River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-08-25

ElGHTING All RuEEALO.

fIoF I'M Al Bur ALI.
Engagement Between the Militia and
Strikers in the Erie Yards-Four Men
said to Have Been Killed More Men
Join the strikers-The Firemen May Go
Out.
BUFFALO, y. Y, Aug. 23.-3:50 a. m.
Since 2 o'clock bullets have been fly
ing all over the freight yards and
rumors of killings are prevalent all
along the line and at every post.
1t is reported that regular engage
ment took place in the Erie yards !
mile from town and that four men
we're killed and two wounded. II is
also said that one of the dead is sol
der. 1t is impossible to verify the
rumor.
BUFFALO, n. Y, Aug. 23.-What will
be the first killing of striker occurred
late at night. William Oliver, a switch
man living in this city, was shot and
stabbed by sentry at the crossing o.
the Lehigh Valley and Lake Shore
tracks on Hamburg street Oliver
came down the street with a company
of strikers and was stopped at
the guard line by the picket that
hdu pCcH ptdCtu 10 Rudiu lhC
Lehigh switches. He went back to his
companions and melted them to make
an attack upon the sentinel. He was
only successful, however, in gaining
the assistance of two of the men, who
began to collect chunks of coal and
stones with which to attack the soldier.
The guard stood his ground, lowered
his rifle, aud warned his assailants that
IL they advanced ten PAGES further
he would fire upon them. His warn
ing. however, was received with tor
rent of abuse from the three men.
Suddenly Oliver raised his arm and "A
broken coupling pin went sailing
through the air. 1t narrowly missed
the soldier and crushed into the signal
light of a switch stand. A moment
later a second stone was hurled
at the soldier, and then fire
rang out from the soldiers rifle.
Oliver fell. but attic mpted to rise again,
when the soldier rushed up and stabbed
him in tLe head with his bayonet.
Seeing the serious turn the affair had
taken the two uuiniured strikers fled.
A detail of the guard pursued them, but
freight cars. TWAS found that only one
shot had taken effect in Oliver, but
it bored hole through his body. The
bayonet thrust was not so serious. He
was taken to the camp and afterwards
removed to the Emergency hospital in
an ambulance. The doctors say Oliver
can not live twenty-four hours.
Shortly after midnight fusillade
commenced down at the Seneca street
crossing of the New York Central and
Nickel Plate on the Tiff farm Thirty
shots were fired in as many seconds.
Ten minutes later the firing com
menced again, and between then and .
o'clock 200 shots were fired.
The yards we've filed with strikers,
who bonn barded every outgoing and
incoming train with stones. They were
ordered to desist, but instead of doing
so used the soldiers for targets instead
of freight ears. So far as could be
learned no one was hurt. At the Cir
ton street crossing of the NiclSel-Plate
Capt. Bolan's company - X of the
Twelfth regiment-turned out and fired
fifty shots to drive strikers away.
The Lehigh Valley people have had
detectives out in their yards for sew
eral days, and the object of their pres
ence became apparent when eX-Judge
Brundage, general consul for the road,
swore ont twenty-five warrants charg-
ing that number of striking switchmen
with turning switches and otherwise
interfering with the operations of
trains
Affairs are assuming a serious aspect
in the yards at Niagara Falls. The
Erie tracks are pr" .tically blocked, but
the New York Central seems to be
handling things without much trouble
Forty-two switchmen, the entire
force, struck in the New York 81 Penn
sylvania yards. The men quit because
one crew refused to handle New York
Central cars. They show an ugly dis
position. and the yards are guarded by
325 soldiers.
All the influence that the firemen can
command will be brought to bear apon
Grand Master Sargent to induce him to
call out the firemen. AZ their meeting
which has just adjourned a long list
of grievances against the roads
now involved was drawn up and a
compittee will wait upon the chief
executive early in the morning and
present IL to him. The local organiza-
ton. as far as can be learned. is willing
to take part in general strike and its
members can be counted on to do their
best to exert an influence over his we'll
known conservatism.
Grand Master Sargent arrived in
city at an early hour and went to :
apartments that Mr.. Sweeney had en-
gagged for him. In an interview he said;
"As single organization | am not going to
call out the firemen and thus complicate mat
tiers. If the trcmen strike every other organ
liza; on must be called cut, engineers hremen.
trainmen, conductors and telegraDhers. These
are my conditions, IL the iiremen take hand
all classes Of trainmen must cooperat e,
and then success will be assured. AS grand
master hold the right 10 call strike, prosid-
ing two-thrds Of the men who are involved
sanction such a move. But 1 desire TO state,
thus far the iremen have not even considered
the question"
The supervisors of Erie county. whose
minds have been filed with dread of
the enormous expense account that
will be created by the presence of so
many troops. told Mayor Bishop they
thought the soldiers might be dispensed
with. The mayor replied; I'VE need
the troops, and think now. as /
thought before, that they should all be
retained. | shall not approve of any
action being taken towards withdraw
ng the troops