The record-union., 1894-07-06
Most. Turbulent and Critical Day
Thus Far at Chicago.
GREAT MoBS OF STRIKERS GATHER
ABOUT THE RAILROADS
Box Cars Overturned, Switches Bro
ken and Like Disturbances About
the Yards-Uncle Sam's Forces Not
Sufficient In Number to Cope with
the Thousands of Strikers-Procla-
nation Issued by the Mayor.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.


Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
CHICAGO, July 5-The sun went down
on by far the most turbulent and critical
day thus far in the unparalleled railroad
strike and boycott. When it opened
there was general feeling that its pas
sage would go far toward clearing the at
mosphere, if, indeed, it did not practi-
cally lift the embargo on commerce which
has held this city in its grip for the past
week. That expectation was caused by
the presence of Federal troops in the
most dangerous districts. But the situa-
ton at the close of the day is such that it
must be admitted that the hope INDUCED
in in this regard has not been justified.
The troops are few in number at best,
| and when they were divided into squads
and distributed at parts separated by
| considerable distances, it soon became
evident that their prestige in overawing
bodies had been dissipated at the same
time. Instead of fleeing in fear before
the faces of the soldiers, as was predict
ed, the turbulent thousands surged
around the little bands and jeered and
hooted at them. cast vile epithets at them,
and literally played hide and seek with
them, stopping trains at will, and gener-
ally rendering the embargo in the mill
tary districts stronger than before.
But the strikers did not resist Uncle
Sans police. Again and again when
there were thousands of strikers about a
train which it was sought to move. they
gave way like water before the leveled
bayonets of a single company of infantry
| or the trampling of a single squad of cav
airy. Like water. too, they closed in
again at point just behind. They
| turned switches, derailed freight cars in
| front of the SLOW moving trains and
played all sorts ofN railroad tricks with
| which the soldiers were unacquainted.
Thus it was that the troops at the stock
yards with perseverance, and silence
spent the entire day in kvain endeavor to
sight of the starting point.
Another and pleasanter thing this eX-
perience showed, and that was the ad-
mirable GOODNESS, self-pOssessiOn aud dis
cipline of the troops throughout an ex-
citing twelve hours. Not shot was
fired. Not a man was pricked with a
bayonet, which argues with force enough
that the soldiers would have done the
work it had been expected of them if
their force was large enough. Their quail
ity was there, merely the quantity was
lacking.
Aside from the immediate neighbor-
lood where the troops were operating
there was plenty OF excitement and dis
order. Great mobs gathered on the LAX 8
Shore, Alton, West Shore and Rock
Island tracks, and proceeded to obstruct
them by overturning box cars. breaking
switches and the like. At one time they
| set fire to q signal tower and an inter-
| locking box, though the flames were ex-
| tinguished before damage was done.
In two instances 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 Chicago train which was
endeavoring to force through emptied
his revolver point blank into the massed
strikers about him, wounding two or
three, it is believed.
Shortly after noon a mob numbering
1000 started north on the Lake Shore
tracks at Thirty street, over
turning cars and obstructing the line in
every possible way. They were not
checked until they reached Twenty
second street, where heavy force of po-
lice was massed and succeeded in turning
them back.
During the afternoon Mayor Hopkins
to the Lake Shore road with an official of
the road intending to go to the Stock
Yards. The course was obstructed, and
they were compelled to finish the journey
on foot.
At o'clock this afternoon a special,
consisting of one engine and sixteen pas
senger cars, was sent out on the Lake
Shore from the station on Van Buren,
street loaded with officers of the road
The police were dispatched to aid in NOV
ing the trains in the vicinity of the stock
Yards At Fortieth street the mob grew
so demonstrative that the train was COM
pelled to halt. The engineer believed
himself to be the object of attack, and
drew his revolver. Before he could
shoot, policeman disarmed him. The
crowd saw the movements and became
wild with frenzy. They rushed upon
the engine, swarming all around it,
pelted it with stones and bricks, break
ing windows and bowling like madmen.
The police drew their revolvers and fired
into their midst. One or two men are
said to have been hit, but it is not yet
known how seriously they were hurt. A
dozen or so shots were fired. In the
meantime the engineer had reversed his
engine and the train was soon forced
back out of reach of the now unbridled
mob and returned to the city. The shoot
ing occurred in locality where the men
were all ready and was believed to be
signal for desperate encounter.
Two cars loaded with meat were over
turned near the Fort Wayne crossing.
The Union Stock Yards Switching Com
pany had been blocked by four freight
cars. which the strikers had placed across
the tracks, From there they proceeded
to the roundhouse for the purpose of pill
ing some box cars on the switches lead
ing to the roundhouse, so that no engines
could get in or out of the roundhouse.
Inspector Hunt. with fifty policemen,
met the mob, however, and drove them
away. The mob was very rabid and bent
on doing everything to destroy property.
They paid no attention to attempts to dis
suade them, having become recklessly
daring. There are large crowds block
ing every street and alley in the stock
yard district.
A mob coming north on the Lake Shore
tracks was stopped by a squad of police
near the Twenty -second-street crossing
and dispersed. The mob busted itself
overturning freight cars on the Western
Indiana all day, and etfectualiy prevented
the operation of the road, but at o'clock
tonight disappeared, leaving nothing but
idle spectators.
Orders have been issued to the troops
to fire on any one who attempts to un-
couple cars on trains made up. United
States soldiers are hooted at and police
officers do not seem to have control. Rail-
road communication with the city is cut
off.
OF the striking men it may be said the
situation broadened with the day. On
the Big Four, on which it was presumed
traffic would be resumed Immediately. it
was practically tied up. At Joliet every
thing is at standstill. because the yard
men have gone out and the city water
works have shut down.
The troops quickly put an end to the