Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-08-17
A BRIGADE NOW
ON THE GROUND
The Switchmen's Strike at Buff
falo Assuming Big
Proportions.
CENTRAL EMPLOYEES JOIN HANDS
WITH THE OTHER MEN.

All Quiet in the Yards This Morning
Trains Moved by Non-UniOn Mon
Guarded Ly the DInitia--Passenger
Traffic Uninterrupted--A Number of
Encounters RspOrted--SeverAl More
Fires-State Board of Arbitration on
the Scene--A General Fight Between
Strikers and Troops Feared.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Aug. 17.-Manley G.
Green, Justice of the Supreme Court at
Buffalo, impressed by the gravity of the
situation among the striking switchmen,
last night ordered out the entire 4th
brigade of the New York State militia,
consisting of 1000 men in separate COM
panies and one battery of artillery. The
troops have been arriving all the morn
ing, and are nearly all here. 1t may sur
prise many persons to learn that judge
in this State can take this action, but it
seems that he can. At present there are
800 of the brigade in active service. This
order calls for !, 200 more. In his letter
to Gen. Doyle Justice Green says:
at appears to me that riotous and I'M
lawful assembly is in the county of Erie,
State of New York, with intent to offer
violence to persons and property. 1 do
hereby order and direct you to order your
command and all thereof to as
semble forthwith at place to be desig-
mated by you in the city of Buffalo, N.
Y, to aid the civil authorities in suppress
ing violence and enforcing the law"
The switchmen employed in the yards
of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
road went out at 8 o'clock last night
but returned to work at midnight, after
receiving a notice that their demands
would be granted from the officials.
At the meeting of the switchmens To-
cal union last night it was decided to call
out the New York Central switchmen at
midnight, and promptly at that hour
$50 Central men quit work. They will
not interfere with the running of pas
senger trains, but promise to make it
warm for those who attempt to fill their
places in the freight yards.
1t was also decided to instruct the men
employed by connecting lines to refuse to
handle Erie, Lehigh Valley and New
York Central freight.
Prominent railroad men here say the
strike will develop into very serious af-
fair if connecting lines receive freight
from striking roads.
There were one or two slight differences
throughout the day and evening between
the reckless strikers and the soldiers
One band of fellows stoned the militia
from a bridge, but were quickly driven
off. Another crowd of angry strikers tried
to force their way into the Lehigh yards.
| One of them drew a revolver. The guard
| gave the alarm and two policemen arrest
ed the striker. He resisted and was
dubbed. His friends started the rumor
| that he died from the beating. but this
cannot be verified.
Two cars were set on fire in the yards
while the militia guarded all of the en-
| frances.
Recruits are arriving to take the place
of the strikers Fifty non-union men
| were put to work in the yards under mil
| itary protection and others are held out
side guarded by troops.
| Members of the State Board of Arbitra-
| ton have arrived and are studying the
| situation preparatory to attempting to
| settle the differences between the strikers
and the companies.
| 1t is feared by cool-headed citizens who
have viewed the situation that a general
fight may be expected between the strik-
| ers and the troops at any moment.
At 8 o'clock last night the Erie road
started two sections of train 80 East with
J 40 cars Of perishable freight. The trains
| proceeded unmolested until reaching AL
den station, where the cars were boarded
by strikers who applied the brakes and
pulled the pins, completely disabling
| both sections.
A train on its way from Black Rock to
Alden with coupling apparatus was de-
| rallied by the strikers. The road will be
blocked for some time. A wrecking train
was sent from Buffalo.
All passenger trains have been arriving
and leaving on time on all roads.
| Third Vice President H. Walter Webb,
of the New York Central road, is In the
city to-day, called here by the gravity of
the situation and the possibility of the
great four-track being seriously affected.
He has been in close consultation with
the attorneys of the road and its officials,
AMI while acknowledging the serious ma
ture of the strike, is confident that, with
proper military protection, all will come
out right. He said:
The strike has at last extended to our
road. We were not aware that any OF
our men were anxious to join the strike.
Il am pleased to hear that the National
Guard at other points is in readiness to be
thrown into Buffalo. Even if not
brought here, the mere fact that the mill
tia is held ready for the purpose will
have a quoting effect on the rioters"
| Yesterday when the militia reached the
scene they were formed in skirmish lines
along the tracks. Here and there a body
of strikers or sympathizers could be seen
but they kept quiet, awed no doubt by
the appearance OF the troops. The tracks
on both sides of the lines for half a mile
are guarded by soldiers, while the balance
of the regiments are holding their camp
with stacked rifles ready for any emer
gency.
The strikers have been drinking and are
as ugly as any body of men can be. They
say that they will not permit any of the
men who have been brought here by the
Reading to go to work, and that if any
attempt is made to put them in the yard,
they will kill them.
When the main body of the new mer
are put to work, which will probably b,
very soon they will be under the protec
ton of the militia and they will worl
under cover of the rifle and the bayonet.
Sheriff Peck has assured the railroad,
that they will have all the protection h
ca give them.
Granite Strikers LenvInS the Union.
| RApRE VT ~ -Mnra OF kar