Evening star., 1909-05-23
Central of Georgia Strike Sit
uation Is Very Serious.
OUTBREAK At ATHENS, GA.
And Negro Fireman Penned in Sta
ton at Augusta.
TRAINS TIED UP LAST NIGHT
Georgia's Attorney General Is Work.
ing for Peace-sherin Adults
Helplessness.

ATHENS. Ca, May 22.-Nearly. a thou
sand men and boys tonight stoned police
men and detectives who were protecting
a white ffrenan, Will Williamson. who
had fired a passenger train on the
Georgia railroad yesterday on the run
from Athens to Union Point, Ga. A de-
tective was knocked down with missile
and T. H Morris, a policeman, had his
arm painfully lacerated in the fight.
The fireman was saved from violence
and the mob later dispersed
Williamson came into Athens tonight
on his train. His guards. struggled with
the surging, hooting crowd, from the sta
tion to police headquarters. where they
took shelter from the flying sticks, and
stones, Williamson was struck several
times In the back and a man In the crowd
was accidentally struck In the face. blood
streaming from a cut opened by the blow.
Town Is ouieter Row.
Around police headquarters the mob
gathered in menacing manner and
Mayor Dorsey hurried to the scene,
mounted the steps and Induced the
angry men to dispense. Shortly after
midnight the town was quiet.
AUGUSTA, Ca. May 22.-There is a
mob Of $50 in the Union station trying to
get at q negro fireman who got into Au-
gusta from Atlanta tonight. The negro
Is under the protection of policeman and
has been put in the general offices. The
mob is now making a demonstration In
the upper part Of the station. Police re-
serves have been called out and the sheriff
appealed to.
The Georgia Central will not be able to
get out its night passenger train to the
west.
Argues With Malcontents.
John C. Hart. attorney general Of the
state, arrived in Augusta today on a
Georgia railroad train. He came at
the instance Of the governor to make
survey of conditions along the road.
Prior to his report to the governor he
would give out no statement. He
found excited gatherings at several
points, particularly at Thomson He
reasoned with the people. telling them
they were doing wrong in attempting to
intimidate train employees. He put the
armed guards off the engine on which
he rode At Bonneville he was orally de-
nounced by strike sympathizers, who mis-
took him for strikebreaker. He left
Augusta tonight, returning over the Cen
trail road. He would make no statement
as to the legal right OF Gov. Smith to
interfere in the interest Of preserving
order.
Friendly Arrangement at Thomson.
Trains q and %, passenger and mail.
went through Thomson today unmolested.
That they were not interfered with was
the result OF an understanding between
the Georgia railroad management and
the angry citizens Of Thomson. These
Thomsonites, however. have issued their
ultimatl1ff, that no more trains carrying
non-uhion white f1femen or negro fire.
men will be allowed to pass that point.
When ~ got to Dearing the general
Offices of the Georgia railroad at Augusta
son would not permit 1t to go through
IL there were armed guards or a negro
fireman on the engine. Negotiations were
opened with the Thomsonites and they
the negro firemen and the guards rode in
the coach, leaving a white fireman on the
engine. To effect this arrangement the
road hired for duty as fireman a white
man. who was a passenger on the train.
No. % was delayed an hour at Norwood
while negotiations were carried on be-
tween the ThomsOnites and the road
headquarters here. The Thomsonites said
that If the guards were removed the train
would be allowed to pass with the negro
firemen. This stipulation was agreed to-.
The ultimaturm from Thomson that no
more trains would be allowed to pass
that point is given in the following to the
railroad authorities from the roads agent
at Thomson:
"Promiiient men and myself have work
ed hard with the mob today. and 1t was
by the utmost persuasion that we got No.
q and % by. We cannot do more with
them; and they say that no other train
will be allowed to pass"
Mediation offered.
The Augusta Chamber of Commerce
today rendered It's good offices to the
Georgia railroad ana it's striking firenen
with the purpose Of endeavoring to set
tie the differences. The firemen have sig
nified their willingness to take UP the
matter with the chamber of commerce.
Situation Is Critical.
ATLANTA, Ga, May 22-The sheriff OF
McDuffy' county today wired Gov. Smith
that the strike situation at Thomson is
critical and that he Is unable to handle
1t. Several trains have been boarded by
strikers at Thomson.
president BAH OF the locomotive flrerr1en
claimed today that thirteen trains are
t1ed up Dy the Str1ke.
Mall Service Interrupted.
The latest advices received at the Post
Office Department regarding the strike
situation on the Georgia railroad state
that the mail service on one OF the COM
pany's lateral lines between Athens and
| Union Point was Interrupted for about
twenty-four hours, but no interference
with the malls on the main line has oc-
cured
| While the officials OF the Post ONCE De-