Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 29, 1888, Page 1

SEVENTEENTH YEAR. ‘Daiy BEE. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 29, 1888, TYROS AT THE THROTTLE. Incompetent Engineers Endanger Life and Property. A SERIOUS WRECK AT CLINTON. The General Status of the Burlington Strike—Forty Scabs Arrive in Omaha—Only Very Few Trains Moving. An Accident on the “Q." Crintos, la, Feb, 29.—|Special Tele- gram to the Ber|—The first serious acci- dent growing out of the G trike occurred at the crossing of that road and the Milwau- kee road at East Clinton. The Chicago,Bur- ington & Quiney train was run by one of the new engincers, who had never been over the roud before and did not know of the cross- ing, so he did not slucken his speed, but struck the Milwaukee mail and_express car, crushing it to picces and then ripping up the track, jumped off a high grade pull- ing the train after it and eighteen train men were injured a8 follows: J. D. Dana, of Fulton, conductor of the “Q." right hip hurt and head cut. Mr. Lancaster, of Fulton, express messenger of the “Q," buck hurt and otherwise bruised. Civil En- gincer Pearce, of Aurora, ucting engineer, head hurt. Fircman Chapin, of Chicayo, head swollen and bruised. Mr. Seeger, of Fulton, roadmaster of the “Q," three ribs broken, jaw broken and otherwise seriously injured. P.R. Welhelm, of Rock Istand, route agent of the American Express com- pany, head badly cut. T Morrison, express messenger of the Milwaukee, hip hurt and body badly braised. Thomas Corcoran, me- chanic, of Mendola, cut in head. In Chicago. CiicaGo, Feb, 28.—An attempt was made to disable the engine drawing the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy fast mail, which left the union depot at 3:10 this morning, when the train stopped at Burlington crossing, A coupling pin was placed on the plates that guide the piston rod to the cylinder. When the attempt was made to start the engine it would not move. The difficulty was soon vered and the obstruction removed. ulletin boged at the union depot this morning showe®™rains due at 6:20 and 8 this morning on the Burlington had been abandoned and that the train due at 6 two hours late, Two suburbun trains Downers Grove came in early this morning and two were sent out at 7 this morning. There were a dozen men in the company’s office waiting the arrival of Superintendent Rhodes. The fast mail which left Chicago yesterday afternoon has not yet been d from up to 8 o'clock. It is thought the ain was proceeding on its way to Omaha all right, as had there been any delay the compuny would have been notificd of the act. All was quiet around the Burlington 'ds. this morning. At Western avenue round house the most profound quiet prevailed this morning, The house was full of engines with o _steam in any of them. At seven o'clock but one engine had left the round house and that was the stockyards engine not involved in the strike. The big freight house on Polk street was deserted this morning and a notice was posted on the door to the effect that no fréight would be received to-da A detail of police was sent over to the yards to protect the freight train which made up and run out. ot a single through train has arvived esterday, but a couple ure expected during the d: At the general offices this morning the rush of applicants for positions was even greater than yesterday. Not less than a hundred men crowded outside of the superintendents offic The fast mail which left Chicago at 8 o'clock this morning reached Burlington, Ta., two and a half hours late but it is thought it will arrive at Omaha on time, Oficials of the Burlington road state that applications for positions as enginecrs and firemen are coming in constantly from ail over the country, but as the company does not_acept anyboly excent after rigid ex- amination the process of hiring men s slow, and consequently they do not expect to be in running order for at least ten day About fifty men so far have been ted. Formal notice 551 noon to the striking engineers and nen, that unless they report for duty by noon to-morrow they will be considered out of the company’s employ. This evening rumors of a _compromise be- gan to fly about. 1t was said representatives of neighboring roads, fearing a strike on lines, had asked Chief Arthur to negotiate farther. Business men were said to be anxious to arbitrate the differences. Chief Arthur und nd Master Sargent said no offers would anate from them. They were willing to compromigg, and added that the proposition to the brotMerhood had not peen discussed, as General Manager Stone refused to concede anything on the third proposition—'5 cents @ mile and no classification—and there the negotiation stopped. Both said concessions would have been made by the men on minor details of this demand. Chief Arthur denied that any proposition of compromise or arbitration had reached him, but said he had assurances from certain parallel lines that they would maintain a strict neutrality, “Suppose they pool with the Burlington on passenger and freight trafie “Any pooling arrangements wonld not he maintaining neutrality,” said Avthur with significant emphusis, The Situatiol The strikers congre, in Omaha. ted again yesterday moruing in the yards of the 13, & M. passenger depot, stood along the tracks, sat upon the feuce and talked over the situation. There ‘was not the slightest demonstration and warm controver men and a couple of detectives unosten- tatiously patrotled the platform and attracted but little attention from those who stood Before long it will be the duty of sed out from among the firemen @ motley wre anxious at all time , have intruded them- nse engincers of to find a place to lon selves upon the strikers who show good s in having nothing to do with tnem. and tramps, who, Mr. Iustis yesterday said that the at- 'k upon the enginecrs at McCook and the “killing” of the engine which was recorded in the Bee's telegrams was mot done by engineers but by some drunken rowdies who like the tramps above referred to, have gotten into the crowd. Engineors, be said, were not drunkards or rioters, 3 wlding, the company had trains running on its two eastern divisions, that is at this side of McCook, cne train running each wi Train No. 4 went east m the morning pretty nearly on time. No. § from the east, which was due here in the morning at 10:30, did not reach here until about §:50, having left Plattsmouth at 2:02 p. m. 1t was rumored in the United States build- ing yesterday that some of the people in cCook had called upon the governor for as. and that District Attorney Purcell’s | attention had been called to the detention of mails at the same place. But thes interfer- ence seems inconsistent with the McCook telegram to tho Be Last night the B. & M. yards were de- serted, and the switchmen having nothing to do, retired to their respective homes, leaving | the solitary watchmman as the sole custodian | its hout of tho place. | Tlie dopot ‘was evening, usual life and bustle carly in th and looked rather lonesome cowpared with | » | the the Union Pacifie. engers stretched out on the benchies a jug transportation to Lincoln, amd gr because they will have to wait for No. 10:85 this morning. The gentlomurly agent ‘was walking about whistling and trying to think of something to do. AL G:43 thers was & alight brewk in the monetony Ly thied % Inside were four wure of No. 6 for the east. The police wercon hand when the tram started, but there ap- peared to be but little need of them, as the small crowd who had gathered to witness the departu were mainly loafers, there being noticeably a scarcity of railroad men among them, The great trouble with trains already running 18 the loss of time in switching at different stations, the men in charge of the engines of the several trains having to do this for themsclves, The com- pany claims that to-day there will be sufti- cient engineers on hand to obviate this diffi- culty at the yards in this city, Plattsmouth and Lineoln. There was a rumor last night abouta threatened strike of the switchien in con- junction with the strike of the engineers, but A number interviewed on this subject either knew nothing or at least would say nothing definite about it. They all agree, however, that they ought to be paid for the time that they are now idle during the strike of the engineers, and if it is refused them, they will probably make a demand for it. FORTY SCADS FROM PENNSYLVANIA. Yesterday when the Hotel Windsor's din- ner hours were at their heighth and the darky attaches of the diningroom were rust- ling around supplying the wants at the ta- bles, Messrs, Yatons, Schlanck & Prince, the proprictors, ordered them to make haste and prepare o wait® upon a_compuny of forty unexpected guests. All of this unpre- parcd for forty were headed by a_man who simply applied the words, *J. Wapon and to the registry, and med to be gen- ng from thirty to fiff Mr. ted the Windsor landlords to tions for the feeding of the men, who, in the meantime scattered to the wash rooms and the bar, vhere they rinsed their hands and faces and regaled the' inner man as their tastes dictated. Mr. Wapon then led his charges into the dining room, where they appeased their sharpened appetites and again arose. Filing out, they waited until their leader settled the bill. " In reply to interrogations from the proprietors as to why the men did not regis- ter individually Mr. Wapou replied it was not necessary, as they were locomotive en- gineers from Pennsylvania on their way to arious points in the state to take the places of striking engineers on the Burlington sys tem. Mr. Wapon seemed quite elated with his delegation, which, after lighting a cigar ceach, turned their faces towards the Burling- ton depot and u little later were lost sight of make prepa For an Emergency. At the urgent request of the B. & M. rail- road company, twenty-five extra police have been appointed for the protection of their property in thiscity during the strike. The extra men were sclected in the afternoon by Chicf Seavey from among the numerous ap- plicants for places on the regular force. The Situation in Lincoln. LixcoLy, Neb.,, Feb. 28.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—At noon the condition of the strike was practically unchanged, except that it is settling intv the serious features, and both sides are exerting themselves for the struggle. The Wymore train came in this morning, the wiper of the Wymore round hous nninsthe engine that was r ported disabled. The train from the cast reached the city at 11 o'clock. The engi- neers are doing no talking to-day and are evidently preparing for work to sustain their position. The trains that have arrived to- day have police on cach of them and special mer pmpanied the Wymore train last night and guarded the engine. KFourteen extra special policemen were sworn in_ yesterday and sent to the B. & M. yards. This action, the compar ims, is necessary to protect their new men, and the of has gone forth to exclude all striking engineers and firemen from the company's yards and grounds, so that the new men cannot be won over or bought off by the strikers. All this extra parade of authority is entircly uncalled for from all the evidence obtainable, and from the words of the engineers them- selves, who have 80 r made no threats and assert that they have none to make. It looks as though the company were inviting trouble by their p: rade of police in order to bring the strike in disrepute, but the engincers as®rt they will not be caught by such actions. An effort will be made by the company to-day to move more trains thun yesterday, but with what result the later hours of the day will reveal. The strike in this city has assumed an air of determination on the part of both sides to- day. The comp: has made a desperate ef- fort to increase its passenger service, but have done little if any more than to main- tain the number of trains moved yesterday. The trains moved were in the main handled by scab engincers, some cases with vilots to show them the road. 1In the afternoon the assertion was made that fifty new engincers W been nired to take the place of the strik- but few, if any, of them put in an_ap- 1 ance, The oficials were fearful of vi- olence if the trains began moving regularly, but there appearcd to be no grounds for their apprehensions. No disturbance has oc- curred in the yards and orders tothe striking men are not to set a foot upon an engin 1 aman will not come down and talk with thent, not to molest him, Through the day the members of the brotherhood were as- sembled at their hall contented with the strike as far as it has progressed. Telegrams were received from different points and thei reading was greeted with applause., T grams came from Chicago and Aurora, IIL., and Creston, Ia. These stated that the men at those points were firm and everyting solid. Engincer Sanborn, of = the general committee, said that the reports from all sections of the state were favorable to the men, The hoys were warmed with enthusiasm about 4 o'clock when Jacob Dictrich, the foreman of the round house here, marehed to the broth- etliood hall, He is the man who took a train to Omaha and Plattsmouth and returned yes- terday, but he stated that one trip was encugh for him, and he wanted to stand with the boy: He stated that when he was at Platts- mouth he made up his mind that when he reachied Lincoln he would quit and quit he did. Engineer Fuller pre ited Dictrich to the brotherhood and five minutes was de- voted to enthusiustic hand shaking. The cngincers stated that they desived the public to think before ‘trusting themselves in the hands of the inexperienced s e hardly stood upon As an exampio of the men handling the few trains now running, they cited the following: Dictrich, who run the flyer yesterday, never ne a trip before,” and never had been a fireman, He was simply a machinist in the round house. Philbrick, the man who brought in the Neoraska City train, was road master there, and without experience as an engincer. Hook, who brought the Atchi- son & Ncbraska train from the south, had no experience beyond running stationary engine on the pile driver. Barnes, who is running the Wymore train, has no experience beyond four months service as wiper in the round hou: Doyle, who run the Columbus tr a bridge carpenter, and Conductor Miller, how on the flycr, had been fireman two years on the Santa’ Fe. We do not believe, said one of the engineers, that the company can long affomt to handle engines with such men. Engineer Gardi- ner, who found himself at Ravenna when the order to go out occurred, came in _ yesterday to his home iu this city. He stated that the engine was run by two new men with 1d Bignell as pilot and that engino 25 that went to Ravenna last night was disabled at that point. Engine 38, handled by one of the inexperienced substi- tutes on the Columbus run, gave out last night just outside the city, and a yard engine was sent to its relief. M. Abby, who was a passenger on the Falls City train sterday, relates the experience. tne green man had in bringing the tradu to the city, declaring that the speed varied from a mile s minute to a slow walk, ‘Phe mails for the present are sent eastward frour | r over the Union Pacific and will be sent that way until regular service is re- stored on the Burlingten. The procaution- ary measures taken by the B. & M. around i ‘pot grounds were in force through wing, but there was no interfcrence chara ter, Late in the afternoon a otice: was posted - at © tho warning people from congregating d instructions have been issued to of an public 3's premises. The utlook to-morrow. uch the silue @s to-day, and both sid have remained practically unenanged, Rumors of riots at MceCook have prevailed but the local officials are close mouthed and reticent, and information from that source is high and hard to get. At Plattsmouth, Prarrsmovr, Neb, Feb, 28.-—[Special Telegram to the Beg.] —The strike of the en- gineers and firemen is almost the sole topic of street talk in this city. The twin brother- hoods are in almost constant session at K. of P. hall, there being from sixty to seventy- five who make this city their home. Every engineer and fireman in the city is either a member of his respective brother- hood or in active sympathy with it. In spite of the efforts of railroad cappers to influence public opin- ion, the sympathy of the people is with the strikers, although they realize that a pro- longed strike means disaster to the city, a8 it has no other than Burlington railroad faciliuies. The strikers appear perfectly con- fident of ultimate success. They are grati- fied at the extreme difficulty with which the company gets an occasional train through. They are quiet and orderly, but it can be noted that feeling in the matter grows every hour. They are doing active work in winning vay the company’s workers, The passen- ger conductor who managed the train from the west Monday morning, Al Chamberlain, relented upon ching this city. He went before the strikers, told them he had never felt so meanly o any act in his life, and said he would not go out again. He refused to comply with a dispateh from Lincoln usk- ing him to take No. 3 out to-night and was discharged, the company even refusing to give him a pass back to Lincoln, Two scabs came down from Omaha to-day to take out cngines, but the strikers won them from their purpose, Out of sixty men brought west to Chicago from the Reading road to work for the Burlington, the only one that entered the service is here now and has joined in the strike, General Manager G. W. Holdrege was in town all last night and to-day and held a con- ference with several of the old engin- eers in an endeavor to get them to resume work. It is asserted that he offered an employe at the machine shops £125 to make a trip to Lincoln and back. Another was offered $100. These incidents convince the strikers that the road is using every endeavor to secure men to run the engines without avail, though Mr. Holdrege said he could get plenty of men, It is asserted by the strikers that there is not a competent man pulling a train on a division. Number 6 came in over two hours late last night, broken down on one side. A Lincoln machinist named Dietrich was on the gine. He took number 1 west this morning two hours late. Another Lincoln machinist brought in a train_from the west at noon to-day and went back with number 5. A man claiming to come from the Panhandle brought number 6 in to-night and will go west in the morning if the boys do not succeed in buyi him _ up. Each scab was unwmer y the crowds. at the depot. The sound of an engine bell or whistle brings crowds to the depot, and the employes have been iustructed to keep the platforms clear, Bighteen roud engines and several switch engines are dead in the round- house. The shopmen are at work as usual. One or two passenger conductors e re- fused to take out engines, There was a ru- mor to-night that the Union Pacific and Rock Island engineers had gone out on a strike, At Mcc McCooxk, Neb., Feb. gram to the I ok, 28, —[Special Te 0 demonstration was made by the strikers here to-day. This morning the company announced their inten- tion of starting a train east and called on the sheriff to summon several citizens to act as special ofticers to protect the men going out. It was expected the proceedings of the pre- vious day would be repeated. Not a man responded to the summons of the sheriff. The company gave up the idea of starting a train, This afternoon the company officials asked the mayor to call o the gov- ernor for the state militia, which he did, but a vigorous protest was soon sent the executive signed by forty busi- 88 wen, saying there was no riot- no danger to life or prop- . No effort will be made to send out a train to-morrow. All strikers were ordered to report for duty to-morrow, or con- sider themseives discharged. The ofticials feel confident trains will soon be running. The strikers are in good spirits and firm, At Hastings. HasTiNgs, Neb., Feb. 25.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bik.}—There is but little change to report in the situation at Hastings over the great strike of the Burlington & Missouri locomotive engineers and firemen, There are ubout forty-five engincers in the city af- fected by the strilke and all refuse to discuss it except among themse The striking engineers make no interference with out- siders who are endeavoring to move trains. The management of the road published a card in to-day’s paper requesting all citizens who arc intercsted in maintaining good order to absent themselves from the com- pony’s depots and yards, and in every way to assist the officers to provent people” congre- gating in crowds. No protest has yet been cntered by the strikers against the running of trains by men outside the brotherhood. Yesterday “Pap” Willis, conductor_ run- ing between Kearney und 'Aurora, and for- merly an engineer, took No. 6 to Lincoln, after which he returned with No, 5 and went on through to Kerney last night. He came back this morning and went on to Lincoln with the regular mail train, His brakeman uctea us fireman and conductor. The Flyer reached Hastings at 8 o'clock this afternoon from Pacific Junction. A strange engineer was in_the cab and it is thought that he is one of the wmeu brought from the east by the company. He returned with the train to-night. There are three old all of whem were_for- in the employ of the company. They have been solicited to go back to their old places, but all are in full sympathy with the strikers and conscquently refused. BENKLEMAN, Neb,, Feb. 28.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—The passenger train from Denver due here at 4 o'clock yesterday reached here at midnight, and is still here. The engine is in charge of Wilham Burnett, a freight conductor on this division, No rea son is assigned for holding the train here, but it is generally understood that Burnett refuses to pull into headquarters at McCook, fearing violence from the strikers. Among thirty aboard this train, are some who are completely destitute and they would suffer from hunger but for the kindness of Benklemen people, The Pullinan passcngers are fortified in their car, fearing an attack from the cowboys, some waggish commeretal traveler having warned them of impending danger. The merchants here have stored large quantities of flour and coal in anticipa- tion of the strike and there 18 no fear of a pro- vision famine. Fhe failure to carry the mail is going to make serious complications in the matter of filing and_courts at the United States land oftice at McCook. At Crete, Crete, Neb., Feb, 25, {Special Telegram to the Bee.]--It 15 a go-as-you-please with running of trains, and business is practically at astand still. A nuwmber of engincers are laid off here. At Holdrege. Hovprear, Neb,, Feb, 25,—[Special Tele- gram to the Bep.)—-Passenger train No. 151 on the Holdrege & Cheyenne line left here for Cheyenne at 5:30 o'clock this evening, J, M. Olmsted, a resident engineer, in churge of the engine. ' There was no attempt to inter- fere with the moving of the traiu, At Nebraska Oity. Nebnaska- City, Neb., Feb. 28.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.]—All passenger lh’ni,ns on the Burlington went and came on S UMBER 25, time to-day. The striking engineers’ places were filled by engine wipers, road masters, yard men, conductors, etc, Little further trouble is anticipated, as it is clamed that within two days competent engincers from the cast will arrive to fill all the places. At Auror: Avrora, Neb,, Feb, 28, —[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—It is as quiet as the grave here to-day. No freight is moving. One passenger train each way between Lincoln and Broken Bow was run yesterday and to-day. There is no travel of any conse- quence, At Wymore. 5 WrMoRE, Neb., Feb, 83.——|Special to the Bee.]—The strike here is very quiet. Most of the citizens seem to bo in sympathy with the strikers. The brakemen, however, are the reverse. They say they have had no sympathy from the enginecrs in times past when they went out. Troubles of Green Engineers. Dgs Moixes, Ia., Feb. 28.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bek.]—The Burlington road have managed to run a few passenger trains here to-day by using conductors and other employes for engineers, sometimes with funny effect. Couductor Drake, who tried to run the Kansas City passenger train south yesterday gotas far as Chariton, where he turned it over to a fireman who was not very well posted about running an engine. When he ot to Garden Grove he could not stop the train until he got over half a mile beyond the station, which is at the top of a heavy grade. The o train from Chariton _arrived here last night with Jesse Hardman, an ex-fireman, in charge of the engine, and left this morning heavily loaded with passengers. A large number of passengers decided not to go out when they learned that the engincer was a green hand, The Albia train arrived last night several hours late, in charge of a conductor for engincer. When he got here one side of the engine was frozen up. After getting it thawed out he started back. Several at- tempts were made to hire the fireman not to go back with the train _but they could not move him from the cab. The switch engine at this place is run by a couple of roundhouse men from the Wabash, and neither of them knows how to oil certain parts of the engine, and the roundhouse men said they would not show them how. When the new man on the switch engine tried to put_an engine on the turntable he ran off the track twice. An Engine Killed. HAMBURG, Ta., Feb. 28.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.]—A work train and twenty men of the Kansas City, St. Joe & Council Bluffs railway, operating on th lowa side of the new Nebraska City bridge, is laid out here for the reason that no one is to be had to move the engine. Arrangements were made by the company this morning with J. T. Painter, engineer of the pile drviver engine, to take the train and crew up to the place of work, but when they arrived there they were met by a committee of striking enginee who forbade any work and gave them two hours to et out and threatened to disable the en- gine, The regular engine on duty there for the supplying of material for the construction of the bridge was killed to-day by the strikers and all work in connection therewith is stopped. At Creston, CrestoN, Ia, Feb. 2 Special Tele- gram to the Ber.]—The strike situation here is practically’unchanged to-day except that passenger trains are run with more reg- ularity. Six trains went over the main line to-day without interruption and passengers were run over all the eight branches of the West Towa division, The brotherhood en- gine men are in session to-night and are con- ducting themselves quietly and ovderly. A joint meeting of the Order of Railw . ductors and the Brotherhood of Railway Brakemen was held last night and will be held every day this weeek. It is understood that these orders will stand loyal to the company during the strike, and the fact that each engine is manned by either conductors r brakemen substantiates this statement, Travel is very light on this division, At Kansas City. Kaxsas City, Mo., Feb, 25,—[Speeial Tele- gram to the Bee.]—The strike situation here has changed but little in the last twenty-four hours, but there seems little evidence of weakening on either side. The company’s oftice was crowded with men all the morning, and were surrounded by a squad of police- men, All the trains on’ the bulletin board were marked with this significant word, “in- definite.” The strikers have established headquarters at the New Albany hotel, and were gathered there in goodly numbers this morning. About the meeting last night the strikers decline to say anything, except that they are determined to hold out. Train No. 2. on the Hannibal & St. Joe, pulled out at 8:25. fifteen minutes late. It was whis- pered through the crowd that a second train would be started at 11 o'clock and a sharp lookout was kept by tne strikers for the en- gineer who would havethe temerity to under- take the task. At 11:30 a train of four coaches backed into the union depot. A rush was made for the engine, but two policemen stood at the entrance to the cab on each side, while each car was carefully guarded by a number of police. Outside of rairoad em- ployes, about a score of passengers took scuts in the tram. Nobody could approach the engineer, but it was claimed by several of the brotherhood that he had been running the engine of a steam laundry in Wyandotte, The crowd numbered at 'least 500, and no_attempt at intimidation was offered, and the train . steamed out at 11:40, bound for Council Bluffs, While the union depot is crowded all the time but a small portion of the men there are strikers and a general feeling of good nature prevails. At 4:35 the train for Cameron pulled out in charge of Engineer Farnsworth, and at 8:40 to-night the Des Moines & St. Paul express, which should have left at 6:25 p. m., started on its way. At 2o'clock the engineers and firemen of the switch cngines in the Rock Island yards quit work be- cause ‘‘scub’ engineers were switch- ing the Burlington trains in thew yard, but went to work again this evening on a telegraphic order from Chief Arthur. ~An officer of the brotherhood said to-day. None of our men have weskened and are not likely wdo so. The engincers who have tak trains out have all proven incompetent. Not one of them has suceseded in getting his train through. One ran out of water and in back- ing up to get some backed into another tran aud caused @ great deal of damage. Another engineer ran into a train, hur self, the fircman, mail agents, and ev elsc on the train, Owr demands are just. earned §250 last month, and $150 this ‘month. Now the company, will' give out to the public my highest amount earned, and nog the low- est. If we got paid by the mile, und each man to do 100 miles a day, or get paid for it, there would be no kioking. Under the pres- ent clussilication we are fiable to bo idle sev. eral hours a day. That is what we wish to avoid. We want steady employment and fair wages. I've ran an engine now for thirty vears, and in all that time 1 never knew the brotherhood not to be ready to meet the company * half way in everything. If the (people understood our cause the would be with us.. We do not countenance any of these unlawful things that ave being done. The railiroad company does an unlawful thing in sending out these incompetent emgineers, and ye the lice are called _on to help them break the w, but they will get left in the end, see if they don't. 1t is stated this evening that the engincers and firemen on the Santa Fe .will strike to- morrow or mext day, this statement ‘being contirmed by several of the euginecrs on that road, who say the same trouble regarding wages exists with them. R} A committee of the strikers to-day called upon Superintendent Fagan of the Fort Scott & Gulf road for the purpose of continuing for five years the understanding as to wages agreed upon some two months ago. The Gulf road will give their answer some time to - morrow. As far as the Burlington freight business here is concerned it is at a complete standstill. Not a pound has been moved since the strike commenced. The passenger business of the road here has amounted to little or nothing during the past two days, but indications are that it will be better to-morrow. A secret meeting of the strikers was held to-night, and it 1s learned that a communication was received from Chief Arthur to the effect that within a day ortwo the engincers on one and possibly two more roads will be ordered out. At St. Joseph. St. Josern, Mo., Feb, 28.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—The situation here in the engineers' strike remains practically un- changed. More trains are running to-aay than on yesterday. A committec of the strikers waited on the newspapers to-day and stated their grievances, General Manager Merril stated to-day that his company would neyer submit to the bulldozing being at- tempted by the strikers. At St. Louis. St. Lovts, Feb. 28.—There were really no new developments in the Burlington strike to-day. Very little was done in the yards. The strikers are quiet and confident and ridi- cule the assertion that the company is secur- ing any number of competent men. No freight of any nature is being moved here. Information from Atchison, Kan,, and Han- nibal, Mo., states that the pany made poor headway with trains to-day. At Denver. DexvEr, Colo., Feb, 23,—The strike of the Burlington engineers at this point assumed 10 new aspect to-day. No trains have de- parted, neither have any arrived from the east since 10 o'clock last night. At Cheyenne, CueveNye, Wyo., Feb. 25.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—No work has been done on the Burlington at this place to-day, and the yards are full of freight, A Special to the Leader from J. R. Phelan, assistant superintendent of the Cheyenne & Burling- ed this evening, says: “We have fgCr traing now running as far as Holyoke. Expect to run pussenger trains regularly to Cheyenue, commencing to-mor- row night.” At Galesburg. GALEsBURG, TIL, Feb, 28, —The officials of the Burlington road succeeded i getting nearly all passenger trains out this forenoon on time. 'ThAs far five of the old engincers arc reported loyal to the company. The of- ficials report the prospects brighter. The brotherhood has expelled the recreant engi- neers and will publish them. A number of engineers have been sent here from the out- side and more are coming. The strikers are quict. At Quincy. QuiNey, 1L, Feb. 28.—The situation here regarding the strike is practically un- changed from yesterday. Travel was very light on such trains as are running. Iron Shipments Delayed. Dorvrn, Minn,, Feb. 25.—[Special Tele- graih to the Bee.]—Within the last ten days the Miunesota Iron company at Tower has contracted for the delivery at Joliet and South Chicago of 8,000 cars of Vermillion iron ore, about seventy-five thousand tons. Less than two hundred cars ‘have been shipped and as the contract calls for a de- livery at St. Paul to th& Burlington & North- ern road it is expected the ore will be tied up at that point during the engineer’'s strike, It has leaked out from semi-official soury the, winter shipment of Vermillion' or bedn arranged for and a number of cont to be in force after the 1st of next Dec are known to exist. Letter From Powderly. Puitanerruia, Feb., 28.—A letter from General Master Workman Powderly was given to the Associated P this evening, in which he sa) I have been asked what my opinion is concerning the strike of engincers on the Burlington system, Expression of opinion is requested as to whether I favor the Knights of Labor taking the places of the beothertiood men, I do not know the particulars of the strike in ques- tion, but if true men are making an effort to do away with the European custom of - grad- ing up and down, regardiess of merit, they are right for making the fight for equality, My opinion of a man who takes the place of another struggling for his rights is that he deserves the contempt and scorn of ever man who loves justice. It is true mem- bers of the brotherhood have, on repeated occasions, taken the places of members of the Knights of Labor, but the merits of the vari ous cases have nothing to do with the princi- ple of honor involved in all of them. It is to the eternal shame of the brotherhood that they stooped to such acts of meanness and treacherous, unmanly conduct. The man who takes the place of another, when that other engages in a struggle with a_corpora- tion, is a scab, whether he be a member of the Knignts of Labor or Brotherhood of Engi- neers. When Charles Wilson ordered the members of the brotherhood to take the places of the Machinist und Blacksmiths’ union in and 1878 he did an unman|, cowardly act. When Arthur allowed the members of the brother- hood, over which he exercise such severe discipline, to tamper with the rizhts of the employ of the Missouri P cific and Wabash systems two years ago, too, violated that principle of “honor wi should restrain men when about to The taking of these men's pl and dastardly. If these actions w with the sanction of the chief of the brother- hood, he, too,1s mean and dastardly, but “'two wrongs never make a right,” and what is mean and dastardly in members of the brotherhood cannot become grand and noble in the members of the Knights of Labor. No knight should belittle his manhood by Stooping to such dirty work. If it is the habit of brotherhood men to do such work as taking strikers' places, in heaven's mnan let them have a monopoly of it. Knights ofsLabor, if you take my advice, you will stand back and allow this struggle te go on. Let the broth- erhood demoustrate its power to stand alone, without “‘entangling alliances with other trades.” Let the past be forgotten, no mat- ter how bitter you may feel towards these men. Reinember, they have not stepped out of the rut of seltishness yet, and it is best to teach them what manhood means by keeping nds off the Burlington strike. The spee- tacle presented by men of labor who belong to different organizations rushing at eaci other's throats whenoever a strike takes pla must be a gratifying thing for the emplo, of labor to look at. It must indeed give sat- isfaction to the corporations to know that neither the Knights of Labor nor the broth- erhood can ask for better treatment with any assurance of receiving it Labor will forever be bound hand and foot atthe feet of capital as long as working_men can cbe pitted against each other, No strike should be entered into until the last effort cousistent with manhood has been made, Then if it was determined that the last thing possible had been done to avert trouble, every detachment of labor's army should be whecled in line in defending the rights of man in the breach. I have never seen such a strike and never expect to, until the narrow prejudices of the past are buried and the principles of knighthood prop- 3 understood. Then we will have no strikes. Knights of Lab from Maine to Californiu stand back: Keep your hands off; let the law of retaliation be disregarded, and let the men of the Burlington railvoad win this strike if they can. * The Raid of Scabs. Pritsnung, Pa., Feb. 28— [Spectal Teles gram 10 the Bak.]—Fifty engincers passed as m taken through here to-day on the way from New York to Chicago to take the places of the strikers, Prrrsnvra, Feb, 28, —Agents of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy system, it ap- pears, have been successful in sceuring a number of engincers and firemen in the east. ‘This morning fifty men passed through the city enroute for Chicago, where they will ar- rive this evening. A8 far as known they are not Knights of Labor, although members of that organization might be found in the party. Mr. Barry, member of the exccutive oard of the Knights of Labor, when asked concerning the published report that the Reading railway Knights are_coming to Chi- cago to take the places of striking members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive engineers, said there was no foundation for the A Chronicle Telegraph special from ton says that Genoral Muster W Powderly will not go to his home. He said this afternoon that the Knights of Labor, as & body, would not order the taking of the places of the engineers on the Burlington by the knights in retaliation for the brotherhood taking their places on the Reading system. He wants the brotherhood to win the fight and wants the knights to help them, POTTSVILLE, Feb, 25~ Absut _seventy- five of the displaced engineers and firemen of the Reading railroad company, belonging in this city and Palo_Alto, were recruited yesterday for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, They are in communi with Manager Stone, of the Burlington road and are in momentary expectation of orders from him to start for Chicago. These men are expericuced ralroaders and Knights of Labor. PritaneLenis, Feb, 25, —A number of en- ginecrs and firemen went woest on the Penn- sylvania voad to-night, presumably to go to work for the Burlington. Amony them Bernard Scharkey, James Gleason and F MeGill, members” of the Reading strik committee. They said they were acting in- dividually, and that more men will follow to- morrow William Forsythie, mechanical engimeer of the Burlington road, bewan examming more applicants for work to-night. Forty-six en- gineers and eighty firemen, it is alleged, have already been engaged and sent forward. Between 150 and 135 men were waiting on Forsythe to-night, a number of whom were from Pottsville. They say there are more coming from there., Enginecrs Sccured. Yonk, Feb. 28.—Over oue hundred locomotive enginecrs, to take the place,of the strikers on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, were sccured this morning. The Leavenworth Miners. LEAVENWORTI, Telegram to the Be; his morumg some sixty-five striking miners gathered about the railroad bridge near the Riverside shaft at the hour the working miners were to enter the pit. The operators became alarmed and called for a squad of police for protection. The officers marchod the strikers off the scene and no trouble occurred. A committee of the strikers are going among the busir men with a subseription paper collecting funds to maintain the war against the coal company. . s THE FIRE RECORD. Union Square Theater, New York, Destroyed With Tts Contents. New York, Feb. hortly after 1 o'clock this afternoon a fire was discovered on Broadw: nd Fourteenth st Thr alarms were seat in and the police reserves from three precincts were called out. At 1:50 the fire had extended to the Union square theatre, which was soon a muss of flames. The Uniaa,; l‘lfl theater, with all its con- tents was destroyed, and the Morton house, adjoining on both sides was badly damaged. About 1 o'clock a chambermaid in the aear of the top floor of the Morton house saw smoke coming through the crevices in the doors in the main hallway. Her cries brought about twenty chambermaids from their rooms on the top floor, and the guests from theirs on othe All rushed down stairs, and not a few of them were bruised by trunks that were flung down at the same time, he flames started in the rear rooms of the top floor of the the- ater, and the dry work of the building blazed like shavings, The roof fell in and the fire became so hot that the fire men were forced so far from the building that their efforts were almost uscless. The Star theater was in constant danger, but was saved by the efforts of the firemen, Manager M. Hill, of the Union_square, was in his oftice in the building and with him was the surer of the Casino, They aped with at difiiculty. The damage will amount to ittle less than a third of a million dollars. At2:50 p. m. the fire was under control Seven firemen who were working in_the theater when the roof fell were injured by the falling debris. They were carried out by their comrades and were taken to a hospital in an ambulance, pecial - THE VALLEJO EXPLOSION Progress of the Investigation By the Coroner's Jury. VaLLEsO, Cal., Feb, Many witnesses were examined by the coroner’s jury to-day regarding the ferry boat explosion, The general testimony showed that while the Julia was not a new boat, she was regarded as a safe one. It was stated that the boiler guage showed 105 pounds. The boat was allowed to carry 110 pounds. The explosion could not have oceurred from the petroleum tank or pipes, as they were all found in good condition by divers to-day. ‘The number of passenzers on the boat is estimated all the way from thirty to sixt, Fifteen bodics have been overed. The hull of the boat will be raised to-morrow if possible, when the full extent of the fatalities will be definitely learned, Conkling PirrspunG, Feb. 23— Conkling club of this city ived a let- ter from Roscoe Conkling in reply to one ad- dressed to him recently, proposing his name for the presidential nomination, Mr. Conk- ling says in substance he'is not an aspirant for political preferment, but the honor dor him is gratifying, Without reference to any candidates, it will be a grea atisfaction if the club’s bearing his name can *‘contrib- ute in any way to reinstate the organization whose wisdom and earnestuess proved so useful during the most tragic and trying period of our history. To sce thut party again triumphant and united is ins enough for all republicans. - - The Gould-Sage Case, NEew Youk, Feb, 25, —The foreman of the grand jury considering the Gould-Suge case, to-day asked Judge Cowing in regard to the statute of limitations as applying to section 541 of the penal code: * Does the statute be gin to run in relation to withholding from the date the crime was committed or from the discovery of the fact!" The judge replied in substanc ) far us section 1 is concerned, the crime against that section is, committed wh fraudulent misappropriation occurs. In judgment the statute of limitations from . You ha wheth fraudulent misaj actuadly took place within five years. There is one exception to this rale. If at the time of its occurrence the trustee who is charged with it was residing out of the jurisdiction of the court, ther the statute does not begin to ran till he comes within jurisdiction.” The jury will report definitely on the case to-morrow, but it is generally considered a foregone conclusion that ne indictment will be handed ia, ctermine opriation SRt Two Murderers Lynched. Cano, 1L, Feb. 25.--Last night a Clinton, Ky., Sam Price,a white man, who killed the sheriff, and Bill Reams, # colored chicken thief, who shot @ farmer named Juckson, were taken out of the juil by wasked und banged, PERKINS COUNTY SEAT WAR. Grant and Madrid People Exchange Blows at the Polla, ““AND THE END IS NOT YET.” The Affair Called an “Insult" By One Side and a “Brutal Assault’ By the Other—Other State News, Resented the * Neb,, Feo, 28— ul Telegram to the Bee.]—The county seat election held in Perkins county to-day was fraught with * intense excitement at this place. Returns are not all in, but as far as heard from Grant has u large majority. Charges had been made that illegal votes were cast here at the last election, and to guard against a like repetition Madrid and other precinets sent in large delegations to watch at the polls, thereby blocking,the entrance to the place of voting. This insult to ant and the block- ing of the sidewalk was resented by the prompt action of Marshal Harney and his deputies in sweeping the delegations to one side and keeping them at a respectful dist- ance, Banker MeKenzie received injuries on his lip by falling over one of the deputies and striking his face on the sidewalk. The affair has caused much feeling and the end is not The Madrid Side. Mabnin, Neb,, Feb, 28, ~[Spcal Telegram to the Brr.]—A most brutal and cowardly assault was made at the polls in Grant to-day by Grant men on the Madrid committee sent there to watch the polls and prevent fraudu- lent voting. John McKenzie, of Madrid, was cut, about the head, knocked down and stunned and dragged through the strects, S. B. Brierly, another of the Madrid men, was knocked down and tramped upon. Others were more or less injured. The assault was made by the business men and bullies of Grant. Not only the Madrid people. bnt those from Lisbon, In Grant to-duy were abused in a most shameful manner. 1t is an open secret throughout the county that at the two previous elections Grant cast fraudu- lent votes and the cause of the trouble to-day was the attempt to prevent the same, The end is not yet. 0ld Veteran's Gathering. LiNcoLN, Neb, Feb. 28.—[Special Telegram to the Bek.|—The delegates Lave reached the city to-day in large numbers for the en- cumpment of the G. A. R., which meets in this city to-morrow morning. There are 500 deleg: n the cit, and the rotunda of the capitol is a8 crowded asat an opening of a session of the legislature. The strike on the Burlington has shut off the large dele- gations from the Republic otherwise would be on the ground. the prominent old soldiers alre are General Van Wyek, of ) M. W. Stone, B. Davis, C. M, ‘opp and K. E. Lyle, of Wahoo, Speaker Harlan of York, Commander Rus- sellof Schuyler, O. H. Phillips of Beatrice, J. W. Liveringhouseof Grand Island, Captain Henry of Fairmont, C. ¥. Eisley of Norfolk, " L. D. Richards of Fremont, W. H. McCann of Hay Springs, J. W. Johnson, M. A. Hartl- gan_ of Plattsmouth, W. S, Randall of Faire tield, Chaplain Lozier, J. Wesley Tucker of Valntine, J. R. Johnson of € We HE tout of Dewitt, 1. Whitcomb of Friend, Sf A. D. Balcomb of Omaha. A grand recep. tion was tendered the delegutes to-night at Holanan's hall given by the local posts, Sougs and speeches made the meeting & rousing cne, At the headqnarters in the Capital hotel the council of admimstration met_in the evening and the reports were handed over to the usual committecs. A com- mittee was appointed on credentials for report in the morning. At 9 a. m. the encampment opens at repre hall for the transac- tion of busincs 10 0'clock the session of the Wor corps opens at tho Both halls have been elab- decorated for the occasion. The for department commander is on ises to be warm. 'The three prinei- pal candidates are J. B. Davis, of Wahoo, Captain Henry, of Fairmont, and Brad He Cool, of Lincoln, Noone apbears to have a walk-away, and the favorites of cach are making an interesting fight. The only city asking the reunion thus far is Lincoln, which is prepared with its proposition. Among dy in the city raska City, An Interesting Land Casc, Jonxstowy, Neb., Ieb. 25.—|Special to the Bee. [—Quite an interesting land case, originuting in this vicinity, is now pending a decision of the land acpartment at Washe ington. A few years ago Samuel Ruther- ford, & farmer living near here, made final proof on his homestead and borrowed $5 from Altsceuler & Rippey, of Ainsworth, giving them as security u mortgage on the land.” The mortgage was foreclosed several days ago but Rutherford rcfused to give possession and the case was taken into court, and a decision given in favor of Altschuler & Rippey and the shenff notified to give them imuediate possession. Rutherford, on the ground of not having fair play, senta letter to Washington informing the land depart- ment that” his final proof was illegal and stated wherein he failed to comply with the law. He received a reply to this letter stat- ing that the land office_had not reached his case yet, but when it did, owing to his infor- mation, they would not issue a patent. This wlll leave the land in a queer condition and Rutherford thinks he will be given o chance to take out new homestead papers and thereby leep possession of the land, B the movement seems to be an effcctive one, A house of ill-fame has been running in full t here for some time and there were six doves living riotously therein a few Governor Perkins swore out & rainst two prominent citizens and then went and fold them what he had done, Said he, *Here is a warrant for you two men, one us the owner of the building and the other as agent. You rented it for a house of prostitution. “Now get the women out of there or I will turn this over to the constable for service.” They got, aud the matter is now dropped. . K. Boslough sold his suloon a few days 0 to a party from fowa. It is run_yet in Boslough's name to avoid paying license, This bas been done here before. The people are kicking and the saloon will be closed by the authorities. The council met last night and took action concerning ity Points From Palmer, Paves, Neb., Feb. 25.--[Specnl to the Bee.]—A B. & M. railroad carpenter at this point named J. Silket had his leg severely fractured in a scufflc A republican club will be organized at this point next Thursday, also at St. Paul on Wednesday. Hon. G, D. Meiklejohn will ud- dress both meetings. Palmer’s boom will be immense, business houses have been commenced, and 9 Il follow at an carly dute. dollars worth of business property was sold in one day. The B, & M $L in the state, outside of Omabia and Lincolu, is nearly completed, Kearney's Population, Keanxey, Neb, Feb. 25.—[Special Telee gram to the Bee.|—The city has just come d the work of taking the census which places the population at 7,801 The work was aughly done by Captain Forehand, Judge arih and Mr. Pierson, Kearney will sow Wlvance one step in - class under Nebraska Ten