The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-15
INCENDIARY FIRES.
Said to be the Work Of Buffalo's
Railroad Strikers.
VALUABLE PROPERTY DESTROYED.

and Wrecked = A Car Load of
"Scabs" Boarded by the Strikers
and the New Corners Forced to
Flee,
BUFFALO, Aug. 15.-Early yesterday
morning somebody, supposed to be some
Of the strikers, started three fires stimuli
taneously in different parts of the Le-
high Valley freight yards in East Buff
falo. An alarm was sounded and the
fire department and the entire reserve
force of police were quickly dispatched
to the scene. 1t was well planned and
executed plot, as the fires were started
where the cars were thickest, where
there were no hydrants from which
water could be obtained, and at time
when the yards were deserted. Eight
cen freight cars, loaded with merchan-
disc, and two passenger coaches, to-
gether with two Office buildings, were
completely destroyed.
train of fifteen coal cars which was
standing on Il coal trestle was started
down the incline and crashed into an
engine ut the bottom, wrecking 1t and u
water crane.
Four freight trains on the I.ehigh
Valley were derailed in the Lehigh Val
ley yards last night. Eight cars were
were also wrecked on the Erie. The
damage by last nights wreck was fully
$4,000 and the loss by fire is as much
more.
''Scabs" Routed by Strikers.
Yesterday there were several acts Of
lawlessness Cars were set loose to run
down an inclined trestle, causing u
wreck, An incoming train was boarded
by men on theswatch for "scabs" and
about fifty men were driven from it.
Several men were assaulted during the
day. More trouble is feared and there
are rumors that the strike will spread.
Altogether the situation seems critical.
The excitement caused by the fires
and wreck had nearly calmed down
when it was started anew by the board
ing of the Erie train due at lilo a. IN.
by the strikers. The affair happened at
the William street crossing, where there
is junction. As the train stopped u
number of men got aboard and drove
a 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 the hospital
His name is Henry Schrader. When
the incomers had been scattered the
strikers let the train go on its way.
The men who were driven were be-
lieved to be a party of men who were
being brought here to take the strikers
places. While at the hospital Schrader
was very anxious that Superintendent
Brunn, of the Erie, should know of his
condition, saying he and his men had
been sent for from New Jersey to take
the place of the strikers.
His injuries were not serious, being
only a few scalp wounds and badly
kicked shin. Chief Sweeney, of the
Switchmen's union, received telegram
last night from Master Workman Pow
dcrly stating that fifty non-union men
were on their way from Philadelphia to
take the strikers places in the Buffalo
roads,
The position of the other railroad Or
ders towards the strikers is subject OF
interest. The Switchmen's Mutual Ai6
association, the Brotherhood of Loco
motive men, the Brotherhood of HAil
way Trainmen and the Brotherhood Of
Railway Conductors up to year ago
were in body known as the Federation
of Railway Employees On account of the
action of the trainmen in taking the
places OF the switchmen on the Burlng-
ton, this body WAS practically dissolved.
This leaves the switchmen practically
acting alone, but AS the Brotherhood Of
Conductors and Brotherhood of Train
men also have grievances, they have
promised to join the switchInen in their
fight.
Wrecked Passenger Train.
The violence of the strikers reached
Its farthest points last night when an
attempt was made to throw train
loaded with passengers into the ditch at
the Erie yards in Checktowga. That
1,ar =. a
life, or at least accident to some pas
sengers is marvellous Since late in the
afternoon all city bound passenger
trains were obliged to make the run
from Lancaster to the city over the
eastern track owing to the blockading
of the west bound track by two loaded
freight trains which had been brought
to a standstill by the strikers and dis
abled on the main track.
About 0 p. III. the Hornellsville ac-
commodation train, No. Z, reached the
William street station, where it was to
be backed up and take the west bound
track to make the remainder of the run
into the city.
Before the train could be brought to
q stop, however, and while still moving
at rate Of two to four miles an hour,
the switch opposite the telegraph station
WIS pullSu OItA anu lHt lIdlu went
crashing through. There were four cars
all crowded with passengers, many of
them standing on the platforms at the
time. The engine was stuck to the
ain, but the baggage car was thrown
gonally across the main track and
side track. The first coach was
t..own over to the side of the baggage
car and partially on the side track The
last three coaches did not leave the
track, and after delay of about half
an hour they were backed on the west
track and brought into the city.
The roads which will probably be tied
next are the New York Central and
West Shore. Action on the question of
u strike on these roads may possibly be
taken today. II is expected the E,ris
men will also go out. The men are non.
communicative, and their future move.
ments are unknown.
BRADFORD, Pa, Aug. l5.-Trouble is
evidently brooding on the Bradford
branch of the Erie railroad. A com.
mittee representing the engineers, fire.
men, conductors, brakemen and switch.
men were in conference with Supern-
dent q V. Merrick at Newells hall all
day yesterday discussing the scale of
wages. Both Mr.. Merrict and the com.
mittee are retcent as to what took place
at the meeting. 1t is learned however,
that the principal grievance complained
OF is that Of keeping crews out on the
road overtime without extra pay, Should
their demands not be granted the men
will strike.