The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-11

HAMMOND, July 7-special-The
strike situation here is becoming more
alarming each day.
Last evening a fresh meat train over
the Michigan Central was stalled by cut
ting the pipe and letting all the water
out of the engine
A west-bound mail train on the same
road shared the same fate just after
crossing the state line.
The first Nickel Plate train for two
days arrived about s o'clock and could
not cross the Michigan Central tracks
on account Of the deserted tower. The
engineer backed his train into the siding
and there it stood through the night
and all day today.
Various vain attempts were made to
get some one to spike the ID" rail so the
train could proceed, but Foreman Ryan
and his crew refused to make scabs OF
themselves and all others feared TO make
the attempt
The Monon trains last evening came in
in two sections. One of the these was
sent back TO Dyer TO lay out for the
night and the other was stalled by the
strikers letting the water from the en-
CINE The engineer and firemen were in
perfect sympathy with the strikers and
made no objection TO their emptying the
engine. nor did they make any attempt
afterward to proceed.
About 10 o'clock a crowd took a G.. H.
Hammond refrigerator car and spread it
across the Erie and Nickel Plate cross
ings in such manner as to effectually
block both roads. They then went just
over the Illinois line and overturned "A
box car on the south track Of u Mich
igan Central route. which is double
tracked through this city. Going still
further down the tracks they set another
box car across the north track and one
siding.
Last night there were four Chicago
mail trains standing blocked in this city.
The mail clerks pleaded with Postmaster
Ebert to accept and forward the mail.
but as there was no route by which il
could be sent on he refused and the
clerks had to sleep with and guard their
mail.
The fresh meat train was pulled out
by an engine arriving from the East.
and all other trains which attempted to
move were left unmolested by the strik-
ers. No violence was attempted. A
large number OF deputy marshals and
deputy sheriffs were here, but failed to
prevent the depredations.
The Monon began to run its south
bound trains again this morning and
run regularly until o'clock, when the
vestibule train was held up and the
Pullman sleepers cut out. No deputy
United States marshals furnished pro
lection and the sheriff was powerless
He at once went to the telegraph office
and sent his last and final appeal to
Governor Matthews.
The governor has sent messages of in
quiry until Sheriff Friedrich has de-
termined to ask no more for help and
let the mob do its work with twenty-five
deputy United States marshals scattered
about, but not in sight when trouble oc-
ours.
Four or five of these deputies were
formerly leaders in the strike and are
now under recogniZance bond to appear
in the federal court and answer to the
charge of obstructing the mails.
Just before the Monon arrived a Mich
igan Central train pulled to the station
which is about one block from the state
line. Just after crossing the state line
the engineer found his air shut off. Four
or five men sprung upon the engine while
a vast crowd surrounded the train. Both
engineer and fireman were assaulted
with rocks and knocked from their cab
Engineer Harry Mclean was struck in
the face and in the back with stones
but not seriously injured. Fireman Sa m
Cooper had three or four very ugly cuts
in the face made by stones by strikers
The front brakeman, whose name is
Nichols was almost as badly injured as
was Cooper.
Great excitement prevails and fears
are entertained of what the night will
yet bring forth.
LaterSThe small forces of DEPUTY
nd chp
able to control the mob, which has driven
them off the railway companies grounds
The telegraph operators of all roads in
the city have been warned to keep inside
their offices and give no information, on
pain of having their heads broken.
It is reported that the manager of the
Postal telegraph company has been
chased out of town. but for what reason
is not known. The Pullman sleepers
cut off from the Michigan Central trains
are still under guard just over the Hi
nois line and the trains from the engine
and trainmen have been run off. The mob
has run out all the Western Union oper-
ators from the Michigan Central offices
and the Monon night operator has lust
fed for his life, pursued by a bowling
mob. They are now menacing the Erie
offices and il is expected that all com
munication with the city will soon be
entirely cut OFF,
At 11:20 p. m. word comes from Ham
mond that the Michigan Central operator
has been caught by the mob and kicked
nearly to death. The Erie operator was
warned and has Just fled for his life All
communication with Hammond bv teIe-
graph is now cut off and no trains are
moving.
At 1l:30 the mob is rushing down the
Erie tracks throwing switches and
tampering with switchlights, so as to in
dictate that the tracks are clear
HAMMOND. July S-Special-After
the rioters attacked the Michigan Cen
trail railroad crew last night and Sheriff
Frederick had telegraphed to Governor
Matthews an urgent appeal for troops
the rioters drove out the Western Union
telegraph operators for sending the mes
sage to the governor.
Then they beat with coupling PIN the
switch inspector, though he was not
fatally wounded. During the night cars
were overturned on every track so as to
wreck trains on three or four roads. The
windows of the Pullman coaches were
riddled with stones.
Early this morning a lamp exploded in
one Of these and it was Quilted by the
flames, though the fire department saved
it from destruction. The city was in a
state of awe through the night, every
one fearing what the morning would
bring forth.
All traffic was at a standstill, except
on the Monon. One train on that road