The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-24
GLEASON'S LATEST SCRAP.
ELECTRIC RAILWAY MANAGER BEE
TEN ED BEFORE HIM.

water works Men Tried 20 Die . Trench
Under the Railway Tracks and Beeteu'
Armed with q Revolver. Placed . Car In
There was a lively clash in the Astoria section
Of Long Island City yesterday afternoon be-
tween employees Of the City Water Department
and tho Now York and Queens County Electric
Railway, which terminated in the arrest OF
General Manager J. r. Beetem OF the railway
company. Last Saturday evening the city
water supply was cut of from the power house
Of the railway company In Mills street. Astoria,
without warning. Mayor Gleason said the rail.
way company was in arrears about $1,000 for
water taxes. Beetem and his men hustled
around and soon had three mammot water
tanks engaged in bringing water from New
town. As fast as the tanks arrived at the power
house they were pumped out and returned for o
fresh supply.
Shortly after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon
word was sent to General Manager Beetem's
office in Hunters Point that employers OF the
Water Department were making preparations
for digging up the railway tracks OF tho COM
pany seventy.1ve feet away from the power
house. This move would prevent the company
from getting its water tanks down to the power
house. Bcetcm jumped on an electric car and
was soon on the scene. He went equipped for
hostilities. 1t is said no had no less than three
revolvers. Mr.. Beetem, however, says he
was unnrmed, but that he placed a revolver
on tho window ledge inside the car. He stopped
his car directly over the spot where the trench
would have TO go under the track. A big crowd
had gathered by this time. Trouble was an
ticipated. Mr.. Beetem took his stand on the
front platform of the car and warned the work.
men that II they molested the property Of the
railway company they would do so at their
peril. The men dug up to within about six
Inches on both sides Of the tracks and stopped.
In the me ,ntime the police reserves had
While the railway company was thus holding
the fort Engineer Lang hastened to he, City
gineer Lang accused Beetem OF threatening to
shoot him. The warrant was hustled back to
shs sssH or IN. f f1ont % 9r ,hs chr Then he air as i Bssrem
lions to some of his men he was bounced upon
by two policeman in plain clothes. Thinking he
one of the policemen went reeling against q
picket fence The other policeman II =.
submitted. Leaving Instructions to keep the
car on the track and prevent the tearing up OF
TIE road, Beetem left in custody for the City
Gleason. The Mayor permitted Mr.. Beetem to
GO in the custody OF his counsel. to appear be-
fore a Police Magistrate on Friday.
In. the. meantime an understanding was
reached in relation to the digging, up Of the
Moore assured Mr.. Beetem that II he would
permit the trench to be dug under the tracks OF
the railway company permission would be given
the company to shore up the road and make II
safe for traffic. With this understanding the
work of digging the trench will probably be re
sumed this morning. In the meantime. how
ever. the railway company is prepared for hos
tilities, should any one show q desire to become
belligerent.
AT Mr.. Beetem's direction several hundred
feet Of fire hose was obtained and attached to q
pump in the power house. Had the Water De
partment insisted on going on with the work, 4
was tho intention of the company to play
stream OF hot water on the spot where tn
trench was being dug. Everything was kept II
readiness last night TO bring the hot water ap
Mayor Gleason denies that he Is actuated b.
any personal hostility toward the railway com
pany. When the Water Department cut off tn
water supply from tho power house, two ston
works, which are beyond the power house, wer,
also deprived of water. 1t was to make a new
connection to supply these stone works that tn,
street was dug up yesterday.