New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-20
STRIKING ALONG THE LINE.
THE INTERRUPTION TO TRAFFIC GENERAL
TRAINS STILL RUN or THE BRANCHES IN THE
COAL RFGIONs-SCENES AT wILKESBARRE
ANn CTurE POINTS

COAL REGIONs-ScENES AT wILKFSBARRE
AND oTrEE POINTS.
Wlkesbarre. Penn. Nov. i9.-Thousands of men
thronged the platform OF the Lehigh Valley sta
ton all day to-day and although nothing of an
alarming nature occurred. the excitement was in
tense. Every incoming train was awaited with
interest but they were few and far between Only
mail trains allowed TO run to-day, the mails
being carried on all kinds of mixed trains Very
few wheels are turning on the entire Wyoming
division. and the people beginning to realize
that what may become one of the greatest labor
struggles in years has been inaugurated. The off,
cias OF the company doing everything In their
power to provide for the running OF through pas
senger trains Tomorrow although their success
has been, to say the least Indifferent. Mr.. Cos
teo, foreman Of engineers, has been busily en-
gagged trying to crews but 1t is not known
whether he succeeded to any great extent. He Is
the man who. in 1887 took his train out of Wilkes
barre, although surrounded by a mob numbering
1000 who threatened to tear him from the cab and
kill him IL he touched the lever. With the quiet
but determined remark, I'm going to take this
train through TO destination" he opened the throttle
and dashed through the crowd, amid shower Of
sticks and stones. 1t Is expected that II necessary,
he will take charge of one of the through passenger
trains tomorrow.
At $50 o'clock this afternoon IL reported that
the mails were not delayed at any point, the men
contenting themselves with stopping all other kinds
OF traffic One engineer. who left here for Bernice
with his train at 3:5. approached by COM
mite Of strikers a. the Wllkesbarre station and
asked to leave his engine. He replied that the
order came too late. and that he would take hs
train through to the other end OF the line before
going out. This is the general rule all along the
line Crews who had received the order
strike before taking out their train almost in
variably proceeded to the end Of the run, In com
pliancc with the law of 1877. which makes 1t mis-
demeanor to abandon train on the road. The same
act also provides for the punishment by fine ann
imprisonment OF any employe OF another rairoac
who refuses to handle the cars of a railroad whose
men strike This may lead to serious com
cations for IL the strike continues. the Lehigh
Valley people will certainly offer their traffic to th-
Jersey Central the Delaware. Lackawanna and West
and other roads. and the trainmen who belong
t. the association will certainly refuse to handle
IT, This will only extend the trouble TO other
lines. but VIII lay the employees of these roads
liable . prosecution In the courts.
The .,cw-York passenger train due here at $3.50
p. n. cane In time. with Train Dispatcher VIE
daw as g.. ;ineer. and a crew. The train lay
here hour. during whicn time every effort wa.
made to induce the men to leave II. but TO no
purpose When engine No. 357 rolled into the depot
to help the castbound train up the mountain the
ircman's wife and three children were Whiting Tor
him. He embraced them tenderly and the wife
wished him safe journey. The scene was unusu-
ally touching. This engine had the old crew on
board They too said that they had received their
quit orders too and would finish the run before
going of.
At all points north between Wilkesbarre an"
Sayre the tralnmen are out TO a man, and not
wheel turns with the exception OF thos, notef
above It is expected that by tomorrow the road
will be tied UP from end to the other
-Four meetings Of the different trainmers organi-
cations were held in this city to-day. but the ut
most secrecy Is maintained and the men aosointeiy
refuse divulg. any o, the proceedings. IL IL
ka~o
the grand officers in ordering the strike has been
ratified and that the men have pledged themselves
to fight II out to the end
The railroad yards and the various sidetracKs OF
the company in this city and at CoXton' sugar
Notch Fairview and Port Bowkley are blocked
with several thousand cars of freight ana coal
There is no telling when any OF them VIII d.
moved.
superintendent Esser, who has been on duty for
the past twenty hours with little or no Steep
was deeply panei at the action OF some OF tue
employees in refusing to work. especially those VINO
were under obliga ons to him for great iaVors II.
had done for them in the past. At his once TO-
might six irenren and a number OF unemployed men
reported for work: their names were placed upon
the list and they will be Informed If wanted
rr,,a,o telegram was received at the superln
,o,dent's Office from Bethlehem tonight saying:
..1,he ouerators on the I.chigh and New-Jersey u-
vision are on duty to-day almost TO man. SOME
-, tho nre,ren and brakemen are OF, Dut thlhss
,o,r >, no In good shape Passenger trains are
running and some of the freight trains are solhs
out" ,,. a
Al 7:20 O'Clock to-ngh, tracN-walSer ha'neu
walch AZ Sugar Notch. four miles from mere re-
r,, ,bat a tough gang OF men were seen by
IT,, ~ tho Franklin switch and fears are enter
.,rod that they may Interfere with the switches
Ir,,, tho night lie hoisted all the lamps IN
their proper places. after whloh ne was ''''
awov by the crowd who threw stones AT MN
AZ cox,on ten miles from here. the switch lights
wore removed early this morning and thrown INTO
the adjoining fields by persons "' ~ ~
TO the company.
II is reported here tonight that the lehigh val
lev officials applied to Superintendent MAXWELL Vi
the Central Railroad OF Ncw-Jersey TO hah1ie sorie
of their freight II necessary. ard that MI MaA"e'
refused to do so. 1t is also said that similar ap-
nllcotion had been made to superintendent Haii-
s.ead Of the Delaware, Lackawanna and western
poilrood and that he also declined. The strikers
claim that II this position Is maintalned py the
competing roads the strike will be settled "i'hih
week. , 49,,
,.a,,r, Lchirh Valley Railroad employees on the
coal branches say they have received no orders to
strike and trains are running thus far on regular
schedule. A conference OF employees VIII "e "c'u az
Deano time tonight when uehhl'e action
will be taken as the course to be pursued mus
FAR but one operator in the main dispatchers ONCE
AT Delano failed to take charge OF MS Key To-Day
The feeling IL that there will be no general e-up
I'm this coal region by Iehigh Valley men, but that
the fight Will be left the main line.
Auburn. ~ s.. Nov B-The mail rdhs on the
Northern Contra! Division OF the l-ehish valley
were run as usual to-day but all other tra'hc was
at a standstu The company's yards In this city
are deserted. and a pound of freight was moved
Allentown Penn. Nov i9.-only two men from
this city-a telegraph operator and an engineer
are engaged In the strike on the Lehlgh Valley Rail
road. Its employees here do not sympathize with
the strikers and will give them no assistance The
oencral sentiment In Allentown Is with the COM
pany Superintendent Wilbur passed through here
to-day and he expressed himself as pleased with
the situation.
Easton PENN Nov l9.-The strike on the LehiSh
Valley drew crowds to the station here to-day. but
the strikers were conspcuousy absent The ofh-
c.als have been able TO secure the services of