The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-01-12
RAIDED COAL Train
NORTH YAKIMA CITIZENS CON.
FlSCATE FUEL.
Trainmen Call ON Authorities for
Help But Sheriff and Police
AreConvsniently Absent-Rail.
road Had Been Warned Of the
Contemplated Action.

North Yakima, Jan. 9.-More than
200 desperate citizens Of this city and
farmers of the surrounding country
held up coal train at the station here
at $3.50 yesterday afternoon and car
ried off all the fuel they needed to
tide them over the cold snap. The
train consisted Of twenty-seven cars
when it pulled into the yards north OF
the city at 8. p. m. Twenty-Five cars
were left on the siding quarter Of q
mile above and the engine with two
cars pulled down to the water tank at
the station platform to take water. At
once tho two cars were boarded by
people waiting for coal, and they be-
gan to throw off piles Of it. When the
engine was watered the engineer set
the two cars into the yard OF the
Northwestern Improvement Company
and started back to the siding for the
twenty five cars, which were to be
taken to other points east of here. By
the time the engineer arrived at his
train there were fifty teams lined up
alongside Of it being loaded with fuel,
and hundreds more were hurrying to
the place.
The engineer hesitated about facing
the angry citizens who confronted him.
He pulled the throttle and moved
slowly down the tracks to the station
and stopped in front Of the telegraph
office to get orders.
In the meantime hundreds of people
had boarded the cars and began to
throw the fuel off along each side Of
the main track. Seeing that the COM
pany was determined to move the train
eastward, someone began to pull the
levers Of the adjustable bottoms and
let the coal out on the track. This
was done with such quickness that the
crew failed to realize what was hap
pening till they found their train
stalled in the midst of piles Of coal.
Twelve cars were released in this man
ner. It was then that the railway
company realized the seriousness Of
the situation and a call was sent for
help to Sheriff Grant and his deputies.
Sheriff Was Missing
The sheriff could not be found, and
it was not until some time afterwards
that lone deputy appeared on the
scene. The mayor was also appealed
to, but he said he could do nothing.
No policemen were in sight at the
time. When the bottoms were pulled
out of tho cars the train could not
move and had to remain where it was
until all the coal was taken. There
was nearly 600 tons, and this was all
carted away and carried of in sacks
within an hours time.
The situation had become 80 serious
that the citizens became desperate.
Coal had been promised for several
days, but only one car at time was
set in here each morning. This last
ed no time with zero weather prevail
ing. Monday evening all those who
had waited from early morning for
coal and got none went to the mayor
and asked him to take up the matter
with the railroad company.
he sent them to Agent Meeks, but
the latter had done all he could to
relieve the situation. A telegram
signed by the mayor, the sheriff and
the chief of police was then sent to
Vice President Levey at Tacoma, tell
ing him Of the critical situation here
and that II coal was not forthcoming
the first coal train to pass through the
city would be raided.
Many Now Have Fuel
Many people have fuel tonight who
were without it last night. It Is now
determined by the people that the raid
will be repeated if the railroad COM
pany does not willingly bring in fuel
necessary.
After losing twelve cars the engineer
of the coal train pulled the rest of the
train to the cattle yards below the
city and showed them on the siding.
A second raid was here carried out,
but not great amount Of coal was
taken when the train moved to Yaki.
ma City, four miles from here.
RELIEF Is PROMISED
ALONG GREAT NORTHERN