Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-15
THE TORCH
The Striking Switchmen at Buff
falo Resort to Violence.
OARS BURNED AND SMASHED UP.

Train. and II Was Almost a Miracle
That There was No Loss Of Life-Tho
Strike Spreading.
BUFFALO, Aug. l5.-The second day Of
the strike of railroad switchmen was marked
with several acts Of lawlessness Cars were
set on fire in the Lehigh Valley yard. Other
cars were set loose to run down an inclined
trestle, causing a wreck. An incoming train
was boarded by men on the watch for
"scabsn and about fifty men were driven
nom it. Several men We're assaulted dur
ing the day. More trouble is feared and
there are rumors that the strike viii spread.
Altogether the situation seems critical.
Somebody, supposed to be the strikers,
started three fires simultaneously in differ
emit parts Of the Lehigh Valley freight yards
at East Buffalo. An alarm was sounded
and the fire department and the entire ro-
serve force OF police were quickly dispatched
to the scene
II was a well planned and well executed
plot, as the fires were started whore the
cars were thickest; no hydrants from which
water could be obtained, and at a time
when the yards were deserted. Eighteen
freight cars, loaded with merchandise, and
two passenger coaches, together with two
Office buildings, were completely destroyed
Trains Wrecked.
A train Of fifteen coal cars which was
standing on q coal trestle was started down
the incline and crashed into an engine mt
the bottom, wrecking it and water crane.
Four freight trains on the Lohigh Valley
have been dcrniled in the Lehigh Nnlev
yards Eight cars were also wrecked on
the Erie.
The excitement caused by the G.'e and
wreck had nearly cooled down, when 10 was
started anew by the boarding of the Erie
train by the strikers at the William street
crossing.
As the train stopped a number Of men got
aboard aud drove something over a carload
of men from the cars. The supposed
"scabs" ran or were driven in every direc-
ton. One at least was badly hurt and re-
moved 20 the hospital His name is Henry
Shrader When the incomeIs had been
scattered the strikers let the train 90 on It's
way. sIf
While at the hospital Shrader was very
anxious that Superintendent Brunn, OF the
Erie, should know Of his condition, saying
ne and his men had been sent for from New
Jersey to take the places OF the,strikers.
His injuries were not serious, being only
few scalp wounds and a badly kicked shin.
Tried 10 Ditch a Passenger Train.
Many switches were turned, and TO avoid
danger the engineers Of all trains were
given positive orders 20 run carefully
through the Buffalo yards and watch for
open switches.
A train Of perishable goods on tho Buffalo
and Southwestern division Of the Erie was
boarded by men between Seneca street and
the Western New York and Pennsylvania
crossing and the pins pulled from every car,
stalling the train. 1t was something over
an hour before the train could be moved
into the yards.
The violence Of the strikers reached its
highest point when an attempt was made
70 throw a train loaded with passengers into
the ditch at the Erie yards In Cheektowaga
That there were no serious results in loss Of
life or az least injury TO some of the passen-
gers IS marvellous.
An city bound passenger trains were
obliged to make the run from Lancaster to
the city over the eastern track owing to
the hlockading OF the west bound track by
two loaded freight trains which had been
brought TO a standstill by the strikers and
left disabled on the main track.
The Hornelsville accommodation train, No.
II, reached the William street station, where
it was TO back up and take the west
bound track to make the remainder of the
run into the city Before the train could be
brought to a stop however, and while still
moving at a rate of three OF four miles an
hour, the switch directly opposite the telo.
graph station was pushed back aud the train
was sent crashing over the tracks sideways.
Another Fire Started.
a..
mediation, and all were crowded with pas.
sengers many Of them standing on the plat.
form at the time. The engine stuck TO the
track, but the baggage car was thrown di
agonally across the space between the main
track and the side track into which the
switch opened. The first coach was away
over to the side Of the baggage car and par
tally on the side track The last three
coaches did not leave the track, aud after
delay Of about half an hour they were backed
on to the west bound track and brought into
the city.
The excitement over the wrecling OF On,
train had not yet died down when the strik
ers had a new sensation ready. Another
FIRE was started among n number Of stand
ing Lehigh Valley empty freight cars abou
half a mile from the city limits. After thl
destruction Of about twenty-five cars thu
AlAAANr MNAN NAAAANAH ANN MNNlN NHlANN AN
serve has been ordered on duty and tn
situation is hourly growing worse
The roads which viii probably be tied NJ
next are the New York Central and Yves
Shore. Action on the question Of striking Of
these roads may possibly be- taken today
The strike on the Erie and Lehigh Vale
lines has extended 70 Waverly and Sayr
on the Lehigh and freight traffic ON tina
line is at a standstill. A train OF bee
stands on an Erie siding there, the switch
men refusing to allow Il to be switched I
the Lehigh tracks 20 proceed TO its destiu,
ton The division superintendent Of Oh
Lehigh has telegraphed 70 Owego for ID
sheriff to come TO his aid although the me
are making no demonstration.
Erie Men to Go Out.
1t Is expected that the Erie men will ais
20 out and the traffic an through thos
towns viii be at a standstil. The men al
noncommunicative and their future NOV
ments are unknown.
The position Of the other railroad ordel
toward the strikers is a subject Of conside
.1,fo i,taraat Tho Csritrlr,,aff. Nrrt,,.1 A.