The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-01
KEPT UNDER GUARD
TWO CARLOADS OR' NON-UNION MA
CHINIsTS BRoUGT SOUTH.
MET BY UNION STRIKERS.
POLICE CALLED OUT, BUT THERE
WAS NO TROUBLE.

Two Cars with Men for Seabonrd
Air Lines shops in Fcrnandina
and Americas, Were Met at Cross
ing by n Committee of Union Men.
strikers Made NO Threats ana
Were OrderIy-One Car Detache d
in the Yards West of the City and
supt. Reilly and His Men Hurried
There Strikers Remained ON
watch Until Special Engine Car
ried the Coach to Americus-Pdnk-
erton's Detectives Had Armed the
Non-Union Men-WuI Sleep and
Eat in the ShOps-NOn-UniOn Men
Not to Be Brought Here Until Al
fairs Have Quie3ed.
Every man armed, and with Pin
kerton Detectives as guards two
coaches loaded with non-union machinists,
arrived in Savannah over the Seaboard
Air Line yesterday afternoon. The rail-
road officials apprehended trouble with
the local union men and supt. Reilly was
called upon for protection. The detectives
and every available patroInan were press
ed into service and remained in the yards
of the company until o'clock.
The strikers were there, 100, but they
were orderly, and there was not the slight
est friction They said they had
no idea of creating any dis
turbance. and that far as they
were concerned the presence of the police
was unnecessary. One coach containing
the non-unin men was pulled into the
Central depot and left with the regular
train for Feruandlna, where the men will
be put to work in the company's shops.
The second coach contained men intend
ed for the shops at Americas. and
this car was left in the yards 1t was
deemed wise 90 attach the car to special
engine, and the men left at
o'clock The police remained until
the non-union men had gotten well out
of the yards. The striking machinists
came to the city at the same time and
appeared pleased that no effort had been
made to unload any of the men here.
The non-union men came to Savannah
in charge of Mr.. f. Stump. master ma
chinist at Portsmouth. They were brought
from Pennsylvania and other places in
the North and did not appear to mind
the presence of the union men or show
any great relief at the sight of the police
officers. In the car bound for Fernandina.
there were sixteen machinists and one
Pinkerton man. The car that left with
the special engine for Americas contained
nineteen non-union men, and they were
looked after by two of Pinkertons off-
GERS.
The local machinists keep in touch with
what is going on, and knew that the men
A
of six went to the Central crossing and
met the train. Until the company's yards
were reached the committe of union men
talked with those bound for the shops
that are closed. The men paid their
fares and came in as regular passengers.
They made no effort to threaten the
strangers, and talked to them peaceably
and quietly.
When one of the coaches was detached
in the yards the strikers felt sure that
It was intended to leave a part of the
men here. Some of the committeeman re-
manned with the cars in the yard, and
the others came into the city on the regu-
lar train with the sixteen non-union men.
Just before the arrival of the train
Superintendent of Police Reilly was nod-
fed of what was going on. He had only
fifteen minutes i'm which to reach the de-
pot and with Detectives Murphy and
Wall, left in his buggy Desk Sergeant
Baughn was instructed to send in the pa
troll wagon as many patrolmen as he
could get hold of. Sally Port officer
Frank Smith, Quartermaster Kelly, two
railroad patrolmen and officer Fleming
were hurried to the depot. Bicycle officer
Christy and Mounted Sergeant McCool
were sent by bicycle and horse
. When Superintendent Reilly reached
the yard there were quite a number OF
the union men in waiting On the arrival
Of ha hn sta Cd
that one car had been left at the shops.
and the superintendent and the strikers
left for the yards west of the city. The
patrol wagon arrived at the depot after
the departure of the superintendent, and
the detectives and the men were hurried
on to the shops. The striking machinists
were there and chatted with the officers,
but there was no disorder during the
wait of nearly two hours
The non-union. men ate i'm the car, and
had not been outside since they started
en- their trip NJ. McMahun, chairman Of
the executive committee of the striking
machinists seemed to be at the head of
the union crowd, and gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
THE presence OF the police here is al
together unnecessary and at no time has
II been our intention to resort to violence
We are all law-abdng and peaceable cit
liens and believe that we are lighting
for that which is just and right We keep
In touch with every point on the system,
and knew that these foreigners, some of
whom are not even citizens of the United
States, were coming this way
1T was our purpose to talk to the men
and we did so. We did not want any of
them to get Off al Savannah, but IL they
had no force would have been used TO
compel them TO go on. We would have
talked TO them like men and endeavored
10 convince them that we are in the right
and that they have nothing to gain by
playing the scab. A scab is Stunned and
scorned by everyone and these foreigners
are only being used because the company
can get no one else ....
I'VE ask the people Of Savannah 20 pro-
test against the bringing OF such people
here. They are a menace to society and
should not be tolerated In the community.
Most Of us have lived here all OF our
lives and have families to support We
al least pay a poll tax and are citizens.
Why then should the people OF this city
submit 10 any such action on the part
OF tho company. We are not in the wrong
and our nght is righteous one.
1T IS untrue that the men are at
work in the other shops on the system.
We are kept posted and know that this
IL not true. All along the line the ma
chinists are holding out and are confident
Of victory. We have public sympathy In