from
the Grand Master Of the swltchmen when or IL
ever he was going to order out the swItrhnleh
now working in the jurisdiction affected oy the
strike Mr. Sweeney practically refused to give
the arbitrators any information. One member
of the board questioned Mr. Sweeney closely, but
nothing was elected to guide the board In Its
action in ordering the investigation decided on
today Mr. Sweeney's conduct in this mater
was the subject Of much gossip about Fireman's
Hall on that account, when tine news wis re-
ccved there The men all express implicit con-
fdencc in the Grand Master
ing of the Western New-York and Pennsylvania
men Yesterday. and of the Lackawanna men TO-
day. Mr.. Sweeney replied We'll, not exactly
encouraged. It doesn't alter the situation ma
terially. They knew what the situation was all
along. anyway didn't order them out" Mr..
sweeney continued: They went out OF their
own free will | did not want them 10 be
blaming me if the strike shouldn't prove sue
cess
Grand Master Sargent, Of the fremen, apparently
expects nothing to happen, for he said tonight
that he was planning to 20 home tomorrow But
what if something should hsppen?' he was asked.
"Oh, WE'LL" lie said, as if that were hardly
worth considering, I" in case Of emergency,
might stay here" Mr.. Sargent added that II the
Federation Of Railway Organizations were now IN
existence the strike of switchmen would probably
not have occurred Under the rules OF the FED
Grafton no body Of its members could strike with
out the consent of the executive board. list OF
grievances and a proposition for their settlement
had to he formulated for presentation TO the COM
pany or companies, and if a strike were nnaly
agreed upon, not only the organization with the
crievence would go out, bnt all the ctiier organi-
zations in the Federation would join It,
THE TROOPS NOT GOING HOME JU'r YET
The Western New-Yorll and Pennsylvania strike
has had one effect at least. General Porter says
il makes exceedingly remote the probability thar
any of the troops will be sent home at present.
No one in Erie County wants to see troops away
from here more than l do,' said Sheriff Beck
Rut," he added, with much soemnity, 4" | would
rather pay 81 90 out Of my own pocket-the extra
tax upon me will not be over SlO-than to have
single life sacrificed or have family left father
less
II is difficult for persons at a distance to ap-
precate clearly the IndiGnltlcs wbiGh arc daily
imposed upon the present swtchmen in the rail-
way Yards here and upon the militia who are
protecting men and property. General Porter
cl,aracterizes the situation in this respect as
guerilla warfare The men who left their work
in the railway yards ten days ago are alleged
by their leader TO be innocent Of any depreda-
tons The assaults and the attempts upon prop
erty, which are Of almost daily occurrence, are
charged upon the class Of floating vagrants The
former switchmen condemn the sheriff because
troops were ordered here, and it is asserted that
shonld they be removed no violence would be
done in any direction. During tho last three
days while vehement demands had been made
fer the withdrawal of the soldiers, the Associated
Press correspondent has learned OF several Incl
dents which may be left for construction or char
a
presence of the troops. and who assert that no
violence is bcirg done.
4 switchman employed about the New-York
Central's main depot said to Superintendent
Rossitcr. of the Central, upon this subject: "Of
course they do not trouble here about the
depot. because they dare not; but they have
frightened my wife nearly to death, going to my
home and threatening her that my house would be
burned unless | quit work.
Freight train No. ss stood in the Erie yards at
rost Buffalo. between Babcock-st. and Bailey
ave. Despite a line of militia pcke:s on each
side of the tracks, coupling pins were pulled, and
the train was cut into dozen parts
As a NIAGARA Falls train over the Central came
INTO this city at night switch was thrown out
almost at the entrance of the station, ana the man
who did the act ran away in the darkness
The Ccntrals ~. Louis express train coming
into the city at night, attacked by men WHO
had been crouchng behind freight ears AMI
stone, and scraps of iron were hurled at the engine
and through the windows OF the coaches.
living spike fractured the arm of trainman.
Frirhtcncd men and women alightins from the rear
coach were cercd by men in the darkness. Four
of thc fellows were arrested. One confessed him
self Il striker
Switch frog, have been cloggcd with scrap
IRON. the swichmcn at work are cursed and
stoned and this morning the captain of a separate
company. whose mcn had been some time
targets for flying pieces of coal, shouted To the
men who threw them that unless they stopped IL
Inc troops would swap lead for coal. piece Tor
niece The temper of the ntrudcrs is cvidonced
nc thc response: we can't fight lead with
coal but we would like to be on an even footing
with you for about twenty minutes. We would
teach YOU to come here and interfere in our bisl-
less"
A PLUCKY NoN-UNION swIrCIiMAN.
Among the new switchmcn at work Ill .nc
Seneca-st. ward of the Erie il W. H. Esterih' lie
il about thirty years old, Is dressed Ike COW
boy. and is believed to have been one. W. a.
IIcistcr, traffic master of the Erie' lou"u 'n''
,.,.rl;n had a nstol SO did the strikers, as the