The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-19
A LIVELY BATTLE.
Union Pacific Bridgemen and
Iron Workers Clash at X. G.

Kansas City. Jan. 1s.-As a culmina-
ton to recent labor troubles, a pitched
battle was fought at the west end of the
Union Pacific Railway company's new
bridge across the Kaw river in Kansas
City, Kan, about $50 o'clock last even
ing between fifty bridge workers en-
ployed by the company and about twice
that number of members of the Struc-
tural Iron Workers union, lasting about
five minutes. During the fight thirty
revolver shots were fired, hundreds of
brickbatS thrown, and some of the men
fought hand to hand with any weapon
obtainable.
Several men on both sides were in
jured. although so far as is known only
four were seriously hurt. Two of the
disabled men were Of the Iron Workers
union and two employees of the Union
Pacific.
The two latter were, T. B. Bowers,
beaten and shot through the thigh, and
T. P. Ayers, who received deep cut
on the head from a, brickbat and was
otherwise bruised. The union men hur-
ried their injured from the field, and the
police were unable to learn their names.
Bowers, who was in a very serious
condition from being beaten and kick
ed, was taken to st. Margarets hospital.
and Ayers is being cared for at the COM
pany'S boarding cars Neither is con-
sidered in critical condition, however.
The trouble yesterday occurred Just
after the bridge men had quit work for
the evening With their foreman, H. D.
Baldwin, the wOrkmen had started for
the commissary at the Armstrong
shops, when they were confronted by
twice their number of union men. Mr..
Baldwin says he knew that trouble was
brewing and ordered his men to get
upon a construction car as quickly as
possible.
Before they could reach the car, how
ever, he says, the enemy began firing
and throwing bricks and stones.
Bowers, who was late reaching the car,
Mr.. Baldwin says. was overtaken by
three men. knocked down, kicked and
finally shot. The bullet wound was
only through the flesh, however, and
the bruises on his body are considered
much more serious. Ayers, Mr.. Bald
win says was pulled from the car after
he had almost reached the top. knocked
down and struck on the head with a.
brickbat.
This all happened in a very short
time, before the bridge men could or
game. However. as soon as they got
together they also began to shoot and
it was not long until the others began
to retreat. Mr.. Baldwin says that two
of the union men fell. and he thinks
they were shot, but whether serious or
not he cannot tell. They were picked
up. he says, and hurried away by their
retreating companions.
The police were not notified for more
than an hour after the trouble was
over. When the officers finally arrived
at the scene not one of the structural
iron workers was in sight. 1t is hardly
probable that they would reveal the
names of their injured members since
this would lead to their identity and
probably that of the others. and also
might eventually bring about their
arrest and conviction of a serious crime.
The trouble yesterday resulted di-
rectly from the fact that the Union Pa
cific has its own bridge builders, who
are sent from place to place by the
company When the work was first be-
gun on the bridge here the local
unions demanded that their members
be employed. On the other hand the
company insisted on its right to use its
own men, and trouble began to brew at
once.