The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-05-26
Operators on tine Chicago aud North.
western Road Desert Their
Keys
In Obedience to an Order Supposed to
Have Been Issued by Chief
Ramsay.
The Order Was Not Genuine ond til
Operators We're Ordered Back
to Work.

CHICAGO, May 24.-Ihe threatened
strike of telegraphers on the Chicago
and Northwestern road occurred at 4
o'clock a. m. At o'clock disastrous
wreck followed, involving many thou
sand dollars worth of property and
causing a blockade of the entire Mil
waukee division of the road.
1t was just at 4 O'clock when all the
operators north of Evanston, as by one
impulse, failed to answer the calls on
their instruments from the train dis
patcher's office. Scarcely had the Off
cials been notified and they in turn had
ordered the utmost caution in moving
trains when the first accident occurred.
A heavy freight train, composed of
20 cars of ice, hay and beer for Chicago,
reached North Evanston, and, though
the switch signals were properly set,
struck an open switch and left the
rails, the cars heaping upon each other,
completely blocking all the tracks. The
engineer and fireman of the train saved
themselves by jumping.
just as the engine passed the station,
running at full speed on the main track,
the tower man is said to have remem-
bered that he should have switched the
train to side track. After the engine
had passed he threw the switch and one
after another the cars piled up on one
another until 18 were thrown across the
track.
Result offs Bogus Order.
CHICAGO, May 44.-The strike, it has
been learned, was the result of bogus
dispatch sent over the wires of the com
pany at 10 o'clock p. m., the origin of
which is not known. AS soon as Grand
Chief Ramsey heard of the walkout he
proceeded to repair the damage as far
as he could. He sent committee to
the general officers of the road in this
city with authority to denounce the
outrage and with message to all men,
bers of the Order of Telegraphers, Or
dering them to return to work and ex-
planning that no official order had been
given to strike, if that action seems
necessary, until every division has
been paroled. Several hundred opera
tors at various points along
the road left their keys in obedience to
the spurious mandate, but all returned
to work when Mr.. Ramsay's order
passed over the line.
The railway officials declare that the
strike was in nowise responsible FOR the
wreck at South Evanston. MI. Ram
say, when seen at his hotel, said the
bogus order was no doubt the work of
an enemy of the telegraphers' order and
everything was being done to discover
his identity and to rectify the damage.
No legal steps will be taken until a
conference had been held with General
Manager Whitelnan of the road.
Telegraphers' Trouble Settled.
CHICAGO, May 24-In an interview
Chief Ramsay said the trouble with the
Chicago and Northwestern road was all
settled. II have had conference with
the railway officials" said Mr.. Ramsay,
''and they have explained their position
with regard to the recent discharge Of
several of the operators on the Chicago
and Northwestern road. The reasons
given for their discharge were ample.
The committee is thoroughly satisfied, %
he continued, "and has broken up and
the members have left for their homes.' -