The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-04
UGLY SITUATION
IN norfolk CITY
Ten Thousand Volt Current
to Prevent Wire Cutting.
WOULD KILL BY A TOUCH
Strike Sympathizers Pile Lumber
on the Tracks.
SOLDIERS HAVE.TO PULLITO OFF
Many of the Soldiers in Sympathy With the
Strike and Turn Their Eyes Away When
the Fuses Arc Pulled From the Cars.
All Quiet uudcr Military
Guard, But Further
Trouble is Feared. 1,
SOLDIERS HAVE. TO PULL OFF
Especial Disnatch to Tho Times ,

NORFOLK, VA, March 3.-Norfolll has
striking street car men. All is quiet to-
night, however, though great anxiety is
felt for the morrow. The day opened by
the Seventy-first Regiment going to the
car barns of the Norfolk Railway and
Light Company to, start the cars, which
had been still two days.
The scene was J. thrilling one, and it
was a pleasant surprise when, instead of
riotous actions, many of the old men
took their places on the cars, and under
out of the sheds and over their accus-
toned routes
This did not last long, however. Many
of the men who returned to Work wrongly
understood that the company had abated
some of their demands, and when they
found they. were mistaken they rejoined
the strikers.
During the afternoon something like
800 to j 200 people, including many mem
bers of labor unions. gathered on upper
Church Street and placed lumber across
the car tracks, stopping the cars.
A1ILITIAaLUGGING LUMBER.
These distractions were from time TO
time removed by the soldiers who put in
some hours Juggling lumber. The crowd
Jeered them and the work was 1istaste-
ful. since many soldiers are trade union
lists and in sympathy with the strikers
Afterwards strikers or synlpathizers con-
gresated OH the track in such numbers
that the cars could not pass, or cut the
trolley ropes and persuaded the r!otormen
to cease work. These obstructive tactics
practically prevented the running of cars.
SOLDIERS LOOKED AWAY.
The fuse was also removed from some
cars or screws were removed, the soldiers
looking the other way while this was
being done, and. notwithstanding eight
companies of troops, the Norfolk con-
stabulary. and the entire force and re-
serves OF Norfolk police assisted the
company, the running of cars was this
evening impractioablc. The people gen
orally are in sympathy with the strikers.
The men say that this is probably due
to the TACT that the railway company
has dahbled in local politics, has plas-
tered the city with passes distributed
among councilmen. politicians and at
torneys, employing Mr.. Johnston as
general manager while he was yet Mayor
and employing Commonwealths Attor
ney Venables law firm as counsel. These
1dCAS,Ea QSSu 5eI1el1lltoF liz
officials, politically and financially, have
spread dissatisfaction widaly.
z CROMWELL ASKED FOR TROOPS.
Sheriff Cromwell states that he asked
Gov. AIonta que. to order out the troons.
because one Kelly, lately an inspector
for the railway company ind now a
striker. made a speech this morning be-
fore the strikers, in which lie told the
sheriff that none Of the conlpany's prop
erty would be harmed. but that t trouble
would ensue if an attempt were made
to run cars Will, non-union men.
It being discovered that the troops
were asked for yesterday, Sheriff Crom-
well is censuresd by many many who believe
l1hnt HE troops should not have been.
ordered ont unless the strikers had done.
}son,o overt nct in violation Of law.
sheriff cromwell figures in the case be-
ca use tho car barns a re outside he city
limits
Kelly va s. arrested to-da s8for some sln-s
wise act Or speech, hut was subsequently