The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-17

New York, July 16.-Another trolley
strike is on in Brooklyn. So far it has
not been as effective as the strike of
'95, but there is no telling how long or
far-reaehing it may become. For some
weeks past the employees on the several
lines controlled by the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company have been complain
ing 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 80 day, the price which
they set for a working day Of ten
hours Meetings have been held dali
ly and nightly for the last week, and it
was inferred from the reports given out
by the employees and their advisers
since Thursday last, that while a strike
was imminent, it would not occur for
some days to come.
General Master Workman Parsons
and District Master Workman Pines
had charge of the mems affairs and a
strike was called at 430 this morning
At this hour most of the motormen
ton Conpany's lines had completed
their night trips, and the leaders de-
cided that this was the most opportune
moment to begin what was expected to
be stubborn fight with the traction
company.
A heavy rain storm was in evidence
at this time, and there was very little
passenger traffic. The Smith street,
Franklin avenue and Hamilton ferry
lines, which are controlled by the Coney
Island Railroad Company having main
tanned the regular terms with their en-
ployees, was not impeded in the least,
but on all other roads transportation
stopped for while, and a good deal of
congestion occurred in consequence.
Shortly after midnight, about 1000 po-
licemen from the precincts in Manhat-
tan and the Bronx districts We're con-
veyed to the different barns, and many
were placed along the several routes
comprising the territory covered by the
Brooklyn Traction Company. Up to
7.30 o'clock there were very few cars
run over their lines, and those that
were sent out from the different barns
were policed by two, three and four
constables
On the Putnam avenue line only few
men refused to work, and it was nota-
BILE that scarcely a half dozen of the
cars on this division were policed. The
Flatbush and Bergen Beach cars, the
Nostrand avenue, Gates, Ralph and
Myrtle avenue cars, as well as the
Third avenue trolleys, had a meagre
service in the early hours of the day,
but traffic on the old Nassau lines,
which comprise the Fifth, Seventh,
Park and Vanderbilt avenues, and
Douglass and Butler street roads, was
practically at a standstill.
rs 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 sew
eral hours, but by 10 o'clock about one
tenth Of the regular rolling stock was
working. These cars We're manned by
inspectors and linemen, and in fact oil
ers and helpers were pressed into SER
vice so as to maintain a partial run
ming of the system Many of the old
conductors and motormen reported for
DUTY on the Gates Ralph, Broadway,
Myrtle avenue, Flushing and Third ave.
nue. roads, and President Rossiter said
that shortly after noon over fifty per
cent OF the old hands were at work on
these lines. Later in the afternoon the
cars on the latter's roads were running
at intervals of ten minutes which meant
that the service was crippled about one
third
The heavy storm of the early morn
Ing was dissipated about 10 o'clock,
ana from that hour until well on in the
afternoon the Sunday traffic which is
usually very heavy to North and Ber-
gen Beach and Coney Island, filled the
cars, but the dread of trouble or distur-
bance kept hundreds of people away
From these seaside resorts. Shortly
Uefore noon President Rossiters pri-
waite car AmDere started from the CITY
hall and made round trip of the trac-
tons lines. On board We're Chief En-
gtneer Breckenridge, W. w. Wickes
President Rossiter's private secretary.
and Assistant Secretary Vancott. Ac-
companying these were headquarters
detectives, Reynolds, Harrington, Gray
and Soddard.
The Ampere after running to the
Flushing extension went UP Nostrand
avenue to Bergen Beach and returned
down Flatbush avenue, from whence 1t
ran to Coney Island. Coming back
from Coney Island, the presidents car
travelled over the Fifth avenue route
and as 1t neared 23d street and Fifth
avenue those on board found their
further progress impeded by q stalled
car near the Fifth avenue barn. Here
b. crowd of some 5000 people, many of
whom were women and children, had
tpngregated and the motormen of the
Ampere, Howard Jackson, was attack
ed by several men who were strikers
or IN sympathy with them. The motor
man received some nasty bruises on
the head and legs. Secretary Wickes
WINS one of the first to run to the man
assistance, and he was finally rescued
from the mob. Six arrests were made