Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-08
Railroad Men Hold Secret Ses- sions, But Nothing Was
 Given Out.
The Military Fire on a Mob In Chicago With Fatal
 Results.

The strike is on in Birmingham in full force, and the future outlook is as enig- matical as the great Sphynx in the desert of Sahara.
 While 'tis true all passenger trains due to leave Birmingham over the various lines leading out of the city left yesterday with their full complements of cars, Pullmans added, in some instances this was done only after serious difficulties had been overcome. Particularly so was this the case with the Queen and Crescent trains north and southbound yesterday after noon.
 No through freights entered Birming- ham yesterday, nor is there likely to be any for some time to come. Some local @$freights came in and went out, though they were painfully few.
 The great public is at this writing anx- iously awaiting the result of meetings be- ing held by the various railroad orgauiza- tions, and all hinges upon the action of the engineers and conductors. If they conclude to go out "tie-up" is sure to follow and the end will then be only mat ter of time.
 While the main thoroughfares were crowded with railroad men, as was also the union depot, all during yesterday there was noticeable absence of boisterous or other demonstrations, and not menacing word could be heard. All during the night rumors were flying thick and fast that the northbound Queen ard Crescent fast mail which left Birming- ham one hour and fifty minutes late, had not gotten beyond the shops. Other ru- mors had it that the train had turaed back from Irondale. A telephone message to the train dspatcher's cffice adduced the fact that the train arrived in Chattanooga less than one hour late.
 These and other rumors were given due credence by people in the city, and they one and all fell through.
 One thing is certain, however, and that is, the situation is alarming and only the future will tell results.
 CROWDS OF STRIKERS.
 As soon as o'clock yesterday morning the depot shed began to be visited by strik CTS and idle curiosity seekers, and this was kept up all day and all night long. When the accommodation trains came in early in the morning from points out of the city they were ret"by hundreds who looked to see what would be done with the trains and who would handle them.
 Northbound Louisville and Nashville passenger train No. 2 was met by several hundred, some of whom wore blank faces when the gigantic engine steamed from under the shed, while. others wore coun- tenances of delight 10 see that trains were still running on the 'notch.'
 When Queen and Crescent No. arrived at least eco people were crowded around the enclosure of the depot, and by the time the train left the crowd had increased to fully 1000 people, good portion of whom were strikers. Thus the crowds increased until all of the accommodation trains leav- ing the city had left, and until Louisville and Nashville south bound No. 8 and Ala bama Great Southern No. 8 had left.
 When these trains pulled out there was considerable cheering from that part of the assembly who were delighted to see them move, and there was also plenty of yelling when firemen crawled down from their en- zines and refused to pull anything but mail cars. The crowd at one time looked as if it would finally get inside of the depot enclosure, but this was prevented by Sta ton Master Meglemery having policemen to see that no more of these idle curiosity seekers entered.
 An amusing incident occurred at the south end of the shed by the falling in of a big covered coal box upon the top of which were fully twenty five people. As many of these went down into the box al- most stampede was caused and consider able excitement prevailed.
 All during the night the crowds were large, and the arrival and departure of trains watched with eagerness.
 HANDLING CARS.
 Early yesterday morning work al switch ing cars and making up trains in the yards of the roads upon which the men have struck was begun.
 Officials were riding box cars and pulling pins just as common switchman, and they went at it with vim, for coats were pulled off and sleeves rolled up.
 This was kept up during the entire day and last night, and all local cars were han dled just as if nothing of a strike had ever been heard of in Birmingham. Not only did officials do this work in one of the yards, but they did it in all of them. Office