The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-22
DEFIED THE TRAINMEN
THE 18th MINNESOTA REGIMENT
REBELLED OVER A SLEEPING CAR.
Exciting Scene in Union Station Last
Night-VOIunteers Final
ly Give In.

Union Railway Station was a very busy
place. The first section of the Fourteenth
Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers en- route
home from Knoxville arrived about 10
O'Clock and two other sections came in
within half an hour. The men had their
coffee at the station and the first two sec
tons pulled out about IL o'clock. The third
section had not left the city at 1890 o'clock
and the train was run down to the yards
Later in the night it was sent on its way
The officers in charge of the section first
declared it would remain there until the rail-
road company saw fit to keep it's contract
with the government.
The regiment came to the city over the
Big -Four from Louisville, being received at
that point from the Cincinnati Southern
road When the first section reached the
city last night the men were fretting con-
siderably over what they termed the unfair
conduct of the Big Four people. They had
already had an encounter with the railway
officials at Greensburg and were in no fine
mood. The two first sections were running
close together when Greensburg was
reached. The officers in command of the
trains were informed at that point that the
order from headquarters was to crowd all
the men into two trains and send the regi-
ment into Chicago in this condition. An in
dignant protest went up at once and a
heavy guard was placed at each end of the
trains. The agent at Greensburg was in
formed that If any attempt was made to
tamper with the trains trouble would sure
ly follow. On this account the track at
Greensburg was bIockaded for nearly an
hour. The soldiers won their point, how
ever, and came into the Union Station here
with their two trains
When the third section arrived a short
time later it brought along cause for fresh
grievance on the part of the entire regiment
When the regiment left camp the three
trains were made up of Pullman sleepers
according to the contract with the railroad
companies. Just before the third section
reached Louisville one of the Pullmans was
damaged in an accident and was in no con-
dition for further use. At Louisville 1t was
detached from the train and its passengers
were crowded into the other cars The
Cincinnati Southern people at Louisville
promised the officers of the third section
that at Greensburg another first-class Pull
man car would be attached to the train.
The promise was not kept, it Is claimed.
Instead Of a modern sleeping car being put
on an old-fashioned Pullman was attached
which .would not accommodate half the men
that had been transferred at Louisville.
Forty-three men-several Of them half sick
with malaria-were crowded into the car
that was intended to carry but twenty-five
people Some of the men were compelled to
stand. At Greensburg, it is claimed, another
promise was made that a larger Pullman
would be added to the train at Indianapolis.
When the three sections had reached the
Union Station, Captain Resche, in charge of
the third, made demand of the railroad
company that the small car be exchanged
for more modern one, and declared his
intention of remaining here with his bat
talon until this was DONE Guards were
placed about the front end of the TRAIN to
prevent the engine from moving. Guards
were also stationed the entire length of the
train, and few people were allowed to cross
over the platforms. The guards refused to
to walk the entire length of the thirteen
cars to get from one side of the depot TO
the other. A car inspector who attempted
to "cut" the train was vigorously procded
with a bayonet. A depot postoff1ce en-
ploye had an alteration with a guard as to
United States mail. At first the guard was
obdurate and refused to let the man pass.
but finally consented to allow him to cross.
backed up Captain Resche in his contention
for better car: The physician iaa
been taken on at Greensburg many
of the soldiers had to ride in the hospital
car, Wnlcn was a great inconvenience 10 tnem
and the sick men. The physician asserted
that unless the men could start out from
here properly, he would leave the more Sc
rious cases on the train in the hospitals of
the city. Captain Resche at length informed
Train Master Beckwith that he would either
have a new Pullman sleeper or the train
would stay in Indianapolis. The train
master offered to put on two additional or
binary coaches, but the captain refused to
accept these. He said he knew there were
plenty of Sleepers in the yard which the
railroad company could utilize If it cared to.
This the trainmaster denied. He. said the
Chicago, and the Pullman Offices lin that
city were closed for the night and could
not be reached. Captain Resche then de-
clared the train would stay here until the
proper arrangements could be made. About
1890 O'Clock the train was run to the yards,
but later the officers concluded to go on
with the crowded sleeper.
The Fourteenth Minnesota goes home in
charge of Lieutenant Colonel Johnson. Col.
Van DuZee, who went out with the regi-
ment, is i'll at his home in st. Paul, having
LIS men in the regiment and nearly all of
them are in excellent health. They are
fine-looking set of men and appear to have
enjoyed camp life The regiment is taking
tWenty-fOur sick men home. There have
been four deaths in all in the regiment since
it was mustered into the service. One of
these was Private Peterson, of Company
+, who. it is said. practically committed
suicide. They say that in order to convince
his comrades that he could stand almost
any sort of a diet, he ate a great quantity
of green peaches while the regiment was in
camp. He was sent to the hospital and died
there.