The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-14
AT BLUE ISLAND
blockade on Rock Island Road NAiscd NJ
United States Troopa.


CHICAGO, July 5.--The great block
ade on the Rock Island railroad AZ
Blue Island was raised at 1:15 O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon, and trains that
had been tied up for five days began to
move. The first of the trains that
were stalled at Joliet came up the track
guarded by soldiers. Ten cars, half of
them Pullmans, made up the train,
which was followed every few minutes
by six other trains of equal length, all
guarded at the point of the bayonet.
One of the first acts after the arrival
Of the troops at Blue Island was to ar
rest switchman by United States
Marshal Allen for refusing to
throw n switch at the round-house,
the charge being violation of the
squad of soldiers was sent down
the track where the two box
cars were overturned, to assist the
deputy marshals and protect the prop.
erty Of the company from intrusion or
obstruction by the crowds of strikers
who quickly gathered when the novel
sound of an engine bell was heard in
that direction. A crew composed part.
ly of Rock Island Office men, under the
direction of General Superintendent
Dunlap, was engaged at o'clock in
getting the freight car distractions of
the track so as to clear the main line.
The sight of soldiers on guard, never
before seen in this part of the country,
had the effect of silenoing the strikers
and subduing their inclination to inter.
fere with the work of opening the line
to traffic. When the train which
brought the soldiers here was unload
ed the engineer was ordered t6 back il
up to the roundhouse, but the fireman
refused to stay on the engine while
that order was being carried out. BY
order of the United States marshal the
fireman was placed under arrest, and
Roadmaster James Conlon took his
place on the engine.
Edward Helms and Hans Christ, active
sympathizers in the strike here, were
arrested Wednesday morning by dep
uty United States marshals under pro-
lection of United States soldiers. They
were caught at the degot crossing
making threats against the military
and civil officers. The work Of clear.
ing the tracks was pushed rapidly by a
squad of soldiers with bayoneted rifles
forming an escort for the men at work,
and following the obstructed cars as
far as required by the railway COM
pany. There was an occasional mild
resistance to the commands of the
soldiers to move off the railroad pro-
perty, but a push and lowering of the
rifle brought the civilians to realiza-
tion of their subsection to the military
power.
Arrests We're later made on whole
sale scale by the deputy marshals, un-
der secret orders from the officials of
the Rock Island railroad. In some in
stances the deputies arrested citizens
who have been spotted since the tie-up
began and selected for arrest when the
soldiers should arrive. In other cases
the railroad officials had marked Ger.
tain men prominently interested in the
success of the strike, and their arrest
has followed in order to remove them
from the scene of action. Only the
presence of the soldiers prevented q
riot. The railroad officials, with the
assistance of the deputies, are evident
ly trying to remove the prominent
sympathizers of the strike from Blue
Island to the county Jail.