Evening journal., 1895-06-01
WAR DOGS LET LOOSE.
Hostilities Begun Between the
Street Railway and City.
The FoRMBR oBJEOTs TO A SEWER


And Trouble Seems Imminent Three
Arrests Are Made The street and
Sewer Department Directors aud the
Railway Authorities Meet and Pour
OIL on the Waters.
Despite the confident assertions Of
Superintendent Heger aud Special Officer
Vandegrift, OF the Wilmington City
Railway Company, that there would be
no clash between their men and those Of
the Street and Sewer Department, at the
crossing OF the Front street tracks by
Shipley run sewer the two forces got
together yesterday afternoon. when the
Fourth street line was blocked at Monroe
street by dirt aud stones thrown on the
track.
One Of the east-hound cars was stop.
ped there, and as fears were entertained
that trouble would follow an attempt TO
move the car, word was sent to the
police station, and Captain Chambers.
Sergeants Evans, Shields and Black and
the entire day force went to the spot
Directors Chambers and Simmons, Mayor
Shortlidge and City Solicitor Elliott were
also present
The men who were throwing the dirt
on the tracks we're ordered to stop by
Detective Nandegrlft, and ordered TO 20
on by William W, Hicken, superinten.
dent Of the work, and he WAS at once
arrested by the detective and sent to the
police station He was bailed out. The
charge was obstructing the tracks Of the
railway company.
Later In the afternoon a cart loaded
with dirt pulled off the track and the
waiting car was run through and stopped
right in the heart OF the work. Mr.
Vandegrift was on the car and refused
to bulge an inch. Some OF the depart
ment men pushed, others pulled, while
others used crowbArs to no effect.
Department Engineer HRtton jumped on
the car and started to throw off the
brakes, and he and Vandegrift had
tussle. which WAS ended in the arrest I
both Vandegrift and Motormen Fred @
Welsh, on a charge of obstructing the
street. The car was then drawn out OF
the way by means Of ropes.
After this there was no further
trouble although as a matter Of preoau-
tlon a squad Of policemen was kept on all
night.
The Street and Sewer Directors claim
their right over any and every corpora
tion; that the sewer is public neces
sity and cannot be delayed aud that the
railroad people showed no inclination to
accommodate the city or ths public
and drastic measures were necessary.
The officers OF the railway company
said that Engineer Hatton had asked
how long 10 would take to remove thl
tracks and he was told two days Moth
ing further WAS heard OF the matte
until Sunday when letter WAS receiver
by President Lea ordering the track
taken up.
The company tried to secure a meeting
with the directors, but were unable to d.
So The company was willing to brac
its tracks along the sewer or lay
temporary track alongside the street
but was denied this 1t proposes 10 stol
it's cars TO the end OF the line, but viii
keep cars on hand at the obstruction
The company will later sndeavor {,
collect damages on account Of loss O
revenue owing 10 the break
This morning In Municipal Court s u
perintsndeAt Of Sewers Hicken wa
Rrrsigned on q charge Of obstructing th
railway, Ia violation Of It's charter, anC
Harvey B Vandsgrift and Motormal
Fred O. Weleh for obstruetlng the streets
Ia violation OF the ordinance.
Willard Salisbury, Jr appeared for th
company and arranged with City Solic-
itor Elliott to have Rll three cases
continued until Monday morning.
Later In the morning Mr.. Saulsbur,
and General Manager Heger, representing
tina railway, snd Directors Chambers ant
simmons aud Engineer Hatton, represent
ing the department, held a conference
behind closed doors in the engineer
Office
Director simmons on being asked as Il
what was done, said: ''All the trouble
has been satisfactorily settled. There
WAS not as much In it as WAS supposed
aud was mainly due to street reports
The railway company agrees 70 transfer
passengers around the point where the
work Is being done There win be nc
more trouble.
La this Mr. Chambers agreed. Tn
railway representatives had nothing T.
say further than that a satisfsctor,
conclusion had been reached and tina
thsy would transfer passengers over th
Maryland avenue line. The dogs hav
been tisd up sgain.