The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-15
TRIED TO DITCH THE TRAIN.
VIOLENCE AND Loss OF PROPERTY IN
THE RAILROAD STRIKE

Hurst Out SImultaneo In Yards |
Hair n Mile Apart g. Eighteen Freight
md Refrigerator Cars, Two Passen.
ger Coaches. and Two Small Build
inps Burned Striking swltohmen sus-
pected of being tho Incendisries.
BUFFALO Aug. 14-The switchmen's strike
here has assumed alarming proportions. At2
o'clock this morning the Lehigh Valley yards.
in East Buffalo. were the scene OF q series OF
incendiary fires. and the striking switchmen
are suspected of being the incendiaries. but so
far no arrests have been made.
Three fires were discovered at various
points half a mile apart Eighteen freight
cars loaded with cotton. wool. merchandise.
and hay. two passenger coaches. and two
watchmen's houses. were burned.
train OF ten coal cars, which were stand
ing on the trestles. were turned loose and
started down tho track. They crashed into
the water tank. smashing 1t and wrecking an
engine which was taking water.
There is no definite knowledge OF how the
fires started. but there is no doubt that they
were OF incendiary origin. because they oil
broke out at the Same time at three points
Tho fire first discovered was in what is
known as the east-bound yards. Here the
Waterman saw flames burst from the little
ofllce building. and ran to give the alarm.
This spot is fully half o mile from the west
yards.
He had not gone half the distance when he
turned around and saw that the flames had
burst out among the 800 or more cars. In the
mean time Yardmaster Mead. at the west end
OF the yards. had discovered flames in the two
passenger coaches which were used to carry
workmen up and down the road. and an alarm
had been turned in from William and Dingens
streets.
The tlremen were delayed. owing TO the bad
condition of DnGens street. and when they
got on the tracks the two cars and the little
building had been destroyed
The coaches were not particularly valuable.
but they were said to contain quantity Of
workmen's tools.
The nremen were astonished by the three
separate CONGREGATIONS. and unanimously de-
cided that incendiaries had caused them all.
| Superintendent Of Police Morgenstern sent a
force OF twenty-five men into the yards ut
once.
They secured the neighborhood. but could
find no suspicious characters. In the mean
time great difficulty was experienced In get
| ting line Of hose to the burning cars in the
west-pound yard. 1t took the entire stock Of
hose OF three companies to run one line from
the nearest hydrant to the fire.
| This saved many cars from total destruo-
tion. Before the flames were under control.
however. eighteen freight and refrigerator
cars had been destroyed. These cars were In
the midst of great bunch Of cars extending
| over five tracks.
The spot selected for the firing Of tho yards
| from which water could be obtain.
ed. The 1remea cut several trains
in two and pulled the cars apart. As they
coupled up to the hydrants on Dingens street
| and unroled tho hose. they were approached
| by several strangers. who sale to them:
"Tako your time. boys: take rest. and
don't hurry"
These men disappeared just before the ar.
| rival OF tho police. and they could not be found
atterward.
Everything was peaceful in the yards up to
midnight. The first intimation OF trouble was
| when. without warning. the brakes on a train
OF coal cars on the trestle were loosened. and
the train rolled down and crashed into tho
| water tank. smashing it and an engine which
| was taking water.
Then came the fires. 80 suddenly that great
damage was done before they could be reached.
Eight freight cars were thrown from the Le-
high tracks and six from the Erie. on account
of misplaced switches. The damage by fire is
officially estimated at $4,000.
Chief OF Police Morgenstern has force OF
detectives WORKING on tn6 Case nc Is ShtlS-
| fed that the cars were fired. and naturally
suspects the striking switchmen.
Three cars in the Western New York and
Pittsburgh yards were burned this morning
between and o'clock. They were set on fire.
During an incipient riot at the Erie yards
this afternoon John Schaefer struck James
Barrett on the head with coupling pin. He
was taken to the hospital where he will prob
ably die. Schaeier was arrested. No further
disturbances have been reported.
| The trouble really dates back to the time
when the Lehigh Valley road posted bull
letin to the effect that, in order to comply with
the State law. 1t would be necessary to pay
the men by the hour. instead OF by the month.
The men were then getting 500 and 500
month for day work. and $65 and $40 for
night work. They were satisfied with this
pay. and were working at the rate OF eleven
| hours day. These men are not switchmen
proper. but those who handle the switch en-.
gines in the yard and move the freight
This afternoon the work Of switching In the
yards was done by such employees Of the roads
| as could he spared from other work. but they
were green hands. and. In consequence. the
usual amount Of freight was not handled.
AS the Buffalo Creek is q terminal road only.
the strike is more keenly feltthere than In any
OF the other yards. and II continued the grain
interests particularly will be likely to suffer
| during the next few days.
Passenger traffic has not been interfered
with. The freight yards are badly blocked.
and the blockade 10 becoming worse every
| hour.
The excitement caused by last nights fires
and wreck had nearly Gained down when 1t
WAS started anew by the boarding Of the Erie
train due at II 10 A. NJ. by the strikers. The
affair Happened at the William street crossing.
| where there Is a junction.
AS the train stopped number OF men got
aboard and drove something over q carload Of
men from the cars. The supposed "scabs"
ran or were driven In every direction. One at
least was badly hurt and removed to tho hos
pital. His name Is Henry Shrader
When the incomers had been scattered. tho
strikers let the train go on it's way. The men
who wcro driven out were believed to be
party Of men who were being brought here to
take the strikers places.
Chief Sweeny OF the Swtchmen's Union re-