The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-19
FIREMEN MAY STRIKE
The Buffalo Railroad Blockade
as Tight as Ever.
COMPANIES WON'T AReiTRATE.
Militismen Obliged to Poke Bayonets
Into BoisterOus Persons-Unionisss
Ordered Not to Join Militia.

BUFFALO, Aug. 1S.-WaIter Webb. third
/ vice president of the New York Central,
has sent q letter to the state board of arbi-
tratlon. saying there were no differences
or grievances existing between the COM
pany and its employees, therefore arbi-
tration was unnecessary. Up to
midnight the firemen had not gone out,
and it does not seem likely that they will
| 60 out tonight. The Erie and New York
Central yards are quiet tonight. Neither
attempted to take out any freight and
none came in.
BUFFALO, Aug. 1S.-The sixth day Of the
switchmen's strike closes with increasin z
complications. The leaders have wit
messed the massing Of troops with grow
ing determination to meet every
move of their opponents with a
counter stroke. Fully 5000 troops
will be here tomorrow, guarding 800
strikers. Railway officials rely upon the
presence of soldiers to permit them to
raise the freight blockade with non-union
men now engaged. As a counter-stroke
it is considered probable that the firemen
and trainmen on all lines where the strike
now prevails will be called out.
The latest addition to the striking
switchmen is ninety men in the Nickel
Plate yards, who struck because they were
asked to handle boycotted freight. Thus
the switchmen upon the entire Van
derbilt system in the vicinity are
out. The strike leaders claim to-
night that the Vanderbilt system at this
point is blockaded and inactive. They
claim also that the Erie, Lehigh Valley
and Buffalo Creek roads are likewise
paralyzed. They do not feel that it
will be necessary to call out
the men in all trades, though
the reserve forcelmay possibly be called
out, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western,
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg and West
ern New York and Pennsylvania switch
men. The Delaware, Lackawanna e.
Western, which has already con-
coded the demands of the men,
went even further today and formally
notified them that they would not be
asked to handle boycotted freight. No
doubt before yielding the fight the leaders
will extend the strike West. even to Chi
cago, and eastward to New York, ulti-
mately calling out perhaps not only the
switchmen, but the iremen and trainmen.
The strikers expect developments in the
next three days. The strikers claim full
sympathy on the part of the tiremen, who
they state will quit their engines when
ever the order reaches them. 1t
is said the trainmen are ready to
join the switchmen whenever ordered,
but the firemen will probably
be first called. AS to the condition Of the
tied-up roads, the officials make state
ments strongly contradicting the claims
Of the men. The New York Central
is moving freight, not in de-
sultory way. but in trains. Tonight it
is claimed by the Central officials
that their freight traffic in and out of the
East Buffalo yards is progressing without
interruption. The Central will tomorrow
resume work at the Black Rock and Erie
street yards. They estimate that by Mon
| day freight business will be moving nor
mally.
Preparations of a suggestive character
were made today at the Fitch hospital.
Over twenty cots with bedding have been
arranged, together with several field
stretchers. Several surgeons have signified
their intention of assisting the staff should
necessity arise. The troops are complain
ing greatly of the way they are treated,
both as to food and accommodations. In
| spector-General McGrath and Major
| Roselle arrived this afternoon. and they
| will look after the matter and see that the
| men have proper attention.
One or two skirmshes with gathering
| crowds were reported during the day, but
| the incidents were not serious. The pc ople
| gathered to taunt and annoy the troops.
| Some efforts were made during the day to
move trains at the Babcock street cross
| ing of the Erie, but the non-union men re-
- >ol n,,1
was finally made up and sent out, but it
| could not get through the blockade.
| The state board Of arbitration and
volved had conference today
to arrange for submitting the difficulties
to arbitration. The Philadelphia & Read
ing corporation refused to arbitrate. how
ever. There was marked falling
off in the passenger business of all
| the railroads leading into the city
this morning. Charles O'Hara, of
| Oswego, private in Forty-eighth COM
pany. while on duty in the Central yards,
East Buffalo. this morning, was struck by
an engine and instantly killed.
! A meeting OF firemen tomorrow evening
| will be one of the most important
| crises in the strike. If the tiremen
conclude to go out it will be on
| all the lines on which switchmen are out.
| The tralnmen will hold a meeting at some
| time between now and tomorrow evening
| They will doubtless act in conjunction
with the tiremen. The conductors are
known to be in touch with the other three
| organizations, and if a climax is reached
they will work in harmony with them.
! The New York Central railroad. with
| non-unioh men, began moving freight
trains this morning under military guards.
| The strikers looked on grimly, but made
! no move.
Two cars containing men to take the
places of the striking switchmen which
| left New York last night were detached
from the regular passenger train at SYRIA
! cuse and will be brought on later. 1t was
feared that their presence might provoke
an attack.
Late last night jeering throns
! gathered about little detachment OF
soldiers in the switch yards and
became so threatening that rein
| forcements were sent for. The crowd,
which numbered 5000, did not
| dispense at the command, and the soldiers
charged with fixed bayonets, proddng
! many OF those nearest TO them in the legs.
| The mob was soon put 10 Hight.
| HAMBURG, Aug. lS.-Chauncey N. De-
pew, of New York. is taking the waters
here. All efforts TO induce him to discuss
the railroad troubles at Buffalo have so far
proved fruitless.
| WASHINGTON CRY, Aug. 1S.-No official
| communications have beer, received bv the