The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-02
POLICE STATION CONFERENCES.
Mayor and commissioners Order Pa
troImen Placed on the Tracks.

frOImen Placed the Tracks.
A conference was held ut the police sta
ton last night after 10 o'clock by Mayor
Denny the members of the Board of Pub
lie Safety and superintendent Powell to
arrange for police interference" with the
local members of the American Railway
Union in case the latter ATTEMPTED to
hold up trains bearing Pullman coaches
superintendent Darlington. of the Penn
sylvania, superintendent Zion. of the Belt
railroad, and Assistant Superintendent Jar
Wis, of the l.. E. & w, were at the police
station 2 short time previous to the meet
ing. but left to attend other urgent mat
ters at their headquarters.
Yesterday evening Superintendent Oar
lington, of the Pennsylvania, was ind-
rectly informed that the local union had
resolved 1T the meeting yesterday after
noon TO go out on strike. He was not in
formed whether such action was to be
taken at their own suggestion or on the
orders of of Debs's agents at present
in this city. He was also informed that
the men were to go out at 10 o'clock.
Last night about o'clock Superintendent
Darlington who lives within a short dis
tance of Mayor Denny went to the lat
tALs house and told him what he had
learned Mayor Denny at once took de-
cisive step He sent word to the police
station TO have the officers notify Messrs.
Ruckle. White and Conner, the members
of the Board of Public Safety. to assem-
BILE Immediately at the police station. He
also informed superintendent Powell of
the meeting to be held and the latter hur-
ried TO the station. Messrs. Ruckle and
Conner and Mayor Denny arrived there in
hY,t ATrs
ably detained for about half an hour.
While waiting for the arrival of Mr.. White
superintendent Powell gave orders for the
entire night force to assemble at the po-
lice station. Captain Splann was also sum-
moned, and he was sent to different places
where II was thought that trouble would
arise. Captain Campbell was stationed at
the police station and took charge of the
men as fast as they arrived from their
districts. They were called up at different
times. and accordingly arrived at the po-
lice station at intervals. Sergeants Lowe.
Mefford Hyland, Laporte Stout and
Schwab arrived within a short time after
being summoned Within half an hour
after the order for the men to report al
the police station had been given the en-
tire night force of fifty-four, six sergeants
and forty-eight patrolmen, arrived there.
The conference now opened and hurried
but thorough canvass of the situation was
made. 1t was known that the strike if
ordered. had been ordered at 10 o'clock in
order to intercept the Pullman coaches on
the trains arriving in and leaving the city
from il o'clock 1t thought that
the strikers would make the Monon and
the Chicago trains of the Pennsylvania
8 their objective points. The Mayor Super
intendent Powell and the members of the
Board of Safety figured upon the disposal
of the officers.
Reports were received just at this mo-
ment that large crowd of railroaders,
supposed to he strikers were approachin
tho Union Station from the west Six
men in charge of a sergeant were hastily
sent to the Tennessee-street end of the
GLOW no one to enter the sheds in that
direction. The men left in haste. Follow
was with the remaining members of the
conference in his private office. called to
Captain Campbell and told him to send
three officers in charge of a sergeant to
like orders The men told to see
that the orders and rules of the Union
no property of the railroads should be in
terfered with The men were ordered to
use force as last resort.
The following distribution of officers was
then made: Four officers were sent with
orders to station themselves at the Lber-
Monon and the chicago division of the
Big Four. Two officers were stationed at
East street. two at New Jersey street,
two NJ Delaware street and four at Penn
sylvauia street. y reserve force was held
at the police station Later changes were
made so that twenty men were within
the vicinity of the Union Station and but
two officers at both Delaware and Penn
sylvania street.
Shortly before IL 20 o'clock, the time for
the departure of the midnight train of the
Chicago division Of the Pennsylvania for
Chicago il was thought probable that an
atte,npt would be made to stop that train
at the observation-disclosures depot if il
was not held before. Sergeant Stout and
six men were sent there. However, the
train left the Union Station.
without any interference and went through
without any trouble. No stop was made
at the Observation-Disclosures station as is
customary. However, Sergeant Stout re-
ported that he could see no signs of the
presence of strikers at that point. Imme-
diately following this the report came that
the Nandalia regular train. due to leave
at 11:20 left without the c., H. & D.
sleeper, which the strikers held at the lat
ter's yard
Mayor Denny and Captain Campbell
went to the Union Station just before the
two above trains left, but on seeing that
there was no trouble Mayor Denny went
home and Captain Campbell obtained all
the information possible and reported at
headquarters. Reports from the officers
stationed at the different points showed
that the strikers were quiet and showed
no violent temper. Patrolmen Lunde and
Michigan streets 10 look into the
report that a number OF strikers
had gathered in front OF a nonunion
railroaders house with violent intentions
The officers could find nothing. While the
members 10 the conference were waiting
the departure OF the Monon midnight train
the Board OF Public Safety decided to add
about twenty new members to the force
These are fo l,ok after the regular ~ lie