The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-17
THE BROOKLYN STRIKE.
Many Of the Men Refused to Join
80, in the Movement.
LITTLE TROUBLE THE FIRST DAY


dent Rossiter Asserts That Fifty Poi
Cent Remain Loyal to the Company,
New York, July 17.--Another trolley
strike is on In Brooklyn. So far 1t
has not been as effective as the strike
of 1895, but there is no telling how
long or how far reaching it may be-
| come. For some weeks past the en-
| ployes of the several lines controlled
by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit COM
pany have been complaining that the
management did not live up to the ten
hour law. The men demand revision
of the time tables at the different
barns, and also claim that they should
be paid 20 cents an hour for overtime,
which is equivalent to 81 day, the
price which they set for working day
of ten hours.
General Master Workman Parsons
and District Master Workman Pines
had charge of the mems affairs, and
strike was called at 4:30 yesterday
morning. At this hour most of the
motormen and conductors on the
Brooklyn Traction company's lines had
completed their night trips, and the
leaders had decided that this was the
most opportune moment to begin what
was expected to be stubborn fight
with the traction company. The Smith
street, Franklin avenue and Hamilton
ferry lines which are controlled by the
Coney Island Railroad company, hav-
ing maintained the regular terms with
their employees, we're not impeded in
the least. but on all other roads trans
portation was stopped for while. and
a good deal of congestion occurred in
consequence.
Shortly after midnight about 1000
policemen from the precincts in Man
haitian and the Bronx districts were
conveyed 70 Tie different 6arhs, and
many were placed along the several
by the Brooklyn Traction company.
Up to half-past O'Clock there were
very few cars run over these lines. and
those that were sent out from the diff
ferent barns were policed by two, three
and four men. On the Putnam avenue
line only few men refused to work,
and. it was noticeable that scarcely
half dozen of the cars on this di-
vision were policed. The Flatbush and
Bergen Beach cars, the NOstrand ave-
nue., Gates, Ralph and Myhtle avenue
cars, as well as the Third avenue troll
leys had meager service in the early
hours of the day, but traffic on the old
Nassau lines. which comprise the Fiftt4,
Seventh, Park and Vanderbilt avenues,
and Douglas and Butler streets roads,
W. inn1 nf or
The men on the Nassau road were
most determined, and not one of the
motormen or conductors went to work.
The cars remained idle for several
hours, but by 10 O'Clock about one !
tenth of the regular rolling stock was |
working. These cars were manned by |
inspectors and linemen, and in fact
oilers and helpers were pressed into
service so as to maintain partial
running of the system. Many of the
old conductors and motormen report
ed for duty on the Gates, Ralph, Broad.
way, Myrtle avenue, Flushing and
Third avenue roads, and President
Rossiter said that shortly after noon
over SO per cent of the old hands were
at work on these lines. Later in the
afternoon the cars on the latter roads
were running at intervals of ten min
utes. which meant that the service
was crippled about. one-third.
The heavy storm Of the early morn
ing was disspated about 10 o'clock, and
from that hour until well on in the at
Lernoon the Sunday traffic, which is
usually very heavy to North Beach,
Bergen Beach and Coney Island, filled
he cars, but the dread of trouble or
disturbance kept hundreds of people
,way from these seaside resorts.
Shortly before noon President Ros-
;iter's private car Ampere started from
he city hail and made a round trip
If the traction lines. On board were
chief Engineer Breckenridge. w. w.
Nickes, President Rossiter's private
secretary, and Assistant Secretary
Jancott Accompanying these were
everal headquarters detectives. AS
he car neared Twenty-third street and
fifth avenue those on board found
heir further progress impeded by
tailed car near the Fifth avenue barn
iere crowd of some 500 people,
many of whom were women and chill
ren had congregated, and the motor
nan of the Ampere, Howard Jackson,
vas attacked by several men who were
n sympathy with the strikers. The
lotorman received some nasty bruises
n the head and legs. Secretary
Vickes was one of the first to run to
he mans assistance, and he was
nally rescued from the mob. Six ar
ests We're made and the track was
oon cleared.
Throughout the afternoon boulders
nd large pieces of granite were taken
rom near by yard and placed on the
racks in the vicinity of Greenwood
emetery, and as cars came along at
ltervals Of 20 and 80 minutes, their
lrther progress was considerably de-
lyed until these distinctions were re-
loved. No sooner did the cars pass :
nan the boulders were laid on the
'acks again, and the police were I'M =,
BILE to stop the efforts of the obstruc-
onists. During the day 800 additional
olice were sent over from New York. .
The only cutting of wire reported to
le Brooklyn police headquarters was
lie partial destruction of the feed cable !,
II Flatbush avenue, but score Of !
nemen soon repaired this in tenn ,
)rary manner.
At a conference between President ,
ossiter and the police officials the r
informed Mr.. Rossiter -
lat his patrons and the public in gen. =
al. as well as lne company's prop
'ty and all other properties, would be
protected by the police 4
,rce. In addition to this Commits
oner Hess informed Mr.. Rossiter n
lat he thought the sending out of his /
'ivate car was impolitic, and to use /
Is own words, 1t was like shaking g
ID rag in front Of an enraged bull" a
Several arrests were made during the n
~ among the ranks of the strikers "
nd their SymDathizers. but no dis. n