The morning call., 1894-07-03
BLUE ISLAND RIOT.
Strikers Laugh at the Injunction of
the Federal Court.

GAS
CHICAGO. July 2-United States Mar
shal Arnold sent 100 men and Sheriff Gil
bert. with thirtv-fve deputies to Blue
Island to-day in anticipation of trouble.
The Rock Island Railway officials and
squad Of deputy marshals and sheIlffs at
the yards in Blue Island to-day began try
ing to lift the blockade in effect since
Saturday. The first move was toward
clearing the tracks filled with passenger
trains Around the cars large Gro wd OF
strikers gathered, but no disturbance oc-
Cured.
The strikers formed across the tracks
and placed themselves in a positisn that
would result in injury TO them selves
should the trains be moved. About 100
marshals and deputies were lined up along
the tracks. but the strikers would not
move. Deputy Marshal Logan jumped
from the car and started to drive the stub
born strikers from the tracks. Revolvers
were displayed on both sides, but shots
were not fired. The strikers proved too
much for the marshals and deputies and
Marshal Arnold wired District Attorney
Milcrist call for the Fifteenth Regiment
and Deputy Sheriff Liebrandt has called
on Sheriff Gilbert for State troops.
About noon train was started out of
the yard, and stones were thrown by the
strikers. knives were drawn, and the dep
uties showed their revOlvers. The strikers
were so hemmed in by the train and the
yards that it became impossible to move
the train. Village Officer Michael Larsen
tried to arrest the engineer for violation OF
an ordinance forbidding the blocking of
crossings for more than FIVE minutes. A
deputy marshal threw the policeman from
the train. By this time the mob had be-
come bOiSterous, and any further attempt
to move the train was abandoned. Dis
tTiet Attorney Milcrist said he would send
additional forces of United States dep
uties with the omnibus injunction order
before calling for United States troops.
Officer Larsen, who tried to arrest the
engineer of the stalled train. was arrested
by Marshal Arnold for obstructing the
mail.
About $50 passengers are delayed at
Blue Island, unable TO get water or food.
! Supplies have been sent from the city.
| The engineer and fireman deserted the
| engine which was to haul the Seventh
Regiment, L n g.. to Blue Island, and all
| engineers and fremen who were called
| upon refused to take the engine. 1t was
then stated that the train would be taken
out by officials. The train is made up at
Fort Sheridan ready to carry the Fifteen tn
Regim ent to Chicago the moment march
| ing orders are received
! At Blue Island Ches Deputy Marshal
| Logan was stabbed by a striker. The
wound is not dangerous. United States
Marshal Arnold and go deputies are hud-
died in the cars that blockade the Rock
Island yards, waiting the arrival of the
Second Regiment, |. n. g., and Fifteenth
Regiment, regular army. The strikers
| boldly declare that the trains will be
dumped when the soldiers appear and
| bullets will be met with bullets.
United States Marshal Arnold was
pulled off a car platform at Blue Island
to-day after the light and kicked and
rolled over in the dirt by the strikers.
United States Marshal Arnold proceeded
| to Blue Island early this evening and
served notice on the strike leaders there of
the injunction granted by the Federal
| court. The news quickly spread among
the men and matters quieted down as soon
as il became generally known. After an
hour or so, however. the riotous spirit re-
asserted itself, and shortly after ~ o'clock
a crowd of the strikers threw a freight
car across the Rock Island tracks to block
the passage of trains. They laughed at
the Injunction issued by the United States
court and tore down the injunction plac-
ards. So far as known no one has been
seriously hurt, although there have been
many small slugging M atches.
The Rock Island has decided not to at
tempt to put any more trains through Blue
Island tonight. United States Marshal
Arnold, it is said, wired the Attorney
General. saying his men could not control
the mob and asking that the Fifteenth
Infantry be ordered out.
BLUE ISLAND. H., July 2.-The presen
outlook here is not the most prosperous
for law and order. There is a very tur-
bulent element among the strikers and
especially among their sympathizers, 1000
of whom are employed in the different
brickyards at Blue Island. This element
is most feared.
This evening when train arrived bear
ing Assistant United States Attorney
Matther, he handed Marshal Arnold the
Injunction granted by Judges Wood and
Grosscup. and the marshal read it to
the strikers. He advised them TO dis
perse, raise the strike and go peace
ably 10 their homes. This was greeted
with loud protestations of disorder. He
then said "In the name of the President
of the United States | command you to
dsperse." This was greeted with hoois
and jeers and curses for the President
and United States interference with their
hu al