The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1905-03-11
NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY AND
ELEVATED LINES TIED UP BY
WALkoUT OF EMPLOYEES.
GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC
SURFACE ROADS UNABLE TO HAN
DIE THE IMMENSE INCREASE
IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

New York, March 8.-A strike by
5000 employees of the Interborough
Rapid Transit company, operating the
subway and ManhattsA elevated lines
In this city, which took effect at 4
q. NJ, was one of the most complete In
it's early stages of any in the history
of New York.
After the hour set no train was
started with union crews and the latter
quit each train when the terminals of
the various lines had been reached.
One union motorman on the Ninth
avenue elevated line refused to desert
with the remainder of the crew and,
so far. his was the only detection re-
ported. Many of the ticket sellers re-
manned at their posts because they are
under bond, but posted signs announc-
ing the strike and refused to sell
tickets.
Crews of strike breakers were hur-
ried to the northern ends of the lines,
but not many were found who under
stood the manipulation of airbrakes.
In the subway crews were secured for
few trains, which were run up and
down over short stretches in an effort
to teach new men the method of opera
ton. Similar efforts were made on the
elevated lines.
Pickets Warn Patrons
Pickets from the strikers ranks
were posted everywhere outside sta
tions and warned persons who at
tempted to enter that the strike was
on and declared that ut was danger
Gus to ride on the trains"
They asserted that safety devices
and emergency brake cords had been
removed.
Free access was offered to all per-
sons who wished to ride SO far as the
officials of the company were con-
cerned. In fact few Of the ticket
booths were occupied and passengers
desiring to ride were admitted at their
own risk.
Surface lines reaped harvest. Hun
dreds of thousands of persons accus-
toned to being whirled down town on
express trains and who knew nothing
Of the strike until they reached the
streets after breakfast hustled for the
nearest car line.
Similar conditions prevailed in every
section of the city. On the Upper
West Side and in Harlem morning
newspapers were not delivered as
early as usual.
After s o'clock conditions on the
subway were greatly improved. Trains
were operated frequently and without
interference, confusion or delay.
Strike Breaker Badly Hurt.
| The first show OF open violence
/ against strike breakers was made at
the One Hundred and Tenth street
station OF the subway and as result
one of the strike breakers was taken
! to q hospital with q badly injured arm.
4 A union man had boarded the train
well up the line and continued to har-
rass the nonunion guard until, as the
train was nearing One Hundred and
Tenth street, the two men came to
blows. When the train came to stop
in the station others joined in the fray
and the police on duty there were
! obliged to use their clubs before the
fight was stopped. The strike break
/ er's arm was caught in one of the
side doors of car and crushed while
the union men were trying to pull him
from the train. No arrests were made.
About fifty Of the strike breakers
brought here from the West refused to
| 60 to work. They said they had been
i engaged to work as motormen but
were asked to act as guards. The
union men claimed that many other
strike breakers have been won over.
More than 100 strike breakers who
came here from Columbus and Indian
apolis announced during the forenoon
| that they would do nc further work In
the subway.
Conditions on the elevated lines did
not change materially during the fore
noon.
business IN the financial district was
materially affected by the strike.
RETREAT TO TIE PASS.
Russians Preparing to Abandon Mpk-
y 4 : -.