Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-06
NEW MEN MAY
Be HIRED SOON
Unless Section Workers Re-
turn This Week Others
ii. Likely to be Engaged.
,os.
FIRE AT SOUTH AMBOY
Twenty One Strikers Arrest
ed at BrieI!e Are Released
from Freehold Jail.
FIRE AT SOUTH AMB0Y
Special to ahe EVENING NEWr,


Long Branch, May 6:-Supt. 0. W..
Branch Railroad Company, emphatical-
ly declared this morning to a NEWS
correspondent that he would engage
new section gang to replace the ITO
dissatisfied Italian strikers unless an
immediate adjustment is made of the
present difficulties. When asked how
many days he would allow the strikers
to make up their minds to return to
work at the old scale of wages, MIR.
Berry replied that he has not yet
reached a decision regarding such act
ion. When questioned as to how long
the company could operate without
section gauge, he replied, "indefnite-
ly."
No Conferences Held.
1t is believed that Supt. Berry's con-
templated action will bring the strike
to a crisis, as the replacement of the
striking gang with new set of men
would either terminate difficulties or
start miniature war between the
strikers and the strike breakers. Supt.
Berry says he will withhold from such
stringent action for a few days, at
least, being Of the opinion that the
dissatisfied Italians will return to
work at the old, scale before Saturday.
The company's officials have not been
visited by delegation Of strikers since
Friday, despite reports to the contrary,
and no effort to adjust the difficulties
has been made, according to the super
intendent.
Members of the section gang now
out for an increase from sixteen and
two-thirds cents to twenty cents per
hour are as equally emphatic in declar-
ing against such course as decided upon
bs Supt. Berry, in supplanting the dis
gruntled men with strike breakers, or
"scabs,' - as called by the men, from
other cities. They assert that, if such
action is taken, force will be resorted
to in an effort to frighten the breakers
off and tie up the road, if possible.
The railroad authorities come back with
TIE statement that the present large
force of detectives on the scene at this
place and at Point Pleasant will be
doubled, in likelihood Of trouble, and
every effort made to suppress sallies on
the part of the strikers.
Strikers Are Arrested.
The twenty-one strikers arrested Sat
urday morning at Brielle, near Manas
quan draw, were released this morn
ing from the county Jail at Freehold,
where they had been sent for thirty
days by Justice Sickles in default of
500 fine, each, after payment of the
fine imposed, Supt. Berry stated this
morning that he has no official knowl
edge of the arrest or release, claiming
that his department took no hand in
the action. The strikers were arrested
by Central railroad detectives after a
short scrimmage in which shots were
fred in the air by the detectives in a
successful effort to frighten the Italians
A force Of detectives Is watching all
the bridges along the railroads line,
Supt. Berry states, to offset any effort
on the part Of the strikers to burn the
trestles. 1t was reported here yester-
day that an attempt had been made to
burn the new $4,000 bridge over the
Manasquan, also a like attempt on the
Little Silver structure, but such ru-
mors were found to be untrue. A fire
occurred yesterday afternoon in the
pumping station of the N. Y. & L. B.
railroad at South Amboy, attributed to
.evengeful work on the part Of the
striking section gang, but the direct
blame could not be laid at their door,
The fire was quickly extinguished and
but little damage resulted.
--a' 1t was reported here this afternoon
that the strikers will appeal to italian
Counsel Ronca, at Trenton for assist
ance in the present difficulties, although
this rumor can not be confirmed. Six
of the strikers, who were arrested Sat
urday and released from Freehold JAIL
have been examined by physicians for
bodily wounds. One of the local ply
sieians issued a sworn statement In
which he described the injuries suffered
by the strikers, caused, it is alleged,
by the night sticks In the hands Of
detectives who made the capture. Supt.
Berry states he will re-engage all the
strikers who wish to return at the old
scale of wages.
Mt Snr