The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-06
BLOCKADE WORSE THAN EVER.
Mobs Tip Freight Cars. Derail Trains
and Jeer Troops.
They Run Before Gen. Miles Men. Only
to Close Up AgAin-Admirable Dis
eipiine of the soidiers-southern Pa
eific Tie-Up Complete.

day thus far in the unparalleled railroad
strike and boycott. When IL opened there
was a general feeling that its passage
would go far toward clearing the atmos-
phere. II. indeed, il did not practically
llit the embargo on commerce which has
held this city in its grip for the past
week. That expectation was caused
by reliance on the Federal troops
in the most dangerous districts,
but The situation at the close of the day Is
such that ii must be admitted that the
hope INDUCED in this regard has not been
justified. The troops are lew in number,
aud when they were divided into squads
and distributed at parts separated by con-
siderable distance it soon became evident
that their prestige had been dissipated 1T
the same time.
Instead of fleeing in fear before the faces
of the soldiers. as was predicted, the tur-
bulent thousands surged around the little
bands and ieered and hooted at them, cast
vile epithets at them and literally played
hide and seek with them, stopping trains
at will aud generally rendering the en-
barge in the military district stronger
than before, though the strikers did not
resist Uncle Sans men. Again, when
there were thousands Of them about
train which il was sought 10 move they
gave way like water before the leyeled
bayonets of single company of infantry
or the trampling of single squad OF cav
airy. Like water, too, they closed in again
at a point just behind. They turned
switches, deraiIed freight cars in front of
slow moving trains. and played all sorts of
railroad tricks with which the soldiers
were unacquainted. Thus il was that the
troops at the stock yards, IN perseverance
and silence, spent the entire day in vain
endeavor TO get one train lead of dressed
beef out of sight of the starting point.
Another and pIeasanter thing this ex-
perience showed, and that was the admir-
able eoolness, self-possession and disci-
pline of the troops throughout an exciting
twelve hours. Not shot was fired. and
not man was pricked with Dayonet
which argues that with force enough the
soldiers would have done the work which
was expected of them. The quantity was
lacking.
Aside from the immediate neighborhood
where the troops we're operating. there
was plenty of excitement and disorder.
Great mobs gathered on the Lake Shore
Alton, West Shore and Rock Island
tracks. and proceeded 10 obstruct them by
overturning box cars, breaking switches
and the like. At one time they set fire 10
a signal tower aud an interiocking box.
though the flames were extinguished be-
fore much damage was done. In two in
stances there was bloodshed. On the
Western Indiana tracks hard
pressed special policeman fired at
his pursuers. wounding striker
in the leg. On the Lake Shore road an
official of that company in charge of a
train he was endeayoring TO force through.
empsied his revolver pointblank into the
massed strikers about him, wounding two
or three, il is believed. He was saved from
the fury Of the mob. as was his engineer,
who put on steam and ran back to the
point Of starting Shortly after noon a
mob numbering 1000 started north on
the Lake Shore tracks at Thrty-seventh
street, overturning cars and obstruciing
the line in every possible way. They were
not checked until they reached Twenty
second street, where heavy force Of
police was massed and succeed in turning
them back. During the afternoon Mayor
Hopkins and Chief of Police Brennan
went down to the Lake Shore road with
an official OF the road, intending to go to
the stock yards. The course was OBJ
structed and they were compelled to finish
the journey on foot
OF the striking men il may be said the
situation broadened with the day. On the
Big -Four, on which it is presumed traffic
would be resumed Immediately. il was
practically tied up.
At the stock yards at $50 Special
Gregory, of the Western Indiana railway,
shot two men in the legs who had made
u.
done in seif-defense Two cars loaded with
meat were overturned near the Fort Wayne
crossing. The Union Stock Yards Switch
ing Company have been blocked by four
freight cars which the strikers placed
across the track. From there they pro-
ceeded To the roundhoase for the purpose
of piling some box cars on the switch
leading to the roundhouse. so that no
engines could get in or out Of the round
house. Inspector Hunt with fifty police
men met the mob, however, and scared
them away. The mob is very rabid, and
bent on doing everything to destroy prop
ersy. There are large crowds blocking
every street and all the railways ia the
stock yard district
After q personal inspection OF the
scenes OF violence near Forileth street
tA&s AttefHoOu Mayor lfopAiu5 FNkIFAeh
TO the city hall aud for half
an hour was eloseted with Corporation
Counsel Reubens. At the expiration OF
their interview a letter was dispatched to
Chief OF Police Brennan and the following
proclamation issued:
The events Of the last twenty-four
hours render lt necessary that extraordi-
nary measures be taken 10 preserve the
public peace aud order. The mayor Of the
| citv OF Chicago has the legal right 10 de-
! msnd the services of every able.bodied
E uan in the city and TO call upon the mile
I tia. If necessary, - suppress riots or other
4 dlsorderly conduct, and he Will certainly
exercise every power vested in him
by lag for the protection Of prop
4 erty and the preservation 81 the
4 pablic peace. lie asks every citizen 90 do
f his duty IN preserving the peace and avoid
I ing crowds cOngFegsted; 10 tend 10 nIs
I omn particular affairs. aud 70 see tbat all
| women and children are kept away from
/ the railroad tracks. The mayor lafends 70
4 enforce every Law OF the state and ogdi-
nance Of the city, and ne conhdsatiy re-
/ lies upon the people of Chicago % aid him
I in their efforts N that behalf. Ii the we'll
I disposed con Pr Esfh hls Fequ est So t1di-
i Gated, he viii, no doubt. hna a iasans of
4 preventing tie eyit-disposed from yiolas-
/ lag the IAws-
/ ssgbz s.e.tf~@ force ia Seyehy directed TO