The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
Rock Island Engine Ditched-strilker

CHICAGO, June 30-The Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific train No. 10. outward
bound. after picking it's way successfully
over the city tracks this evening was
ditched by a striker at Blue Island about
$50 p. m. Trouble has been feared at
Blue Island all afternoon. The train
should have left the city at $50 D. m,
but was delayed until about half past
O'Clock. 1t was made up with Pullman
car next the engine Following this were
two day coaches. two more Pullman cars,
another day coach and the baggage car
on the rear. As the engine approached the
station at Blue Island the engineer
sounded his whistle Yardmaster Dustin,
apprehensive OF trouble. FASTENED to the
switch on the main line in the town and
took possession of it. As he did so a num-
Der OF strikers approached, and just be-
fore the train reached the switch James
Murvin. a striking switchman, rushed for
ward, threw yardmaster Dustin to one
side. caught the switch and threw II.
There was no time to stop the train, al
though its speed was materially decreased.
The switch was so thrown that the engine
left the track, slid part way down q
small embankment and came to stand
still thrown TO side at an angle OF
about forty-five degrees. The Pullman car
following the engine only partly left the
track and sustained no other damage than
pair OF dismantled trucks. Deputy
Sheriff Nickerson at once placed Murvin
under arrest There was no demonstration
and the prisoner was locked up No one
on the train was injured. The track was
badly torn up, and word was sent to the
city and the trainmen sat down to await
the arrival of assistance.
There has been a lawless mob hanging
around Blue Island all day, although a
number Of deputy sheriffs kept them from
committing any violence until the throw
ing OF the switch which ditched the train
The United States deputies have great
trouble in obtaining anything TO eat, two
hotels refusing to give them meals The
Rlack House finally agreed to feed them,
and boycott has been declared against
1t by the strikers.
The cars Of the ditched train, though
none of them were overturned, were thrown
across the main tracks, effectually block
ing the system. Both engineer William
Feehan and fireman George Clark, of the
ditched engine. had remained at their posts,
and to this was due that no greater dam
age was done to track and cars. Assistant
Superintendent Nichols and yardmaster
Dustin. who were in charge of the COM
pany's affairs, began to devise means to
clear the tracks, as Blue Island is the
terminus of the suburban dummy line but
number of passenger cars were standing
on the tracks and blocked that outlet Su-
perintendent Nichols looked about to find
some one to assist him to switch the cars
TO open up the dummy line but could find
10 one. Tonight through passenger train
No. IL was stopped by the derailed cars
Superintendent Nichols called upon the en-
gfneer and fireman to help him to do the
switching. They refused and struck Su-
perintendent Nichols. assisted by yardmas-
ter Dustin, with a switch engine began to
clear the dummy tracks for the purpose
of sending trains around that way to the
city.
Train No. II left the city at O'Clock and
carried two Pullmans and a mail car 1t
was soon joined by milk train from the
city, while long freight train, every car
filled with perishable freight, and the Des
Moines passenger; with only day coaches,
but carrying mail, were stopped on their
way into the city. The milk train carried
hundred passengers on board, mostly for
Blue Island avenue, this being the only
1rai1 that bad gotten through during the
IS the passengers left the train
{ or rain which was then fall
teeded to walk the mile across
and through the mud of the
is to the station they were loud
IMPRESSIONS of condemnation of
fs and railroad officials
kndent Loree, of the Panhandle.
m Riverdale at o'clock tonight
bb had seized freight train No. Z.
he engineer and fireman off the
took the train crew away from
and put all Of them under guard.
10 then ran the train into a side
nut OF the engine and caboose, put
ineer and fireman back on the en-
Pf1d ordered them to pull out-''they
care where, but TO get out of there Is
& that they would kill any man that
down there and wanted run any
ps while the strike was on. Riverdale
ractically in the hands of mob, with
protection from the authorities The
handle fast train from New York, the
1handle fast train from Cincinnati the
hhandle fast train from Louisville and
annapolis are all down in this vicinity
the hands OF a mob.
Mail and Passengers Held.
CHICAGO. June 30.-About o'clock this
afternoon number of men in the employ
( OF the Bedtime railway at Burnside, where
that road crosses the Illinois Central
turned the gates across the track and
struck. The crossing is an important one
and many trains pass each way every
hour. and before word could be sent 10 the
Belt-line officials a new blockade was es.
tablished at this point, while the gatemer