The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-05-03
RIOTING AT OMAHA.
GEN. KELLYS SYMPATHiZERS
SEIZE a TRAIN.

The Com monweaier Fears the Government
Order Tracks Torn Up-Coxey Movement
Becoming Serious.
For ten hours Friday $1,000 mon Of
: Omaha. Council Bluffs and South Oma-
ha stood ready to 60 to any end to help
kelly's army. Mass-meetings were
held in all three cities, men marched
from one to another, appeals We're
made to the railway officials, to Gov.
Jackson and to other sources, and
finally train was taken by a commit
tee of railroad men to the camp at
Weston. The Rock Island agent at
Westo: and a man named Chit;enden
/ sent section hands outside the
switches to tear W the track.
TIE fact that train of ten cars
with a couple OF hundred men on
/ board would be ditched was over
looked in the desire to prevent any aid
from reaching Kelly. kelly's army
was anXiously waiting for result of the
efforts Of friend; in Omaha and Coun-
ell Bluffs. The people near the place
initiated the example of Omaha 5 Clti-
, zens and gave the army focd. Twenty
! one citizens of Persia filled :e. eral
wagons with provisions and drove over
to the place. They could not get the
railways to move the provisions The
: citizens Of Underwood sent over load
comforters and blankets. The Mil
waukee Company ran IL their trains
and cars out from the Bluffs in the
afternoon, and then pulled up the
tracks near Nicola, so That il the men
| captured u train they cOu d net go far.
| About ; o'clock word was passed
around tn at unless something was done
before o'clock move would be made
Sn the railroads. The thrOng which
! was packed about Bayless Park in
Council Bluffs had been getting cold
and was gradually fading away when
the beating Of a drum was heard on
the west side of the square, and q
crowd of 100 women headed by Mrs.
depots. The line was made up of we'll
clothed mothers and wives, and at al
most every corner an accession was
received.
When the Rock Island 6epot was
reached there were nearly l 900 women
In line. Arrived there a committee
was detailed to make an inspection of
the neighboring roundhouses. This
was done, but not an eng inc was found.
While the thrOng was in deliberation
another drum wa, heard and few
! blocks west was seen a line Of flutter-
inc laos. These We're carried by the
main body of men on the way to the
transfer. These were joined by the
women and q procession of over 1000
wound its way down over the tracks
toward the depot. IN the walk
to the depot an engine labeled
; Union Pacific. No. ICES. was met, and
answering to the argument of railway
tic, on the rails it came to a stop.
Nick Wicks, veteran engineer, was
In charge, and a, he looked ont of the
cab window in surprise half u dozen
women and a lot of men climbed into
; the cab and on the tender. dozens of
others boarded the pilot and ranged
themselves on the sides of the boiler.
Then youthful-looking man wearing
tall silk hat and giving his name as
George Wicks climbed into the cab
and said: Papa. you had better get
OFF, and papa got off. The young man
with the tall hat evidently knew his
business, and after shooting the en-
CINE up and down the tracks for half
an hour, bad attached to his engine
twenty-seven cars with which he
pul!e out for Weston.
| Desperate Effort stop the Train.
When the news reached Weston that
train was coming over the Rock ISL
and tracks to rescue Kelly, Agent Chit
tenden sent for the section loss. This
in iv dual was ordered to take his me
and tear up enough track west of the
west switch to prevent the train from
rea hing town. Work was begun at
once, but before it proceeded far tho
kellyites had surrounded the section
men and persuaded them to desist.
The section men threw down their
tools. one rail having been removed.
. Kcllys men quickly replaced the rail
and drove home the spikes. Then
Agent Chittenden came up and or
dercd the section loss to tear up the
track again. His deliberate attempt
. 10 wreck the train aroused the
wrath Of the kellyites. Their demon
. STATIONS were such that the agent fled
back to the depot, followed by the Sec
ton men. The attempt to ditch the
train was abandoned and in moment
tic headlight shone along the frosty
rail ard scream from the whistle an
nounced the coming o. relief. Gen.
Kelly was uptown at the Lemen meet.
, ing. b 1t came to the depot. when big
| "
. ! Kelly, we have here q train of cars to
take you hack to Council Bluffs. Come
: get on board"
Kelly, after a consultation with his
! friends. declined to tako the train. l,
:. would put his men in the light OF law
breakers. Besides. the train was the
property of the Union Pacific, and tina,
road being in the hands Of the Fedora
courts Kelly was afraid he would bring
,, the United States authorities dow
upon him if he took the train.
Wire to II abroad Presidents.
While these scenes were being en-
: acted. committees were besieging tn.
f telegraph offices with messages to the
, ! presidents of the Iowa trunk lines.
, The following, signed by the Hon
| w. H. NJ. Pussy and 5000 others. was
| sent to Marvin Hughitt. President o.
, the Chicago and Mort hwestern: r. Il