Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-07-06
The Railroad Situation.

Chicago, on the 18th, an incoming
tram containing five companies of L
:. artillery was surrounded 10y striker.
AMI two cars were uncoupied, and thi.
in the presence Of eight artillerymer
on the engine and tender, with a yis
tol in one hand and q rifle in III,
other. and troops on the top Of DO,
ening position. With ,hi. formidabl,
showing the troops failed TO intimi
date the crowd, and when the car,
were re-attached were again uncoupled
The troops were then ordered out o
the cars, and by marching on eacl
side, succeeded in getting the train tC
the depot.
At Kansas City question ha.
arisen as to the United States jurisdic
ton. An Alton train was detained by
strikers, and the l.. S. Marshal SEM
deputies to release it on the ground
that it was carrying L. :. mail. Gov
Stone resented this, claiming tina,
the State had the sole right to deal
with all troubles within its borders.
/ The same question has been raised
by the Governor OF Illinois, and he has
called upon the President, in q lengthy
letter, to remove the U. S. troops from
that State. The President, in much
fewer words, informs Gov. Altgeld that
"The Federal troops were sent to Chi
cago in strict accordance with the Con.
stitution and the laws OF the United
States upon demand OF the Postal
Department, that obstruction of the
mails should be removed, and upon
representation of the judicial officers
of the United States that the process
of the Federal Courts could not be
executed through the ordinary means
and upon abundant proof that a con.
spiracy existed against commerce be-
tween the States" 1t is quite evi.
dent from this, that the Federal troops
will not be recalled until their mis-.
sion is accomplished.
A dispatch OF yesterday says that
the handful of Federal troops at
Chicago are unable to cope with the
gigantic mob. which has complete
possession Of the city. The force oil
troops had to be divided into squads,
in order to cover the ground, and this
reduced their number at any given
point go as to render them wholly
inefficient. The turbulent crowd
jeered and cast vile epithets at the
soldiers, who spent the whole day in
the vain endeavor to get a single train
OF dressed beef out of sight of the
starting point. The GOODNESS and self
possession of the disciplined troops
showed that they were made of the
stuff that would be inflinching and
invincible under fire of q different
sort. The mob at times amused it.
self in overturning cars, and set FIRE to
q signal tower which was extinguished
without much damage. At 3 O'Clock
an engine and one passenger car,
started out on the Lake Shore, loaded
with detail of special officers OF the
road. The mob became so demon
strative that the train was compelled
to halt. The engineer drew q revolver,
and was speedily disarmed by . police
man. The crowd saw the movement
and became wild with frenzy. They
swarmed about the engine, pelted it
with stones, broke the car windows
and howled like wild men. The
police then drew their revolvers and
fred upon the mob, several of whom
were hit. The engineer then re-
versed his engine and the train was
forced out of the crowd. This is the
first shooting Of the present strike.
The Mayor has issued proclamation
announcing that he intends to enforce
every law of the State and ordinance
of the city, and calling upon the
people to aid him in this work.
A sleam OF sunshine amid the dark
clouds of disorder is seen in Ohio. A
Cincinnati dispatch of the 4th says
that the strike there is practically
over. except rs affected by influence,
from connecting points. All trains
are fully manned by the men who
went out, who ask to be taken bacl
Internationally.
The blockade il raised at Blue Isl
and, and trains that had been tied W
five days began to move on the 4th
The strikers scattered when confronted
by pieces of ordnance and glitterini
bayonets OF regulars from Fort Sheri
dan. They contented themselves will
detaching couple of cars, and disab
ling an engine by showing coupling
pins into the cross-head guides, wher
the regulars were safe distance away
The result is beginning to be felt al
over the west. Scarcity Of coal is ont
infliction. The beef-killing and i'm
porting establishment are shuttin,
down, and butter, cheese, eggs ant
other products are becoming scarce
and actual suffering cannot mucf
longer be averted at points which de
pend on the railroads for supplies.
A San Francisco dispatch of yester
day says that the tie-up is complete
The strikers are in absolute control
At Oakland two engines were free
up, when a mob of 800 strikers rushet
past the unresisting deputy sheriffs
captured the locomotives, ran then
on the switches, blew off steam, an(
pulled out the fire.
! EDWIN WALKER, the Ncstor OF th,
Chicago bar, has been appointed spe
cial counsel in that city by Attorne,
General Olney, for the purpose OF en-
forcing the laws relating to protection
of the mails and interstate law. He !,