The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-01-04

TROUBLE
Discharged Trackrnen Nearly
Caused a Riot
FAILURE OF COMPANY
To Furnish Transportation Made Them
Angry-Over One Hundred Men
Implicated In Trouble.
FAILURE OF COMPANY

For short time Thursday after
noon and evening the prospects were
bright for Kalispell to be the scene
OF a large size riot, with about $50
eX-track layers on one side and the
railroad and city and county officials
on the other. The men had been en-
ployed in laying the new steel rails
Oh the main line of the Great Northern
between Essex and Nyack, but the
recent heavy snow making operations
impossible, they were brought to Kali
spell last week, and after being paid
off were laid off.
1t was the understanding, accord
ing to the story told by a number of
the men, that when they were laid
off they would at once be given trans
portation to their homes. There was
some delay in getting the necessary
cars, and as day after day passed by
without getting out of town, the men
grew more and more wrathy, until
Thursday afternoon when they
reached climax. During the after
noon the men formed in body and,
marching to the depot, demanded their
transportation, saying that they had
waited Ing enough, and threatening
to take a train by force unless their
demands were satisfied. They did
not get much satisfaction from the
officials at the depot, and left there
IN disgust and marched to the office
of Mayor Griffin, before whom they
laid their troubles and repeated their
| threats of taking a train by force.
They also told the mayor that unless
the company would grant their de-
mands at once they would cause seri-
GUS trouble.
The chief of police and sheriff were
| aware of the trouble and the latter,
| in company with the leaders of the
trackmen, went to the depot and at
tempted to effect a settlement of the
dispute. After some discussion the
| division superintendent told the men
that if they would wait until Friday
night the necessary cars would arrive,
and also their passes. While there
were some of the men that were not
satisfied with the promise, peace was
in measure restored. A few of the
men talked trouble, and made threats
but evidently changed their minds, as
there was no trouble of any kind
when the trains pulled out. Friday
afternoon the transportation was
! given the men, and the majority OF
them left that night on cars that were
brought here for them. A few re-
| manned, but will leave tonight
The peaceful solution of the trou.
BILE was hailed with delight by the
authorities, as at one time a clash
seemed inevitable. Some of the men
were anxious for trouble and made
all kinds of threats as to what they
would do. The officers were prepared
have precipitated a bloody conflict
While the MARTY of the men were
ignorant, there were several intelli
gent, cool-headed men in the crowd
and they succeeded in keeping away
| from trouble. few of the men, OF
the better class, told their stories tc
the authorities. and in view of the
circumstances they could hardly be
blamed for their desire to return
home. One case in particular was
decidedly sad, that of one of the lead
ers. According to his story. he ar
rived in Kalisnell last Friday. and up
on his arrival here he received the
| intelligence of the death of his wife
In Minnesota. leaving two small chill
dren. He had only about $40 coming
to him, and this he sent to them
hoping that his transportation would
shortly arrive; as was promised by
the railroad officials. Day after day
passed, and each was but O. disap
pointment. He had no money to pur
chase a meal or bed. and since last
Saturday he had eaten but one meal
/ and had slept in a chair in a saloon
He claimed that he was not a drink
ing man, and was thus barred from
the free lunch counter in many sa
looms. He said that he was driven
to desperation by his situation and
would do anything that would better
it. He appeared honest in his actions