The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-07-06
Worst Day Yet In tho Unparalleled
Strike and Boycott at
Chicago.
Govornmont Troops Joerod and
Hooted and Made Sport OF
by tho Mobs
The Situation Not Improved In tho Loast-
Many Cara Derailsd aud Consider.
able Property Destroyed.

onoA0o Jolly b.-'rho sun went down on
by far The most turbulent and critical day
thus far in the unparalleled Tailroad strike
and boycott, When IL opened there was a
general feeling that its TnAGag0 would 90
far toward clearing iho atmosphere, II. in-
deed, il did not practically liit the embargo
on uomm6fos which has left this city IN lie
grip for the past week. That expectation
was caused by the reliance on federal
troops 10 tho most dangerous districts.
But the silu1iion at the close OF the day IL
sueh thA. u must be admitted that tho hope
indulRod In this regard has not been iusIi-
ied. The troops hre few In number At
best and when they we're divided into
squads and distributed .. psr,s separated
by considerable distances IL soon became
evident thai their prestige as ovsraweinR z
bodies had been dissipsted.
Instead OF fleeing ia fear before the faces
Of soldiers. the turbulent thousands surRed
around the little bands and jeered and
hooted at them. cast vile epitheis nj them,
aud literally played hide and seek with
them. stopping trains nt will and generally
rendering the embargo In the military dis
ttict more strong.
Again and again when there wero thou
sands OF them about train which II was
sought to move. they gave way like water
before the lsveled bayonets OF a single
company of iafantry or the tramplinR OF a
single squad Of cavalry. Like water too.
they closed in again at point just behind.
They turned switches derAiled freigh, cara
In front of slow moving trains, and played
all sorts OF railroad tricks with which sol
Fdiers ave unaoaunintsd.
Thus II was that the troops at the stock
yards. IN perseverance, and silence. spent
the entire day In . vain sndeavor 10 get
one train load Of dressed beef out OF sight
Of the starting point Another and pleas
anter thing this experience showed. and
that was the admirable coolness. self-pos-
session and discipline Of tho troops
thro uRhout m exciting twelve hours. Not
q shot was fred. Not man was p.icked
with u bHyonet.
Aside from the immediate Vicinity whs'e
the troops were operating there was planty
Of excitement and disorder. Great mobs
gathered on the Lake Shore. the Alton.
the West shore and the Rock Island tracks
md procsedod to obstrucs them BY over
turning box cars aud breaking switches.
Al tho stock yards at $50 Special Dsteo-
tive Gregory. OF tho Western Indiana rail.
way, shot two men In the leg who had
made an attempt on his life. The shooting
was done In self defsnse.
Two cara loadsd with meat are overturned
near the For, Wayne crossing. The Union
Stock Yards Switching company have bsen
blocked by four freight cars. which the
strikers have placed across the tracks
Y. ON there they proceeded to the rouud-
house with the purpose OF rilinR box cars
on switches leading 20 the roundhouse. so
no engines could get In or out. Inspector
Hunt, with fifty policemen. met the mob.
however. and drove them away. The mob
was very rabid and bent on doing every
thing 20 dest oy property. There we're
large crowds blocking every street and nlley
In the stock yards district.
Companies G aud g. OF the Fifth infantry,
arrived ffom Blue Island TO reinforce the
troops already at the stock ynrds. Com
pany @ marched throuRh the yards NJ
charged bayoneta and the mob disappeared
before thom.
At l2:45 D. Il., at the Forty seventh street
crossing OF tbs Hook leland, an immf nse
crowd was gathered anticipating tho arri-
val OF the incoming Rock Island passen aer
train. There was some stone throwing.
Tho train proceeded 10 the city.
Gen. Miles said Rt noon that with the
troops now on tho way the forces in Chi
caRo will number 1000 men. III that is
not enough to maintain order" said the
general, ''the government will furnish
more" Gen. Miles, whom informed Of the
charge on the mob at the stock yards. re-
marked significantly Somebody will 90,
hurt down there"
After personal inspection OF ths scsnes
Of violence noar Foitioth street this after
noon. Mayor Hopkins returned 10 the city
hall and proclamation was Issued order
Ing all citizsns 10 observe the peace. and
declaring bis intention TO enforce the laws.
The police forcs Ia directed 10 dispsIeO
avery assemblnge OF persons In public
streets and on or near railway tracka. and
to promptly arrest all petsous who refuse
IN uisDaraA on lsmnnd