Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-18
IN STATE OF SIEGE.
iownspsople Take Up Bitter War Against
Railroad Company.

NORTH ABINGDON, Mass, Aug H.
North Abingdon passed through a success
sion of scenes yesterday afternoon such As
never were witnessed in Plymouth couaty
before In the morning after the seiect'
men had given orders to the officials OF
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
to take up the blind track which they had
laid during their fight with the electric
road, or the town would take it up, open
hnstilities ceased The officials OF the
,lectric road and their counsel went to
Boston to apply for an injunction to re-
.train the Consolidated people from pre-
venting them laying the rails across the
rrossing at North avenue.
The gangs Of men Of the Consolidated
road were Kept a short distance from the
crossing ready
To Block Any Move
If the electric people. Superintendent
!S.nborn, who had charge Of the forces,
spent his time mainly in the telegraph
Office. in communication with the higher
officials at Boston, and large crowds had
collected during the forenoon. Shortly
after | O'Clock Superintendent Sanborn
toll Roadmaster Bryant to carry out his
orders. Bryant called his men up and
tfey came with their tools In moment
it was seen that the orders were to tear up
10 much Of the electric road tracks as pro-
iected from Railroad avenue to the track
Of the Consolidated. As the road men
began work Road Commissioner Wright
approached Superintendent Sanborn and
IN formed him that he was an officer OF the
town, and as such warned him against
touching any paving or tracks Oh the pub
lie highways. Sanborn replied: Il will
lake the risk" and work procdeded.
As the road men began work Road
Commissioner Wright approached super
intendent Sanborn and informed him that
he was an officer Of the town and as such
| warned him against touching any paving
or tracks on the public highway. Sanborn
replied, II will take the risk, and work
proceeded.
As the Consolidated men began work
three officers reached there, each for
man to arrest The men resented, and
| the
Italians Rushed In Force
upon the officers and citizens. Shovels and
| ,ickaxes were used freely. and the Italians
| drove the citizens down North avenue.
| The fire alarm WAS rung and hose
! turned out, and putting two streams on
d, owe the Italians back. They could not
stand water As they got to the crossing
they tore the gate tenders house down,
using it as barricade. The firemen
made it so lively for the Consolidated men
that they rallied and charged, and the
rocks few in every direction Hundreds
of dollars worth Of plate glass was
suashed in a few minutes, and not only
/ those engaged in the battle. but spectators
were injured.
! In the fight, Inspector Bailey and Road
master Bryant were arrested and locked
ur. The Italians got the best OF the un-
/ oi .,arized force and cut the hose In pieces.
! N truce was then declared, Superintendent
ss.niorn calling off his men, although
/ th.y staid around for new orders. The
ss,eetneD were sent to Boston to Chief
/ Wade and he and a large posse of state
pt.!-e officers came out on an afternoon
train. There also came President Reed Of
the electric road and Judge Kelly. They
brought with them the injunction which
I had been granted by Judge Barker OF the
supreme court.
/ The papers were served on Superinten-
| dent Sanborn and he sent his men to their
trains and
Gave Up tho Big Fight.
I IRE sident Reed gave Contractor Reed or
ders to lay the electric tracks and after
Chief Wade and his men had come down
to the crossing and cleared passageway
through the immense crowd, work began
a. just 5 O'Clock.
/ Deputy Sheriff Cushman read the riot
act to the crowd and most of them dis
persed after seeing that the electric rosd
had won Officer Hollis served warrant
upon Superintendent Sanborn and locked
him up. He was later bailed out, together
with Bailey and Bryant.
About - persons were more or less in
jured in the fight, two receiving bullet
wounds, but no fatal results are feared.
Nearly s20,oOo worth of glass was broken.