Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-18
THE LABOR TROUBLES.

thick. The troops are stationed along
the tracks Of the various lines. Their
faces are earnest where the crowds are
thick. white and determined. On the
great coal trcstlos and on the tops OF
cars the strikers and others keep their
lookout and pass their signals. A strike
of the locomotive iiremen ON the Lehigh
Valley may be ordered at any moment.
A fireman in the Lehigh yard at East
Buffalo was on Tuesday ordered to do
switching. He refused to do so and
was summarily discharged. The case
was taken up at the tiremen's meeting
and discussed. A committee was APP
pointed to wait on the Lehish Valley
officials and demand the reinstatement
of the discharged brother. If the com
pany refuses, strike of the firemen on
the Lehigh Valley division and possibly
the entire Reading system may follow.
Should this occur it is altogether likely
that the firemen on the Erie, Central,
Buffalo Creek, and any other lines that
NAV 90 into the strike will go out also.
If this should happen tbs passenger as
we'll as the freight will be tied up on
the entire length of the line. 1t is i'm
possible to say to what extent the troll
BILE may extend. The Buffalo Creek
road did not move car yesterday. The
Lehieh people would not attempt any
work, because, they said, there was not
protection enough on the ground.
There had been no assaults or disturb
ances there as yet, but they knew if
work should be attempted, there would
be trouble with the strikers at once. A
dispatch from Niagara states that none
of the switchmen have gone out rs yet.
Sheriff Beck yesterday morning ordered
all the saloons near the railroad yards
closed forthwith and remain closed I'M
til he gave them permission to open.
Soldiers with muskets and bayoncts
are about the depots in Buffalo, i'll fact,
the whole territory from the terrace to
Cheektowaga, Il distance of several
miles, is under military occupation.
Yesterday all through the Lehigh Val
ley yards and the Buffalo Creek yards
everything was quiet, dull and almost
dead. Freight cars of all kinds and
containing all sorts of freight stood in
long lines, filling all the switches and
sdetracks. The companies did not try
to do anything, so the strikers kept
quiet and there was no trouble of any
kind. An attempt was made to run
down a string Of empty cars near the
Erie elevator yesterday, but the strikers
interfered. Two companies of soldiers
were ordered over from Williams street.
When they arrived the attempt had
been given up, and nothing was done.
Last night Buffalo, Rochester and
Pittsburg trains were running regular
ly. The companies are not idle as is
evidenced by device that will be put
in operation to-day for the protection
of men making up trains. Flat, or
"gondola" cars are being prepared,
with fixed benches running lengthwise
of the cars. These benches are to be
occupied by sharpshooters well armed,
aud each Of these cars is to be hooked
to the cowcatcher or buffer of each
switching engine. Thus the crew will
be constantly under ready guard.
Master Workman Sweeney, OF the
switchmen, asserts that the railroad
company burned several wrecked cars
for the purpose of diverting sympathy
from the strikers. The Mayor and
Sheriff of Buffalo last night telegraphed
to Gov. Flower to call out the national
guard of the State for the protection of
property. At 1:50 this morning the
Lake Shore switchmen quit work, and
it is expected that the Laclawana men
will follow their example. One hun
bred mountain men passed through
Reading, Pa, yesterday afternoon, to
take the places of the strikers on the
Lehigh Valley Railroad. 1t is learned
that the company has secured enough
men already to fill the places of every
striker on the entire system. Nearly
all of the old men were called upon
personally yesterday, and the majority
gave assurance that they would stand
by the company. President Mcleod
has issued orders that all recalci-
trant switchmen must be discharged
Seven carloads of men, amounting III
all to over 500, left Philadelphia last
night for Sayre, Pa, where they are to
be employed in place of the striking
switchmen Railroad officials declare
that several thousand additional men
will be sent from Philadelphia.
On Tuesday night the miners at
Coal Creek, Jellico, Newcome and other
points on the X o. road, seized three
trains, and with Winchesters, compelled
the trainmen to take them TO Oliver
Springs. The crowd numbered 1000
men, embracing the miners of the let
ter point. The warden heard Of their
approach, and when the miners were at
least mile from the stockade coward
ly abandoned his post. and, with his
convicts and guards, marched mile to
surrender. The guns of the militiamen
were taken from them, and the miners
seized the three trains on which they
had gone to divers, and loading the
first withconvicts and guards, land board
ing the other two, pulled out for Gin
ton. From this point the conyicts were
taken to Knoxville, and the miners
left for Coal Creek, where the miners
of the entire region are concentrating.
The wires are cut beyond Clinton, and
nothing can be heard, but the universal
belief is that Coal Creek will be attack
ed in short order. At least 3, 500 men are
there, and the miners say
they can secure 5000 men if necessary.
It is impossible now to reinforce Camp
Anderson at Coal Creek, and the whole
brunt of the battle will fall on Capt.
Anderson and his command Of $50 men.
Governor Buchanan has ordered
the sheriff of Hamilton county
G1.a Lundnad .a.as