Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-01
A FRUTTL Ess sTRlHE.
The Buffalo Switchmen DO Not Get al
Increase In THOR Pay.

SlElht Hau DttIl u luhu1C.
To-day the idle men are trying TO get
back in their old places. Some Of them
will do so.
These efforts, their results, aud the
movement or non-movement of the
troops are to be the features of to.day's
developments.
Mr., Sweeney will be examined by the
state arbitration board. The troops last
night were made uncomfortable by a
rain or a drizzle constantly. The
weather is heavy to-day.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Aug. 25.-At 1850
o'clock this morning at the corner of
Swan and Main streets, crowd of
switchmen surrounded Grand Master
Sweeney, demanding that he declare q
strike from New York to Chicago.
Words ensued and Switchman Quinn
Of the Nickle Plate yards struck
Sweeney ferocious blow, knocking
him down. Blood flew in a stream
from Sweeney's nose. Quinn got his
leader against n telegraph pole and
punched and pounded him until taken
away. Excitement prevails.
DETAILS OF THE ASSAULT.
The attack was made after Sweeney
had appeared before the arbitration
board. Twenty-Five to thirty swHchmen
were present in the hall, listening TO the
proceedings. AS Mr.. Sweeney was leav-
about him and all went down stairs
together.
Scarcely had they left the hall when
the switchmen commenced upbraiding
Sweeney for having declared the strike
Off The censure grew in Vehemency
as tho men made repeated demands upon
Mr.. Sweeney that he declare the strike
again, and that he should extend il from
New York u Chicago.
As the Associated Press correspond.
ent came down the street from the hall,
the men were in knots of two or three
about the corner of Main and Swan
streets.
well, are the men glad the strike is
OFF," inquired the correspondent.
No, they are not, and the strike is
not oil" replied one Of the men. He
was about to say more, but one of his
fellows poked him sharply with his
elbow and added, "Oh, it's all right, the
strike is off"
just at this moment there was shut
fling by u telegraph pole on the curb on
the corner. Two men were scrapping.
One was Mr.. Sweeney, who had rolled
III the gutter, and the other was Il short,
stout young fellow, whose name 81
Quinn, and who had beera switchman
of the Nickle Plate road He hit Mr.
Sweeney on the nose, knocking him
down. The strikers gathered about the
combatants. Blood flew in stream
from Mr. Sweeney's nose andmouth.
Quinn was quickly hustled away by
the strikers down Swan street and
around Il corner. The quick coursinp
of Quinn and his rapid disappearance
were construed by some observers us an
evidence that the assault was prcmedi-
tatcd.
MIR. Sweency's hat was picked up and
placed upon his head by bystander,
and he was taken to drug store, where
his injuries were attended to. He him
self gave the name of his assailant to
the Associated Press correspondent, and
stated that Quinn was complaining of
bis having lost his job. A crowd had
gathered very quickly and even after
Mr.. Sweeney had been taken away, re-
| manned.
This encounter and the temper Of the
men who attended the arbitration hear
ing this morning, indicates degree of
feeling which had not before been
known. Quinn has not yet been arrested.
ABOUT TAKING THE OLD MEN BACK.
A visit was made this morning to the
various offices of railroads on which a
strike recently occurred, and the ques-
ton was asked whether the companies
would now reinstate their old men. The
| reply was that the men would not be
taken back in II body. Some of them
would not be taken back under any cir
cumstanccs, and the others could get
back only under the conditions govern
| ing the employment of new men. If any
of them made application for work, the
application would be filed and con
sidered in due time.
BEFORE THE BOARD or Arbitration
At ~ o'clock to-day the State Board
| of Arbitration resumed its inquiries into
| the cause and circumstances of the late
| switchmen's strike. few of the re.
| cent strikers We're present as spectators
and Grand Master Sweeney, of the
| SWitchmcn's Union, was sworn as u
| witness.
Mr.. Sweeney stated that he had re.
| ceivcd at his home in Chicago, notice
| from the Buffalo switchmen that the
| railroads here had told them that the
men would in the future be worked
upon per hour basis, and they refused
| TO accept MIR. sweeney came and or
| dCrcd the formulation of grievances
and presented them This course hay-
ing failed, Mr.. Sweeney visited the rail
roads involved, The Lchigh and Read
| ing systems had refused to treat with
the swltchmcn's representative.
Mr., Walters of the Erie would give
no definite reply, and Nh Bpll of tho
Western New York and Pennsylvania
road referred Mr.. Sweeney to Other
officials of the road
"Did the New York Central refuse tc
confer with either you or your commit.
tec?" asked Counsel Pync.
g had no reason to know, because
do not represent any of the men on the
| Central system"
| on mean II is non union road 7"
ayes"
Chairman Purcell asked how il came
| that men struck at Rochester, Susaue.
hanna and Niagara,
"The men offered their support; that's
why they struck" was Mr.. Sweeney
reply.
"lou did not send any men or dolega.
ton TO those persons TO get the men
out" asked Mr.. Hines.
"No, did not was the response.
1t will be remembered that when a
partial strike was inaugurated at Suspen.
sion Bridge it was claimed by the Gen.
trail that Il party of Buffalo strikers APP.
pealed in the yards at the bridge at 4
O'Clock, in the morning, and urged out
| four men.
Mr.. Sweeney was asked to name the