The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-29
REPORTS OF TIE TROUBLE
 ARE CONSIDERABLY MIXED
Rock Is Thrown Into the Cab Window lnjuring the Engineer and Train Is Uncoupled In Several
 Places at Once. ]

Atlanta, May @.-The first violence to railroad property in the Georgia firemens strike occurred tonight to moving freight train at Lithonia. Ga- and the race situation in consequence 1oomed more sharply than ever oyer the situation, not withstanding a day of much apparent progress toward settlement.
 A negro fireman was apparently the cause of the trouble. and he was rushed to Atlanta in an engine to save him from what his engineer, at least, be- lieved was threatening situation The trouble started in the throwing of one or two stones and the boarding of the freight by roen who set the brakes and broke 1t into three sections. The freight now blocks the main line of the road and the progress of the United States mails which go out early tomorrow. To such a pitch was public excitement stirred by the affair that official sources gave the most conflicting versions of it. The rail- road officers declared that it was the work of strike sympathizers. while a county official wired the governors of- flee that it was merely an accident.
 Mission of Crew.
 The engine left here late this after noon for Lithonia, under an arrange rnent between Sheriff Morris and the rail- road officials, to bring a train load of perishable provisions from the siding at Lithonia into Atlanta. Assurances have been given the railroad for several days that in the interest of local shippers whose valuable ears were tied up and suffering loss by the strike no demonstra- I.I cars to Atlanta When, however, the en- zine from Atlanta pulled into Lithonia about dusk it was seen to carry q. negro fireman, as did the mail trains whlcls passed Lithonia earlier in tke daa exeh ing comments. About 200 people gathered at the station tonight. The engine was coupled to the cars then, the railroad of heials say, just as the train was getting under headway a stone flew into the cab window and hit Engineer Downing. Next. say the officials, several men boarded the cars, setting brakes, cutting off the air, causing the last car to break loose from the train, and finally uncoupling the engine. leaving it's load stalled. According to the railroads statement their men saw no attempt by the local authorities to interfere with the atatck on the train
 The First Report.
 The report telephoned to state officials
 
 lence, that the train had run a short dis tance out of Lithonia when it stalled and the engine continued on Its run to Atlanta. After the train had stopped. said this report. small sized crowd of men swarmed upon the freight cars.
 It Is believed that the railroad author ities will attempt to clear the track at Lithonia for the mail trains early tomor- TOW morning, and that sworn deputies will be used to protect the train crews in clear ing the tracks Just before the engine left Atlanta this afternoon General Man ager Scott gave out the following state ment:
 Scott's Statement.
 By arrangement with Sheriff Morris of DeKalb county we have arranged to send to I.ithonia for a number of cars of freight including much perishabe to bring them back to Atlanta and forward from here to destinations in different parts of this state and other states by other lines. Sheriff Morris guaranteed full protection to employees and prop erty
 "As an instance of lawlessness it is proper to mention that the airbrake hose on several of the cars have been cut while they were detained at Lithona.
 Application through our agent at Thomson to the sheriff of McDuffie coun- ty for protection to our employees and trains has brought the following re- sponse:
 Sheriff says he is powerless to give protection to passenger trains. Impossible to get deputies who are not strike sym pathizers. He has made repeated efforts to get up posses and does all in his pow CT. Cannot get municipal authorities to take any action
 Here again is an example of the com plete failure of state, county and munich pal authorities to protect employees and property, as required by law. which in the present condition Is essential to the resumption of train service.
 If the state county and municipal au- thorlties will exercise their power for the protection of employees and property the Georgia railroad will have no difficulty in completely restoring trains of all kinds.
 THOMAS K SCOTT