Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-03
The Great Strike.

The brotherhood OF Railway Train
men, thirty thousand strong, yesterday
declared war on the American Railway
Union. and members Of the brother
hood were threatened with expulsion
If they took any part in the strike.
Chief Arthur. of the Locomotive Engi-
neers' Brotherhood, cautioned the engi-
neers against contracting the strike
fever. President Debs, of the a. X. L.,
however. continued to order out men
on the western railroads, and also Is
sued manifesto declaring that the
only terms upon which the strike could
be settled and peace be restored would
hc a satisfactory compromise with the
Pullman Company. under which all
the employees would be taken back, and
guarantee from the railroads, in case
compromise was effected with the
Pullman Company, to restore all the
strikers TO their old positions. The
labor dictator received a telegram from
Grand Master Workman Sovereign, OF
the Knights of Labor, offering to order
out all the men OF that organization if
Mr.. Debs desired it. But while Mr..
Debs was ordering strikes, and the
strikers were interfering with the run
ming of trains at various points, the
United States authorities at Chicago,
acting under advice from the officials
at Washington, were taking steps to
protect the travelling public and the
mails from inconvenience and delay.
The court, on application of the
United States attorneys, issued a
general order covering every road
running into Chicago, and through
Illinois, enjoining the strikers not
only from interfering with the mails,
but from interfering with any train,
this latter protection being granted the
railroads under the interstate commerce
act. Arrangements were made with
the Secretary OF War to support this
action by use of the army if necessary.
1t is believed that this action, taken not
only for the protection of the mails, but
for all trains as provided for by the in
terstate commerce act, will check the
lawlessness of the strikers.
The scenes witnessed at Blue Island
Yesterday have never been paralleled
in this ountry. The authority of the
United States government was openly
defed and an injunction of United
States Court torn up and trampled IN
the dirt, and United States marshals
openly insulted and assaulted. AT the
same time suffering women and chill
dren, some Of whom have been prison
ers in tied up passenger trains for two
days, pleaded in vain for food and
drink, receiving only curses and revil-
ings in return.
4 mob of about two thousand strikers
attacked the sherif7s deputies who
tried to release the trains held at Blue
Island. The chief deputy was fatally
stabbed, and several of the other Off
GERS were badly beaten. The sheriff
appealed to both the federal and the
State authorities for assistance. Illinois
State troops were ordered to the scene
and United States deputies were sent
from Chicago. AS stated yesterday,
trains on which were three companies
of militia were held at Springfield, ILL.,,
for five hours by a mob. At Chicago
and other places trainmen refused to
handle trains carrying soldiers.
The nine strikers arrested at Ham
mond, Ind, and taken before the L. S.
Court at indianapolis were released on
bail for trial July 3 on charges of con-
spiracy and interfering with United
States mail trains.
A striker crippled the locomotive of
B. 4 Q. limited train entering Chica
go. The tie-up has caused such
scarcity of coal and ice in Chicago that
the packers will all have to close down.
The grain trade on the lakes is COM
pletely paralyzed, as the railroads are
unable to get any corn or oats to the
elevators. Five companies of the Sew
enth Regiment u S. army started from
Fort Logan for Trinidad, Col, where
deputy marshals were disarmed by
mob United States troops were held
in readiness to move at Fort Sheridan.
The First Regiment L. S. Infantry
left Oakland Mole on q special train
for Los Angeles, Cal. They will be
Joined at Fort Costa by company G.
The Southern Pacific started trains
from Los Angeles to San Francisco yes
terday They were protected by u. S.
troops, who were aboard.
Major General Miles, who had been
on leave Of absence, was summoned to