Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 28, 1888, Page 1

HE OMA SEVENTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA, TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 28, 1888 — NUMBER 255, TRAFFIC AT A STANDSTILL. Tho Great Strike on the Burlington Fairly Inaugurated. PERISHABLE FREIGHT REFUSED. Both the Engineers and the Company Preparing For a Long Struggle— Interviews With Leaders on Both Sides. Horns Locked. Cmicaco, Feb, 27.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.|—The greatest railroad strike that ever oceurred in the west is *‘on” along all the lines of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. There were probably more men involved in the Missour: Pacitic strike of two years ago than are now ‘*‘out,” but the lines over which that strike extended were 1ot 80 long, nor as important as these of the road now affected, and a strike of the engineers and firemen on & railroad is a much more important matter than a strike of switchmen and similar employes. A prominent official connected with another line said: he fight between the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers and the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy officials is likely 1o be a very bitter one. 1know the former is conceded to be the strongest, most intelli- gent and conservative organization of all the skilled labor associations, and they cannot afford to lose this battle. I know Henry B. Stone, too, as general manager of the Burling- ton road. He will be the general-in-chief and will conduct the maneuvering in the interest of that company. He.is not a novice in the strike business by any means. During the switchmen's great strike at East St. Louis a year or two ago he managed the affairs de combat for all the roads ruunning into that town, and showed. in daing so, a degree of fearlessness that in some cases bordered on recklessness in the minds of his friends. Stone, you know, is a practical man. He began service with the “Q” in the machine shops at Aurora us an apprentice, and worked his way right up to the top. He knows pretty much all there is to learn about a locomotive engine, and can pull the throttle and reverse the lever with the best of them. When the strike was on at East St. Louis above referred to, the city of St. Louis suffered a coal famine, brought about by the action of the strikers in refusing to allow that class of freight to enter the city. All efforts to run a train across the bridge were looked upon as simply suicidal, and none of the engineers could be prevailed upon to undertake such a task. ‘When all other means had failed, Henry B. Stone mounted an engine and with John Besler, the general superin- tendent, a8 fireman, hauled the first train load of coal over the bridge, virtually break- ing the back bone of the strike, and bringing relief to the famine-stricken city. This was done at the imminent risk of his life. Mr. Stone is a young man—probably not over 35 years old, Pluck and determination are two of the ingredients’in his composition that have gained for him so high a position at such an early age." . Those whose curiosity attracted them ' to the yard of the company this morning, saw little to repay them for their trouble; in fact ‘nothing, save long lines of freight cars side- tracked, and here and there aroad hand repairing some little flaw on the track. In the switchmen’s shanties little knots of idle employes assembled and hugging the stoves as closcly as they could, discussed the situa- tion. In the shanty just outside the Twelfth street roundhouse two policemen roasted | their shins and congratulated themselves on the comfortableness of their assignments. Hvery once in a while they would walk over 1o the roundhouse to seo that everything was all right and then walk back to the shanty. In the roundhouse supreme quictness reigned® and not a thing was to be heard or seen mov- ing except a wreath of white smoke rising from a locomotive smokestack. At the general office the superintendent’s room was crowded all day with men secking work as firemen and engineers, *‘We have had no correspondence with the Reading railroad engineers as a body, nor with the Knights of Labor,” said Solicitor Goddard, *“‘We have been in corraspondence with many engineers, but only as indiviauals. Our superintendents of motor power at cach terminal point have been in telegraphic cor- respondence with men in railrcad centers all over the country ever since we determined to make i fight. in each place we have had a man whose business it was to seek out men with practical experience as locomotive en- ineers and tell them they could probably nd a good job by going to Chicago. ~As a re- sult we have more than fifty men here now, most of whom are competent to handle an engine. Some of them are men with ten to twuntf years' experience on the road, and there is no doubt, I think, but that we will be able to get a full force of thoroughly compe- tent men. One thing is certain: None but men who are absolutely trustworthy in every respect, both with regard to mechanical ability and good character and habits, will be nccepted. This will be our rule of action, win or lose,” *We have arranged," said Mr. Morton, the general passenger agent, “with the Alton road that they should ta are of our south west busiuess, and with the Milwaukee & St. Paul that they will take cave of our west and northwest business. will honor our tickets that are vy sold or ex change our tickets for tickets of their own issue. ‘The idea is to subject the passengers 1o s little inconvenicnce as possible by ar- ranging with competing roads running out of our union depot, at Peoria, to cover the line of business from the middle of the state, The Alton will take the Indiana, Blooming- ton & Western at Bloomington, Rock Island will take the weste out of Peoria. The lines of the system west of the Missouri river have made similar ar- rangements with their competitors. Tickets reading over the B. & M. between the Mis- souri river and Denver will be honored by the other lines. This will cover all the Pa cific coast business. Of course all our in- terior competitive points we will probably arrange with proper lines as occasion re- quires. That will rather adjust itself. By these arrangements the cutire territory tray ersed by lines on the system will be ' avail able by other routes, except, of cours rictly local poiuts. The Chicago, Bu lington & Northern may complete ar- rangements by which their trains will run in and out of Chicago, but until that arrange- ment is made we shull do a through business with the Northwestern. We can not say yet how this will effect the two daily trffins out of lllinois Central depot at Lake stroc Our contract requires us to furnish engines for their trade, so unless some deal is mude the engines can not be furnished. Probubly they will use their own engines.” “We have notified all our agents atali rolnu to refuse all perishable freight abso- utely,” said the general freight agent, “and 1o accept other freight subject only to delay In any freight that we are able to soud out we shall, of course, give the preference to freight to local points at which no competing road touches; after that we shall try to handle freight to junction points, where it can be transferred to other roads, and by them conveyed to its destination. For the present our through business will be at a standstill, and our agents L not to receive any through freightof any kind except subjeet to delay."” At 10 o'clock this morning 230 engineers and figpemen of the Burlington road b in Division 258, lodge hall, at Fourtecnth and JeQerson streets, The strikers will micet instructions | there every morning in order to receive in- siructions from headquarters. Assistant Chief Hill told the men to remain firm. One of the grievance committee told a reporter that “in case the company does not concede to our demands, it will be a long and hard struggle as the men are determine to fight itto the end.” Another engincer said: “It will not_only affect the Burlington, but all the roads the country.” An old gray- haired veteran who has faced dangers for many years, said: I was never in favor of strikes: in fact I did not believe in them; but as the present one will settle the wages of engincers and firemen on all the roads, I will stick to the boys."! Chief Arthur, of the Brotherhood of T.oco- motive Engineers, said: *“The strike did not occur because the schedule we offered was not adopted, but because, when_the question of wages was reached Me. Stone refused to do anything at oll. The fight is purely a question of wages, We recedod from our first proposition and offered to_ac- cept 34 cents, which Mr. Stone_ refused in the most positive manner. He made no propositions to us at all, and the fight now is purely on the question of pay M. Stone says,” continued Mr. Arthur, “that we want to put unskilled_labor on the engines on any road in the United States. Does Mr. Stone mean to say that he has un. skilled engincers on any part of his road? Would he go into court, in case of a damage suit, and swear that he had! Would Mr. Stone like to have the public believe that the engineers on the branch lines are inferior to those on the main iines if one of the branch engineers would offer to run one of the big trains on the main line! Now the company would be very glad to sccure his services. If the engineer Who runs the limited express is willing that the engineer who runs_the ac- commodation train should receive the same pay that he does why should the company ob- jeet ! Mr. Arthur was asked what attitude he ex- pected the Knights of Labor to assume toward the engincers during the strike. “I don't sce,” he said, “why the knights should be hostile to the Brotherhood of En- gineers, and 1 huve no information that they will try to assist the company in_any way." “It is claimed that you sent men to take the place of the Reading strikers.” “That's is a lie. 1don’t know what indi- vidual members of the brotherhood may have done, but I never interfered in any way with any strike of the Knights of = Labor. I wouldn't do it. At the time of the Missouri Pacific strike I simply told the Brotherhood Engineers that we had a contract with the company and to keep out of the strike, If a contract means anything at all, then we pur- sued the right course.” General Worthy Foreman _ Richard Griffiths, when asked about the attitude of the Knights of Labor toward the strike, said: *Let the brotherhood and the road fight it out between themselves. There is no very good feeling between the Knights of Labor and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, They have aiways prated about the friendly relations betwcen labor and capital and how casy it was to get along without @ strike. None let them sec how they like it. Whether they did it at Chief Arthur's orders or not I don’t know, but it 18 a fact that brotherhood engineers took the Jlaces of Knight of Lubor Engincers in_the issouri Pacific strike two years ago, and thus defeated the strike. the Arthur ordered ail Brotherhood Engincers to leave the ights of Labor or be expelled, as he ited no ‘entangling alliance.’ That stop- the progress of the Knights of Labor ong the engineers on the Wabash railroad. Then this Reading matter was something like the Missouri Pacific. The strike was outside the general ofice, but we knights took it kindly. When he Knights of Labor Engineers struck the brotherhood men went in and took their places.” ‘‘What will be the attitude of the Knights of Labor in this strike" “‘As an order, it will be neutral. If Knights of Labor Engineers want to fill places left vacant by the brotherhood men they are free to do so. If the Knights of Labor Engineers from other roads can make more money working for the Burlington they may. This is none of our fight. The brotherhood did not help us in _the. Missouri Pacific strike. They need expect nothing in theirs.” [Press.]—A couple of suburban trains were the only ones to come n over the Burlington road this morning. Master Me- chanic Howland was in charge of one engine and Superintendent Rinthe ran the other. After the urrival of these trains the depot master said he did not expect another suburban train before noon, and there was. no engineer and fireman to man one and until the generai superintendent could secure some engineers and firemen he would be unable to say whether there would be another train in during the day. The only train that left the depot up to 10 this morning was the fast mail which departed at 3 o’clock and was manned by the regular en- and fireman from the brotherhood. are ]l\sl about where we ex- to P said General Manager of Burlington when askda the situation was op his line. brought in all our suburban pas- sengers pretty much as usual. Our principal train which brings the most of the business men and clerks, was ouiy ten minutes late. ‘The engineers and firemen on these trains were drawn from our force of mechanics, yard foremen, ete. Each train was manned with a double force of brakemen and con- ductors so that if any dificulties were en- countered we should have plenty of help.” “Did every one of your 1,600 firemen and engineers strike!” asked the reporter, ““Yes, ull but one mau, an engineer near Galesburg." “*‘What was the matter with him?" “Nothing. Napoleon used to say 2 o'clock courage was a rare thing. T guess 4 o'clock courage s equally unique. There are doubtiess anumber of other engineers among our ex-cin- ployes who do not belong to the brotherhood and who did not wish to strike, but they lacked *‘four o'clock courage.” ' Not the slightest trouble has been reported from any point 8o far und 1 do not anticipate any ence or obstruction from _any source. The strikers did not bring the engines through to the end of their runs, but left them at_the nearest point when 4 o'clock came. Thus, all our passengers from the Missouri viver were dumped at Gules- burg and those we take from the Illing Central at Forest were left at Aurora. From the lutter point we were able to bring them in without much de but at Gale: the passengers were obliged to wait until 10 o'clock before we could start them in." Tle superintendent’s office and lobby tead- ing to it were crowded with men who were applying for the positions vacated. They were put on through examination by the superintendent of motive power, and if they were found competent were taken yards. Before 11 o'clock this moruing fifty of the applicants had been accepted, “You see _there "ave apparently plenty of men ready for the places,” suid Stone, point- ing to the line. “Who are they, and where do they come from " “We don't know." “How about your conductors, brakemen and other employes—are they going to trouble No, we have reason to believe that they are all with the company, and generally be- lieve that the firemen and engineers are liber- ally paid, in comparison with other employes. Engincers get more than the conductors.” All we have thus far called on have promptly responded. How it is with the freight con- ductors and brakemen I can’t say from actual expericnce, 4s we are not attempting to move any freight. We shall start our noon traius to Kausas City und Missouri river points as usual.” The Burlington is the only road that has access to the lumber district, but having no engincers on their engines an attempt wus made to have the Chicago & Eastern lilinois engincer switeh his train into the lumber district, He refused on the ground that it wus switehing for the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney and no further attempt has boeen made, up to noon, to switeh into the lumber district The Burlington to-day sent out the follow- in ce o ull connecting lines will probubly Le a week or more before this com- it oy will be able to receive freight from you, an |t will therefore be advisable and for the public inter st for you to deliver all freight cousizt el o us and destined 1o competitive puints to such other roads as inyour judg- ment can conveniently and most: promptly tuke.it to its destination We shall also be obliged fora few-days Lo decling w0 receive pected Stone, froight for local stations, but as soon as we are able we will give this the preference, and will first serve those plades that are wholly dependent on us, You will be duly advised of our ability to handle our freight.” The 1llinois Central, which has been using the Burlington lines between Chicago and Foreston, 111, for business destined to points on its Iowa system, has made arrangements with the Northwestern to take its perishable freight to a junction with the main line at Dixon, I1L, and will haul its own heavy freight by the way of Kankakee, as long as the strike is on. This afternoon 600 of the freight handlers of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line were laid off, and every freight ofice in the city shut down in_consequence of the engineers' s#fike. These are the same men who obtained work during the freight- handiers strike of 1886, and are all said to be loyal to the company, but have to be laid off, asno work remains for them to do. The Situation in Omaha. Yosterdey morning at 4 o'clock the threate ened strike took place,nearly all the engincers and firemen on the B. & M. in Nebraska left their posts of duty, or as soon thereafter as the end of their divisions was reached. No hardship was experienced by the traveling publie for the reason that at that time nearly ull the trains all over the Burlington system had about reached their destination, AN ENGINE DITCHED, At 1:80 o'clock the tfain from Chieago a rived in this city after a delay of about six hours. It was brought in by a freight con- ductor named Miller, who. s claimed by the striking engincers, is not a member of the conductors’ association. The delay was occasioned at Pacific Junction, in Towa, where an accident occurred., I seems that the master mechanic in the Blufts took out the Kansas City stub from that place, which meets the regular train for the latter place, which leayes here, at Pacidc Junction. ‘When the crossing was reached it was found that a switch engine stood in the way. The stub has always made a practice of stopping north of the intersection, but yesterday, it is claimed, the stop was not made and the’ stub struck the switch engine, derailing and turn- ing it around so that several hours’ work was required to get it out of the way. Train No. 4 for the east left the B. & M depot yesterday at 10:32, the engine be- ing handled by a conductor named Chamber- lin, who, it is also usserted, is not a member of the conductors’ association. When train No. 1 arrived at the depot here in the afternoon severa) passengers who were ticketed for the west demanded the price they had paid for the remainder of their trip and the demand was promptly com- plied with. VIEWS OF AN ENGINEER. The strikers manifested the greatest reluct- ance to talk but one engineer was at length found, who said that the difficulty between the B. & M. company was that the latter was giving the worst of it to the branch lines, The engineers and firemen wanted the same pay for those on the branches as for those on the main lines. They wanted it understood that when a man became an engineer he was entitled to engi- neer's wages, no matter on what part of & railroad system he might e employed, in fact, whether his experience was only that of forty-five minutes orof forty-five years, he was en- titled to the wages,which had been demanded. The speaker had no doubt that the strikers would succeed. There was an organization of 28,000 behind them, and if the compan; should stand out a month the strikers would,: in the end, gain their point. OFFICIALS' VIEWS, A Bee reporter yesterday had a talk with Manager Holdrege and General Pass- senger and Ticket Agent Eustis concerning the situation. From the latter was_ obtained pamphlet addressed by General Managers Stone, Holdrege, Merrill and Judson to the engineers and firemen of the system compris- ing the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy:; the B. & M.; the Hannibal & St. Joe; the Kan- sas City, St. Joe & Council Bluffs, and the G & L. This was a reply to a sche- dule presented the company by committees of engineers and firemen on February 15, providing a new basis for the pay of engine men. The principal changes suggested by the committees were: ‘Pay to be governed solely by the number of miles run without regard <o other conditions or circumstances a large average increase in existing rates of pay; the abolition of any classification based upon length of service, age or experience, Reduced to a few important details, Mr. Holdrege said that the demand meant the paying of 8¢ cents per mile for passenger, and 3% cents per mile for freight engineers. “'Our present basis,” snid Mr. Holdrege, ‘“is preferred, and is in force upon many jmportant railroads jn the country, and is the best fairly provide for differences in the amount of labor, time and responsibility required of en- ginemen upon different runs and divisions A branch passenger engine hauling two or three cars where there are two trains each way daily, is more easily handled than an im- ortant mamn line passenger engine where here are twenty or more trains each way. A branch freight engine hauling eight or ten cars, with casy and regular hours and by daylight, demands less labor from engine- men than an engine on the main line with a heavy freight train, although the mileage may be the same. /The trip basis, in view of allthe varying conditions, covers value re- ceived. An arbitrary mileage basis disre- gards the value of the service rendered, and in the long run, we fear, would be unsatis- factory to the men and to the company. For example: On the Galesburg division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, an engincer on a light passenger run of two cars between Buda and Vermont, under the pres- ent schedule earns in twenty-six days 8123.50, and the fireman §74.10. Under the schedule which the committees propose the engineer would receive §171.03 and the fireman $102.04. Upon the first division of the Cheyenne Lranch on the B. & M. raiiroad a passenger train of three cars, requiring six hours and ten minutes daily, is paying under the ex- isting schedule to engineers $144.00 per month. Upon the demauded schedule it would pay $159.00 per month, 1t would be so in general on all our lines, The men who would really do all the very vy work, the freight enginemen on the main'lines woula be left where they are now, the lighter worked men would have raise. That's all there isto it. 1 know there is a number of our men who are opposed to the strike, who are satisfied with what they have been getting, and have gone into the strike because of certain leaders, There are plenty of these here who will come back to work for us in a few days.” Mr. Eustis told the reporter that the strike in one way or the other affected the whole system which comprised nearly 6,000 miles. Upon this system were employed about 2,000 enginemen, of whom there were probably 200 in Nebraska. The strike would of course have a temporary effect upon the business, but the road would be all right ina few days. It had a train now running on every one of its divisions. There was one going from Atchison, one from Broken Bow, one from Columbus, one from Wymore to Lincoln und No. 1 from this eity would go out on No. 5's time. These trains were run by engineers who did not join the strike and by others, conductors and engineers who had been out employment. Suuday there had been a meeting of = conduc tors at Lincoln who adopted @ resolution to stand by the company to a mau. Some of these conductors knew how to han- dle an engzine and also knew the road, so that there was no question but that the com- pany’s trains would be kept running. Be- sides, other engineers were coming in from abroad, some of whom had applied for posi- tions and whose applications had beon placed on file. Some of these had been ordered to report and would soon be here, Mr. Eustis went over the ground taken by the company, which is epitomized in the interview with Manager Holdrege given above, adding that the idea of paying a new engineer who had yet to be tried and found,competent and Lrustworthy as much as was paid to an old and reliable man was not in accord with the principles of the and worked injustice to the older 1nian whose experience was thereby shown to have uo practical benefit either for himself or_bis employers. Hurvey Hall, the mansger of the local i ticket office was seon by the reporter and said that he had not been selling tickets dur- ing the morning except to those who ex- ressed a desire to take them after having notitied of the:state of affairs as outlined ahove. THE SITUATION LAST NIGHT. Burlington officials in the city worked hard all day yesterday and last night ‘‘to keep things moving" in the face of the big odds they had to contend with. All freight trafic in and out was completely abandoned, and & death-like stillness prevailed in the yards, With the exception of a small amount of switching done yesterday morning there was not a move apparent ameng the yard en- gineers, firemen and switchmen, who stood around in idleness and discussed the situa- tion throughout the afternoon and last night. Passenger trains east and woest were dis- patehed with the greatest irregularif when they.did move it was many hours after the regular scheduled time. One train was dispatched to the west at 1:30 p. m., several hours behind the regular time. Tiwvo went towards the east, one at 0:50 a. m., and the other” at 8:10 p. m, The latter train should have departed if everything was running smoothly at 6: All of these trains were taken out by non. brotherhood engineers and firemen, On the last train out, however, a brotherhood con- ductor presided, and there were but few passengers aboard, Train No. 8 due from the cast about 7 o'clock daily_had not arrived at 11 o'clock last night. It was expected in at that hour and some disappointment was expressed among officials for the unexpected tardiness. Hopes were advanced, however, that it would arrive in the course of an hour behind the anticipated time, This train has an im- Jortant connection with a train that usually caves about 8 o'clock daily for the west, stopping at all local points. In consequence a large number of passeugers who had tickets on that run for waystations had o undergo the vexatious wait. The Kansas City train was abandoned altogether, but the officials set up the plea that they could have found plenty of engineers to run it if they so desired. One official told a Bee man at a late hour last night that the road expected that the engincers would think better of their action by to-day, and _returu to_duty. He main- tained that engineers on the main lines of some of the eastern and western divisions had already come to this conclusion and had again returned to their engines. The Situation in Lincoln. Lixcory, Neb., Feb, 27.—[Special Telegram to the*Bee.]—The strike of the Burlington locomotive engineers and firemen came early this morning as predicted and the local brotherhood in this city announced that not an engineer or fireman on the Nebraska line of the road who were working yester- day are on duty to-day. The morning passenger from the west arrived at 8 a. m. a8 usual, but when Engineer Clark left the footboard at the close of his run from Hast- ings there was no engineer and fireman to ta ke his place. The company met the emer- gency by putting Conductor Chamberlain at the throttle and securing K. W. Ens| for- merly connected with the city fire de- purtment, for fireman. In. this way the train moved on to Pacific Junction, and since that time no train up to this hour has arrived or departed, and none are expected except Nos. 1 and 5, consolidated, which are unnounced to arrive at 3 p. m. From this point Master Mechanic Salisbury, of the round. house here, stands in readiness to pullthe train on to the west. In the Burlington yards but two switch engines are moving, they being manned by men whom the brotherhood say are without experience. Superintendent Calvert has little to , comeerning the situation, Heholds that the sys#em in vogue on the road is better for the .mem-than what they ask. _He holds tia\ there is no cause for the disturbance and expresses the com ability to fill the: striking men's places with new men if intimidation is not used. The question of the number of enginders and firemen helomfingw the brotherhood has been unknown heretofore to the road. One of the men states that fully 95 per cent of the engmeers and firemen belong and that the brotherhood have employed the balance, so that not a single former employe in the locomotive service is now at work. Charles Sanborn, of the general committee of the brotherhood, arrived in this city last night from Chicago where he = has been the past ten days. Mr. Sanborn states that the commlttee used every effort to se- cure an adjustment and offered to compro- mise on a basis that would still leave the Burlington men receiving lower wages than paid on other roads. These being ignored the men had mno recourse but to quit work quietly and on their part there would be no intimiaation or violent efforts used to prevent the road filling the vacant places if they could. In regard to the broth- erhood being the first to violate the agree- ment of 1886, Mr, Sanborn said there was no positive agreemdnt, but left questions open , to arbitration and the brotherhood had in all causes sought ar- bitration as the best means of settlement, Through the day the ueadquarters of the brotherhood in this city were open and a large number of the engineers and firemen who reside in this city were assem- bled there discussing the situation. In every instance tho men called out for duty this morning failed to appear for duty, and up to this time the strike is complete. The uncertainty of both position and pay under the present system 1n vogue 18 given as the prineiple cause of xriavmicm Thete is an om{nbus silence to-night around the Burlington yards, depot and round house. The two yard engines that were kept moving through the day laid by at night, there being absolutely nothing to do, and thq twenty special police placed on duty roamed around as desert a spot as could be found in the state, No trains arrive, although several were reported on the road. It was stated that the Atchison & Nebraska train from the south and the Grand Island train, both due in the afternoon, were on their way to the city, and midnight was set for the arrival for the train from the east. Superintendent Calvert, who has been almost constantly on duty for twenty-four hours, was not at his oftice, and it Jooked as though the opening sitement had passed, and that the sicge had set in. On the morning train that here at 6 v. m., two hours late, three spe ofticers were sent out, and it was stated that officers sworn in_for the purpose would ac- company other trains as they went out, The special circular that was to have been issued in the afternoon announcing that the men wouid be considered as having left the employ of the road, under advice from Gnuneral Manager Stone, was not issued, but is_expected to-morrow. T night the brotherhood are holding no meet- ings and all haye retived from sight, ap- purently uwaiting developments, One of the enginecrs stated that not as many trains W moved to dag as they expected, In fact, several men vhat they had not counted on were with them. They belioved they would win, A number of them watched all incoming trains and report€d that the inex: perienced men were handling the engines, they expected, and that the engine from braska City was disabled when it reached the city. 1t was also reported that the round house mau that brought 1w the train from Concordia has disabled an engine on the road. A rumor was aflsat that there had been trouble at MeCook, but it was not generally believed, and the action of the men here is all in evidence of their desire for a peaceful settlement, An Engine Disabled By Strikers. Mr. Cook, Neb,, Feb. 27.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee]—The strike of the en- gineers and firemen on the B. & M. system, this division, occurred this morning atl o'clock. As the trains pulled in the engin- eers and firemen left them on the track, the yard being filled with passenger-and freight trams. The company made no effort to move the trains until about noon when one was sent west, a freight conductor named Bur- nett going as engineer. There was no effort wade by the strikers to stop it. In the after- noon the company made an effort to start east, but it was stopped, the engine taken &wuchiun of by the strikers, run & mile down the track and there killed " Tho oxcitement Is iutense, llmlh'h-n-dsnl peo- ple filling the comipany’s yard watching ever, wove of the cowpany aud strikers, No um{ has gone out of here enst to-day. The en- gincers’ committee waited on the postmaster this merning and told him they stood ready at any time to carry Uncle Sam's busincss, Your correspondent made an effort to get some informatiyn from B. & M. Superintend- ent Campbell, but when questioned had noth- ing to say. No effort will be made by the company to run out any trains intil morning. At Be ce. BeATRICE, Neb., Feb, 27.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—The two Burlington trains which start from here did not leave the yards to-day, but the officials expect to get them running to-morrow. Agent Dwyer to-day refused to receive perishable proper for shipment and sold tickets to passengers at their own risk of getting through, A few trains went through to-day, the engines be- ing manned by shopmen and hostlers, Sov- eral engineers who refused to take out thei trains were discharged here to-day. A num- ber of the Burlington men were sworn in as deputy sneriffs to guard against trouble. At Nebraska City. NEnRASKA Ci7v, Neb., Feb, 27.—[Special Telegram to the Bek.]—All railroad busi- ness in this city as far as the Burlington sys- tem s concerned, is at & standstill. Several attempts were made to sccure engineers and fireman but all efforts were futile. The pas- senger west this morning went out-with Roadmaster Philbrick as engincer and C ductor Cox a8 fireman. No other trains went out and none are expected in. g At Kearney. KrAuNEY, Neb., Feb, 27.—[Special Tele- gram o the Bek.]1—All B. & M. engines run- ning into Kearney quit this morning. Con- ductor Willis, of the passenger, pulled his train out this mornmg. Heis an old engin- eer. Freight trains lie in the yard, This gives a big business at this point for the Union Pacific. All is quiet. At Palmer. ParvER, Neb,, Feb, 27.—[Special Telogram to the BEe.]—No trains are being run over the B. & M. system on either the Burwell, Greely or St, Paul branches. Palmer's coal supply s already exhausted. At Des Moines. Des Moixgs, Ta.,, Feb 27.—Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—This city has onlya branch line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney, and so is not very much affected by the strike. There are two feeding lines here, one tapping the main line at Albia, the other at Chariton, but nearly all the engincers live outside of this city so that their strike is not much felt here. The strikers quit work at 7:30 this morning. The passenger from Kansas City came in on time a a. m., but when it should have returned at 9 o'clock the engineer switched off the passenger cars und said he was willing to take the mail car but nothing else. Superintendent Maxon thereupon ordered Conductor Drake to take the engine and run the train. Drake did so, and started out very cautiously, creeping along about as fast as a man could walk. At the Diagonal crossing, half a mile from the depot, the old engine 'stopped and the conductor couldn’t make it budge. He was afraid something might burst if he crowded matters very much and o let it take its time. Pretty soon it came to and moved slowly on, reaching Avon, eight miles from the city, in just two hours, The passengers for Albia also started out this afternoon with an cn- fine in chargo of a conductor and, 8o far 18 card from, is crawling along safely. No freight trains have been moved on ' either branch to-day. There have been no attempts to interfere on the part of strikers, and everything has been quiet and orderly about the depots. At Creston. CRESTON, Ia., Feb. 27.—|Special Telegram to the Bee,J—At this place, which is a division station on the main line of the “Q,” all members of the Brotherhood of engincers and firomen quit at7 this torning. The city is s quict as Sunday. The brotherhood men are registered as fast as they arr and they will draw pay from the brother- hood. While idle members of the organi- zation say they will use all persuasive means to prevent work being done by new men, no force will beused. No effort is being made to move freight. The comyany is hiring new men constantly and promoting non-brotherhood firemen to be enginec All business’is at a_standstill, A long time without. trains moving would cause groat suffering and want all along the line of the road, as coal and other supplies are short, At Blue Springs. BLur SpriNgs, Neb.,, Feb. 27.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.]—Twenty-five engi- neers and as many firemen on the B, & M. struck here to-day. All the engineers except three belong to the brotherhood and all of them refused to work. They took a wiper out of the shops to run the noon train to Lin- coln, The strikers say they will stand firm, The brakemen are not in sympathy with the strikers as the engineers did not sympathize with the brakeman when they went out in times past. Only two of the regular engincers will work. = All freight traffic has been abandoned and they are tran- sferring what is in the depot to the Union Pacific road. At Albia, ArLnia, Ta,, Feb. 27.—[Special Telegram to the B —Engineers here refused to take their runs out on the branch for Des Moines and the mail train was sent out with Conductor Erbacher in the cab aud with a brakeman as fireman. The regular engineers stood around and looked on but offered no resistence. It is not thonght that any vio- lence will be used. There are about thirty men employed on the Albia branch who have quit work, At Ottumwa, Orremwa, Ta., Feb. 27.—Not a wheel turned, on the Chicago, Buriington & Quincy to-day The last freight went west at 9 p. m. last night. The last passenger went east at 7:15 this morning, manned by two conductors on the ne. No mail on the road to s There are thirty-four engines inside and out- side the roundhouse, and 200 men thrown out of employment. No fi ht ceived ex- cept at shippers’ risk. All quiet. At Burlington. BurriNaroy, Ia, Feb, —All the brotherhood engimeers and firemen here went on a strike this morning at the hour set. The company abandoned all freight traftic, but with the aid of outside engineers and other employes moved all passenger trains, most of which were behind time, Superin- tendent Brown took out a t and brought in the fast mail. There no disturbance of any kind. in ha A Wreck at Pacific J Pacteic Juscerioy, Ta., Feb, Telegram to the Bee,| —At 10:45 a, m. while Yard Master E. E. Young was running en- gine No. 110, he collided with the south- bound™ passenger train, doing considerable damage to his engins It is said the whistle was not sounded, neither did the other en- gine stop for the crossing. Warrants were at once sworn out for the arr of Yard Master Young and the engine crew on the K. C. e gine. Scenes at Kansas City, Kaxsas City, Mo., Feb. 27.—[Special tel- egram to the Bee.]—The strike of the Broth- erhood of Locomotive Enginecrs on the Han- nibal & St. Joe and Kansas City, St. Joe & Council Bluffs roads was begun at 4 o'clock this morning. The order for the strike then was not unexpected here, where about one hundred engineers and firemen connected with the Burlington reside. Chairman Mur- ray was up all night, and at 4 o'clock this norning was on hand to issue his orders for the wen to quit their engires and he wis at ! once vbey stion. al and appointed trusty licutenants to after the incoming and outgoing trains. Great interest was felt in the first passen- gor train that was to leave this morning at 8:10 o'clock. The platform around the en- gine was crowded with strikers anxious to see who would take the engine out. Al anxioty was set aside when she came into sight ‘with Master Mechanic Thompson at the lever and a “cowboy" with the shovel. Engineer Sam Moore and three others boarded the engine as she pulled out of the depot at 8:17, seven minutes late. They rode out s far as the bridge and then returncd to_the city. d Engincer Sam Moore: “The fireman was & cowboy and _sat on the left side of the engine. I don't believe he had ever boen on one before. He had on & sombrero and @ leather bolt. I guess they picked him up on the depot platform. 1 suid to him: ‘Friend you are doing us wrong by look going out on this train. We are in favor of fair wages, Ain't you ' He said he was. Then I asked him to get down. Hesaid: I guess I'll make this one trip. “'As a favor to me leave the engine. I'll see that you get your board and if you are out of money I'll_give you some, but don't make this trip. You'll' get us all down on you. He said: ‘I'll have to go this time.’ 1 said: ‘You don’t have to do anything of the kind. No man has to go.' ! “‘He would have got off 1f Thomnson hadn't said something to him that 1 didn't hear. 1 said to Thompson: ‘“Jim, the boys have always been good friends of yours, but you are making enemics by taking her out this trip. This is no kind of work for you to be engaged in.’ Jim felt ashamed and said: I can't help it. I'm one of the ofticials of the officials of the road,” aud then we got off the engine,” The union depot was almost deserted although three traius on the Burlington lines had been ‘irvvcnh'd from leaving the city, The officials of the road asked assistance from the police and a squad of six patrolmen was stationed along Union avenue opposite the depot ready to answer a call upon an in- stant's notice. ~ Squads of striking engincers and firemen engaged in whispered consulta- tions could be secn at different points around the depot all morning. At 11:40 an eugine was attached to a train and slowly steamed into the depot. A rush of members of the brotherhood attracted at- tention to William Davis, of St.Joe. Davis is not a member of the hood recognized as a freight engineer by several of the strikers. Luther Harrington, formerly a schoolmaster of Waldron, was seated in the cab and had acted as pilot between St. Joe and this city, He has been acting us freight conductor on the Burlington roads. A committee invited them to u conference, and a great deal of loud talk ensued until the train was moved toward the yards. The strikers followed ina body, becoming more excited and apparently almost on the verge of committing personal violence, At 1:20 a freight train of nine cars was ted out by the Burlington. The eng neer was a man named Farrington, a_gr man on the Ninth street cable line, . He had as u fireman another cableman. They had no trouble in getting out of the city. The following was bulletuied at the Burlington oftice: “*Notify conductors that trains No. 5, 10, 19 and 20 have been abandoned and will not be taken from the yards." The “Eli’ was reported at Minneville, nine miles out, and will be here a little late but it will get here, As train No. 1 was leaving the depot yards at 11:30 some one pulled the line connécting the air bruke andstopped the tram. This was repeated several times and it was noon when the train got over the crossing. It is now safe in the yards. .No attempt is made to handle freight. A dispatch received from Chicago, the company's office, was to the effect that the road was practically blocked and that stock was being unloaded ‘ut Quincy. Several ap- plications for employment were made, but the office of Superintendent Fish is closely watched by a committee of strikers who warn men not to seek employment there. The presence of two police sergeants and a squad of police around the office is the only thing that betokens anything out of the usual run, The strikers are sober, well dressed and good natured. The company officials say that all trains will be running in a few days‘and that no trouble is anticipated. The train from Omaha over the Kansas City, St. Joe & Council Biuffs came in to- night pulled by engine No. 15 in charge of Engiueer Douglas, who is a member of the brotherhood. The engine of the regular Chi- cago train to-night was badly disabled, but it is not known whether it was done by strikers. At4 o'clock this afternoon the men running the Rock Island freight engines were called out by an order from Chicago. This 1s caused by the fact that Rock Island engines have been used to move Burlington freight cars, To-night everything is quiet but both strik- ers and officials seem impressed with the idea that a long and bitter fight has been in- augurated. At Denyer. DENVER, Colo,, Feb, 27.—The situation re- garding the Burlington strike remains un- changed tonight. One passenger scheduled to leave here at 10 a. m., ly “pulled out at 2 o'clock m charge of anon-union engineer who consented to run the train to McCook where the company have arrangements to have it taken through to Omaha. The company is advertising for engineers. At St. Louis. St. Louis, Mo,, Feb. 2i.—This morning about forty engineers and firemen on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, with the platform men and brakemen, struck in compliance with orders from Chief Arthur. No freight trains were moved this morning. No freight was moved on the Chic lington & Quincy road at this point t Passenger trains, however, in this vicinity run as usual. Every engincer and fireman quit_but_the officials were in a measure pre- pared. Superintendent Levy, of Keokuk, Ta., telographs that passenger trains are mov- ing all right on the Keokuk line with new men and that he hopes to keep them goin The Burlington ofiicials here und in East S Louis they hope to get the freight t in fair shape in a few days as they o pick up enough men to ‘man the of this division. 'The strikers incline to the b lief that their expectations will not be real- ized, A Green En r Causes a Wreck, NAPIERVILL . The first ace dent to oceur following the commencement of the strike took place here this afternoon. No one was killed, but results could hardly be called trifliv Six men were wore or less injured Passenger train Gie, eneral fo shops at Aurora, v 2. No. 2, on \which C.F. man of the Burlington acting as engineer, ran short of steam about 3 p. m. The engine was cut loose from the train to run ahead, and then i ing back to again_couple’ on to the t became, to a certain extent, unmanageable on the down grade and collided with the cars, Engineer Geyer had his nose cut, and the temporary fircman, & man named Parsons, was cut on the shoulder and leg. George Clark, mail clerk, had his face cut and back injured; William Stenson, mail clerk, ankle injured; J. T, Burten, mail clerk, kuee bruised; T. Foster, a trainman of Aurora, arm und kne bruised. The rolling stock was severe rattled but none of them derailed. Nov, I, The Burlin strike has caused un almost complete suspen- sion of business on that system in this lo- cality. Quincy is the centor of five divisions of the road and the traftic on them has been rly at a standstill to-day. Noeffort what r hias been made to move freight trains. Two or three passcuger trains have been mt out with engines mauued by muster mechanics, roaa masters or _division super tendents. General Superintendent Cri of the Hunuibal & St. Joe brought in th morning express from the west and took out the night express to-night. At Aurora. Aunoka, 111, Feb, 27.—At 4:30 this morn ing the shut down on the Chicago, Burlingl ton & Quincy road was complete here. Al operations ceased even before the four s:t He establisued beadquaiters 1 for the strike, Several trains came in just previous to 4 o'clock, and as they arrived i yard one by one each was quietly abandoned by the train men. The early mail train frony Chicago had gone through on time and when' the appot tod Doment cante for & siell nothing was stirring, and the company's premises were as silent as a cemetery, At Rock Island. Rock Tstaxo, 111, Feb, 27.—The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy tie-up is virtually come plete here, The engineers allow an engineer and fireman to each mail car, so that the mails need not be interrupted. But no pase senger cars can be attached. A full train off for Sterling this morning, however, the conductor, who hud been an engineer, rurie ning it out. At Peoria. Proniy, 111, Feb, No trains left this city on the Burlington road to-day, but the mail and express arrived this evening from Galesburg and will return in the morning, George Courtney, who is not a brotherhood man, was engincer, At Cheyenne. Creyesse, Wyo,, Feb, 27, [Speclal Tele- gram to the Bgk.]—The Cheyenne & Bur- lington engineers and firemen at this place auit work this morning and the entire busi- ness of the division, which extends from Holdredge to Cheyenne, is at a standstill, The fires wer drawn from the engines and neither freight or passenger trains were taken out. Sentiment of Chicago Kuights, CHICAGO, Feb. 27.—At a meeting of district assembly No. 24, Knights of Labor, the con- trolling district assembly of this section, to- night, a resolution was adopted deprecating the report that the Knights of Labor would aid the Burlington rond in its fight against their engineers. The resolution says, in par “‘Without going into an examination of the truth or falsity of the charges of alleged bad faith against us on the part of the brother- hood, this exccutive bourd is unqualifiedly against any of its district members taking the places of those striking workers, and we call on the members of our order everywhere to refuse under any and all circumstances to become the tools of this corporation in their hour of trouble,” The number of applicants at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy offices for positions as enginecrs and firemen was quite large dur the afternoon and evening. President Per- kins, of the Burlington road, arrived from He regrets the strilke and he engineers are muking & mistake in attempting to force the railrond to unreason- able terms. He agrees entirely with the posi- tion taken by General Manager Stone. & K. of L. Engincers Starting West. PoTTSVILLE, Pa., Feb. 27.—It is asserted here to-night that between 100 and 200 engi- neers and firemen will leave for the west to- night and to-morrow to take service with the Burlington road. Lhese are all Knights of Labor, but will go as individuals and not under orders or the auspices of the knights, Furnace Employes Strike. Pirrssvne. Pa., Feb, 27.—A strike of the furnace employes of the Edgar Thompson steel works against a reduction of 10 per cent in wages was inaugurated to-day. The strike affects nearly a thousand men, e THE RATE WAR. Another Cut in Rates—The Decpest Yet Made. Kaxsas City, Mo., Feb, 27.—[Special Tele- gram to the Ber.]—The deepest cut that has been made since the railroad war com- menced was made on Chicago rates to-day. All the roads dropped to 20 cents on first and second class and 11 cents on everything else, During the latter part of last week it was generally reported that some roads were hauling Colorado stuff from New York through freight to Chicago and Kansas City at 50 cents, and Saturday afternoon tne other roads learned that the St. Paul road had given a 20 cent rate. The Burlington met this and also reduced classes i, 4 and 5, and all the alphabetical classes to 11'4 cents, The Rock Island issues a new schedule this morn- ing, placing classes 1 und 2 at 20 cents and all other classes at 11 cent The St. Paul also made a 11 cent rate. The St. Louis differential remained unchanged at 10 cents on classes 1 and 2, but classes 3 and 4 are re- duced from 8 cents to 6 cents, and other classes from 6!y cents to 6 cents. Under the new schedule dressed meat and cotten piece #00ds are clussed us third-class stuff, which is a reduction of 5!y cents. The rates on lum- ber and on cattle remuin unchanged at 9 cents for the former and #30 a car for the lat~ ter. Shipments, however, seem to be some- what unsteady. There is not only no money for the roads in the present rates, but they must lose money on whatever they handle, and the agents are making no effort to obtain business. “Itell the Burlington cystomers who are now coming to us that we will handla their stuff as a matter of accommodation,’” said freight agent this morniug, *‘but_thaf if they can getany other road to take it w will not kick, as there is worse than no money in it Another Rate Reduction. Cnicaso, Feb. 27.—A still further reduce tion to-day made in Missouri river freight rates, all lines putting in a local rate between Chicago and the river of 20 cents for first and second-class and. 11 cents ol other classes. Des Moines was reduced to 1 cents for first and second and 8 cemts om other classes. The Republican League Button. EW YORK, Feb. 27.—[Special Telegram to the Be There will be at least one million voters wearing this button by the Istof July.” The speaker was Jumes P, Foster, president of the national league of republican clubs, and he d 10 pretty little white enamelled button which all mem- birs of the consolidated union of republican clubs will be expected 1o purchase and wear from this time on until after the next presi- dential election, The executive committes of the mutual league of republican clibs on aturday afternoon adopted this button as c insignia of loyal membership. +lulf & dozen designs were offered, but there was unanimous verdiol in favor of the button which was selocted, This button is a spotiesd little direular surface of pure white enam about s big as a current penny, divided ntd three segments or sections. By fine lines of gold or brass. Inone of these divisions is 1ded letter R, in anotlier the gilded lettep L, while in the third segiment are twé gilded and significent letters, . Thesa initials mean “Republican L e of the United States.” The precaution of copys vighting ull of the designi has been taken, and it will consequently bé unlawi] for any4 body to make or offer for sale fac similes of the button. Furthermore, nobody who 18 not a member of the republican club in good standing in the national league will be allowed to wear one. A contract has WD entered into with a New England factory b, which the buttons will be furnished the exes cutive committee at the lowest possible fig- ure. They will be obtainable from no other source. ‘They will be furnished members of clubs in all parts of the union at 25 cents a picce, - —~— The Feeling i New Youg, Fe Shippers via of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad are afraid their property would be damaged or their business interfered with by delays in transit resulting from the strike which tools place this morning. The agent announced that the company would still be open to re- ceive all freight which was not of & perishe able nature, New York, PriLavELriia, Pa., Kate - Forb, sisters, agéd twelve and twenty< five, we k by an express train ab i;'nu iford station lo-night wnd iustaatly illed, i B