The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-08
MAKES VICIOUS ASSAULT.
Three Unknown Men Attack G. G.
Stafford, New Lineman of Te1e-
phOne COmpany.

c. c. Stafford lineman in the employ
OF the local branch of the Pacific states
Telephone and Telegraph Company. was
viciously assaulted by three unknown
men late yesterday afternoon and re-
cefved serious injuries He was descend
Ing from a telephone pole al First avenue
and Pike. when the attack was made
without warning. He believes his assail
ants to be sympathzers of the striking
linemen.
Stafford was sent out shortly after 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon by the COM
pany TO repair wires on one of the poles
at First and Pike. As he was ascend
Ing the pole. the three men, one of whom
he may be able to identify, jeered at him,
he alleges. and applied the term 'scab'
20 him. Stafford. whose home is in Port
land, Is one Of the men brought here to
fill the places made vacant by the strike
Of the companys linemen. He continued
his work until 1t became dusk. when he
descended. He had Just lowered one foot
to the sidewalk, he says. when he was
struck n heavy blow from behind with
weapon made OF glass insulators slung
on wire.
Although partially stunned. STAFFORD
wheeled around and made an effort to
defend himself from his assailant. The
other two men. he SAYS. then Joined the
first, and after a brief struggle he was
overpowered and knocked down. He was
Kicked in the face several time. he says.
and became unconscious
In the meantime people had commenced
running toward the scene Of the trouble
and the three men hastily escaped. SHAFT
ford was carried into the York hotel
where he was attended by Dir. Willis
Later in the evening he was removed to
his home on Fourth avenue, between
Madison and Spring streets. Although
seriously hurt. his injuries will not prove
fatal. In speaking of the assault last
night he said
while i think the three men were
strikers, ! am not sure. and would hard
ly like to make such q charge against
them. As / was struck from behind I
did not have much chance TO see the
faces Of my assailants, with the excep-
tioh Of one. whom | believe | can posi-
lively identify. They may have only been
people in sympathy with the strike"
Friends u he Linemen's Union declare
that none of the members would be gllty
Of such a proceeding. II is said that
there are a number of nonunion men for
merly employed by the telephone com
pany who Joined the strike and tina,
the union Is not responsible for them.
The matter was reported TO Chief OF
Police Meredith. II is now being inves-
The local officers OF the telephone com
pany claim that the assault last night
on Stafford Is only the elimination of a
series Of heretofore bloodless attacks
strikers or their friends IL IL said that
II Is now impossible TO send one of their
employees 70 repair wires on Pike street
unless he Is protected On November rs
one OF the new lnemen. who was directed
to do some repair work on the street the
officers claim, Was followed into store
by nearly score OF men, who, IL IL al
legged. applied obscene eplthets to him,
and one man threatened him with a
knife.
In addition TO troubles OF this kind, the
company officials assert that the ta.e-
phone wires 81 the New York block were
cut by some unknown person who APP
peared 10 be skilled IN the work re-
ward of $3.50 has been offered for In
formation leading TO his discovery. Wires
in the colman block we're cut about two
weeks ago, Ii IL said and fifteen tele.
phones thus rendered useless.