New-York tribune., 1892-10-18
TIED UP BY 4 JOKER.
SERIOUS RESULT OF A HOAX OF A SANTA FE
TELEGRAPH OPERATOR


A FORGED ORDER CAUSES 900 OPERATORS TO
QUIT THEIR KEYs-FoR TWELVE HOURS
BUSINESS is BLOCKED ON THE
GREAT RAILWAY SYSTEM.
Topeka, Kan Oct 17.--All the telegraph opera
tors on the Santa Fe system, about 900 In all,
struck this morning at 10 O'Clock in response TO
what purported 10 be an order from Chlei Ramsay
of the Order of Railway Tegraphers
The great strike was the result Of a hoax. Inc
operators were informed by Chief Ramsay OF
their order, at o o'clock tonight, that the order
directing them to strike was forgery, ana III
structng them to return at once TO their POSITIONS
The operators Immediately receiving the order
returned to their keys and the work OF straghteh-
ing out the tangle caused by the strike began
General Manager Robinson in an interview to-day
said The entire strike is "A mistake. Grand Chlel
Ramsey has ordered our men out at all. /
have traced the matter down and find that the
order for strike proceeded from Dodge City, and
that an operator there wrote 1t and signed ram
sey's name TO it, He only intended il as joke
and when the men learn this they Will return TO
work
Manager Sweet, of Dodge City. after
reading the forged order, which had
sage to the next station, and within
fifteen minutes it had been received by every
operator at every station on duty the entire
system In fifteen minutes every operator on
duty had struck work The operation of the
road was completely blocked and Dispatcher
Barkcr's Joke was complete Barker is doubtless
the only man who got any fun out of the Joke
and his enjoyment # it will probably receive a
sudden check when he learns that II has re-
suited i'm the complete suspension of all business
on the road
II was serious matter with the Santa Fe road
For twelve hours their business was at stand
still and an immense amount Of lraiilc was lost
70 il. Orders were sent ont 10 all stations to
managers TO decline TO receive freight and no
freight was received during the entire day.
Passenger trains were somewhat delayed bnt
were kept moving on M timccarl schedule.
So far as learned this method ol handling pas
scnger business met with comparative success
No accidents have been reported and the trains
were not greatly delayed Immediately after the
news of the strike reached Santa Fc headquarters
here General Manager Robinson sought TO put
himself in communication with Chlef Ramay'
After some time il was finally asccrtained that
the Gar of all tel, graphers was III 81 LOUIS
comforting with the Missouri Pacific officials on
the proposed new teegrapbcrs schedule on that
system II took some time TO reach him by wire,
and when he was reached he could do nothing
until he had received an authoritative report OF
the strike from some of his trusted lieutenants on
the line. 1t was therefore not until O'Clock 10
night that a message was received from nun
that the order insfructing the men to strike was
a forgery and that he had ordered the men
to return TO work at once. AT the same time
this message was received the operators rec
ceived message ordering them u 90 TO work
Immediately. The order Immediately com
piled with, and the road resumed business at 80.
During the day thc entire system from Chicago
to the Pacific Coast and from Kansas City to
Galveston was practically at IA standsti over
1000 operators being idle. Til. only man who
remained at his post the operator at Bar
clat. Kan and he says he knew the order to
strike was a hoax The loss 10 the company Is
very great while the only benefit 10 the operators
is in showing the perfect manner in which they
are organized, and III demonstrating that they
are in good condition r. enforce their demands
Operator Barker, the joker, has been discharged.
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa fe, on which tie
first StIiFc occurred IL not OWEcd by the Santa re,
but il il leased ana operated by II, ana bencihi
Manager Robinson il second vlcc-preSldent. Inc
operators ON the Santa Fc main line had no pr
sOnal grievance Last spring Grand jhlcf KAN
scy secured for the operators who went out to-day
an annual increase in wages OF $1,000 Opera
tors receiving from $50 10 so were increase ~
sac and $40, and train dispitchcrs were iD'1cascI
from 81 90 and Sl2J to Sl2j and $50.
The santa Fe officials contcnded that the strike
on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Re was not or
dcred by Chef Ramsey, but by his ass stant,
Iobcy who claims authority to represent Ramsey
and sign MS name to orders.
Galveston. Tex, Oct. 1.-The strike OF tclc-
graph operators and station agents OF the Gun,
Colorado and Santa Fc system was on to-day but
a telegram from Topeka tonight says IL has G"n
declared of. Promptly at o'clock last
night almost every man from iuIo'Ii'
r. to Galveston Temple 10 San Angelo,
Cleburne to Paris and Clcburnc 10 Weatherio'd'
eff his post Of duty, and the struggle between the
mana cement of the road and this branch OF the
service began. In the Santa Fc Office in this city
there appeared to he nothing unusual happening
Operators who were duty seemed 10 have IA
determined look, hut no great excitement was ap-
narent They were quietly waiting for the dcsi@-
mated hour When O'Clock rolled around they
nut on their coats bundled up what business llaI
been sent left unsent business on tie hooks ana
eft the Office A. they were going down stairs
they met the night operators coming Oh duty rev
words were necessary and with one accord the
latter turned around and followed the dav men
ont of the building. This strike extended to all
station AGENTS also who act rs operators hence II
tied up freight business at small towns. me
cause of the strike the reusal to comply WIN
a demand for 500 monthly maximum pay instead
~ $50 as heretofore with twelve hours 10 con
,titute a days work and extra pay for overtime