The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-18
THE GREAT STRIKE.
The Firemen May Come to tie
Switchmen's Assistance.
NATIONAL LEADERS AT BUFFALO.

Their Presence Doubtless to Pre-
vent Members of Their Organiza-
tions from Working Against the
Strikers Intercsts-A Militiaman
Accidentally Killed.
BUFFALO, Aug. 18.-A strike of the
locomotive firemen ON the Lehigh VAL
ley may be ordered at any moment. A
fireman in the Lehigh yards at East
Buffalo was ordered to do switching.
He refused to do so and was summarily
discharged. The case was taken up at
The firemen's meeting and discussed. A
COMMITTEES was appointed to wait on
the Lehigh Valley officials and demand
the reinstatement of the discharged
brother. IL the company refuses strike
of the tiremen on the Lehigh Valley di-
vision and possibly on the entire Read
ing system may follow. Should this
occur it is altogether likely that the
firemen on the Erie, Central, Buffalo
Creek and any other lines that may go
into the strike will go out also. II this
should happen the passenger as well as
the freight trains will be tied up the
entire length of the line. 1t is impos-
sible to say to what extent the trouble
may extend.
Will Firemen Strike?
Grand Master Sargent, of the Loco
motive Firemens Brotherhood, is here,
also Grand Master Wilkinson, of the
Brotherhood of Railway Brakemen.
Their presence at this time Is regarded
rs significant. A brakeman stated that
the grand master had been sent to as
sume charge OF the local situation. If
any of the members are asked to assist
In any way to make up trains or per-
form any OF the duties which ordinarily
belong to q switchman a strike of the
brakeihen will be ordered. The men,
80 the informant says, are in hearty ac-
cord with the switchmen and willing to
strike on the slightest provocation
should they see that such move would
bring the struggle to finish.
Grand Master Sweeney gives a posi-
tive denial to the statement that he had
sent message to Grand Secretary Sim
scott, of Chicago, saying that two roads
have yielded to the men. Furthermore
the Western New York and Pennsyl-
vania men are not on strike.
Sergeant Elsaessor, of Company F.,
Sixty-fifth regiment, was accidentally
shot between 0 and 10 o'clock, at the
Lackawanna trestle, Checktowaga. He
was guarding the trestle with his COM
pany, and they had their arms stacked
near them. The guns were supposed to
be all unloaded. In some way rife,
which was carelessly left loaded, was
accidentally discharged while being
handled by the sergeant. -Yfhe bullet
struck him in the forehead and went
through. the top of his skull. He fell
unconscious to the ground and was re-
moved to General Doyles headquarters.
He died on the way to the hospital.
Extending the Strike.
The Rochester and Pittsburg switch
men struck at noon yesterday. 1t is re-
ported that trainmen on all the roads
concerned will go out within twenty
four hours. The sheriff, it is reported,
has called on the governor for the entire
Rtate militia. Another report says Mr..
Webb has requested him to do this, but
he declined to do 80 at once, having the
matter under consideration.
The situation here today is very
grave. Nearly thousand men are on
strike, with the probability of three
hundred or four hundred more being
added to the number. The strike in the
New York Central yards, followed by
that of the West Shore switchmen,
causes much apprehension. The aim
now seems to be q general tie up.
Freight continued to accumulate in the
yards during the day, and men familiar
with great railway strikes shake their
heads when the opinion is expressed
that The trouble will be short lived.
The development of strength is prob
ably yet to come. 1t will be recalled
that the Central men struck and were
dAfeated two years ago, and it is be-
heved that these switchmen would not
60 into another strike so soon without a
concerted plan having been arranged
and determination reached to fight q
pitched battle for supremacy.
AT / o'clock this morning the Lake
6hore switchinen were called out, and
responded with remarkable unanimity,
thus adding to the freight blockade.
Representatives of the interested roads
held conference with the state board
of arbitration last evening, but nothing
was given out for publication Mr..
Donovan, acting for the board of arbi-
tration, said If matters did not grow
considerably brighter in the next two or
three days, the board would probably
begin an investigation.