Evening star., 1946-05-24
D. {. Rail Service
Cut 10 Thin Trick|e
In Grip Of Strike
Continued From First Page \

med and cots had to be placed ir
dining rooms, bathrooms, halls anc
loboles to care for the overflow ir
metropolitan centers Throughout,
the country.
While Washington hotels were
hlled to capacity as usual, hotel
managers noted no appreciable diff
ferences in room reservations last
night. In most cases, the number
OF persons who had made room
reservations and failed to show up
was counteracted by the number who
were to have checked out and held
their rooms.
Some Still Buying Tickets.
One of the few trains pulling out
OF Washington after the strike was
called at 4 pm. yesterday left be-
hind one of its Pullman cars-pre-
sumably because a number of erst-
while travellers had Cancelled their
reservations.
The first train to leave Union
Station today-an am. to New
York-Was only half filled. The sta
tion's rows of coach ticket booths
were closed for the time being. but
a few hardly souls continued to
buy tickets at the combinat ton Pull
man and coach windows which re-
manned open
The Association of American
Railroads reported the tie-up
pretty close to 100 per cent"-a re-
port which brought grave predic-
tlons as trains drew into their sta
tions and remained there.
Even in advance of the walkout
Union Station officials started eras-
ing train departures from the sched-
ule board. The first to 60 off was
the l pm. Southern Railroad train
for New Orleans. Thereafter the
erasures continued as union men
walked from their trains until mid
evening, when the public address
system warned the last stragglers
that departures would be "uncer-
tain
Stranded Persons Use Pullmans.
Travellers who couldn't or Wouldn' I
stay home spent the night in varying
degrees of comfort. Southbound pas
sengers halted here were allowed to
sleep In 10 or u sleeping cars
Others spent the night in station
benches or in hotels-seven of which
called the Travellers Aid booth dur
Ing the night to offer rooms. Scores
of private individuals also offered
to open their homes.
approximately 1876 servicemen and
civilians on Government orders were
taken in Army trucks to sleep at
Fort Myers South Post or at the
Memorial Bridge Camp.
More than 100 soldiers who ar
rived at the station from Fort BEL
voir. for movement to California
We're returned to Belvoir. Travel
orders also were Cancelled for ID
men from Fort Meade and five from
Vint Hill Farms. all of whom were
returned to their camps.
Train Movement Cut Sharply.
From pm. until midnight. 13
instead of l03, arrived or left the
station. From midnight until 8
am, five trains arrived at Union
Station. instead of the so usually
due in during that period.
Six trains from the South had te
halt in Alexandria. Acting at The
request of Mayor William wilkins
the Alexandria. Barefoot and Wash
ington Transit Co. provided extra
service to haul approximately 1OO(
train passengers from Alexandria tt
Washington by bus
Resignation rather than anger
was plain on the faces of the wait
ing people last night. Most miffed
were servicemen on their way to
discharge points.
Miss Shirley Stetser, travelling
from Quitman. Ga, to Philadelphia
with a year-old niece, had been
en- route since Wednesday, She
spent one night in the Savannah
station and last night commented
that she couldn't face another
night in a railroad station with a
baby"
Hamilton Fish Cancels Plans
Former Representative Hamilton
Fish, arriving on one of the last
trains from New York last night,
said he had anticipated the strike
and sacrificed dinner engagement
to advance his travel plans.
Seaman First Glass Joe Howard
just discharged from the Navy at
Bainbridge, Md, was looking for a
road map to hitch-hike the rest
of the way home to Ashland, KY.
A honeymoon couple from Buffalo,
N. Y, Mr.. and Mrs. Francis NAL
czewski, said they wished they had
kept the hotel room they had before
they ventured to the station-"now
we must find place all over again" ;"
A. railroad man himself, Mr.. NAL
czeWski refused to ride until the
strike is over.
Couple Begins Arguing.
A woman with an infant who had
been waiting for a train to depart
since 10 am decided late last night
to try to get bus to her home in
Greensboro. N. c. A Southern couple
started arguing heatedly in the sta
ton the husband saying he
wouldn't mind waiting for days since
he was in sympathy with the strike,
his wife insisting the strike should
never have been called.
The trains that did leave the sta
ton were being operated by former
engineers who had advanced to the
rank of foremen Some of them
climbed into the engines in business
suits with engineers caps on their
heads.
Meanwhile, the striking union
members continued to meet here
and in notwithstanding which
started at 4 pm. yesterday and con-
tinued off and on during the eve
ming.
In Continuous Session.
L. K. Dyer, chairman of the Alex
andria and Richmond locals of the
two striking unions, said the Alex
andria men were still in continuous
session at Gadsbys Tavern and
would remain there until 2 pm,