. Strikers, communists, tramps and detectives . oming in direct contact with thelocal authorities or the military, than upon the use of thatferocious and devilish brutality which disgraced the opera-tions of all bodies of strikers in so many other sections ofthe counti-y. An illustration of this was found in an attempt to movea passenger train west from Ilornellsville, on Sunday morn-ing, July 22d. Several train-loads of passengers had accu-mulated thei-e, and were willing to run any risk in orderto reach their destinations further west. At about nineoclock the train was made up, and after it
. Strikers, communists, tramps and detectives . oming in direct contact with thelocal authorities or the military, than upon the use of thatferocious and devilish brutality which disgraced the opera-tions of all bodies of strikers in so many other sections ofthe counti-y. An illustration of this was found in an attempt to movea passenger train west from Ilornellsville, on Sunday morn-ing, July 22d. Several train-loads of passengers had accu-mulated thei-e, and were willing to run any risk in orderto reach their destinations further west. At about nineoclock the train was made up, and after it was literallycovered with troops it slowly moved out. The road westout of Ilornellsville climbs Tij) Top Summit, one of theheaviest grades on the line, and at least a thousand strikershad detertuined that the train should never reach the top ofthis gi-ade, if a lively application of grease, soa[), and toi-pe-does could prevent it. So it was a question of time, and the strikers used it tothe best of their abilitv. Whenever the train would reach. 358 STRIKES AT BUFFALO AND OTHER POINTS. a greased spot the driving-wheels of the engine would spinlike a top. The engineer would then let on sand, and alittle more speed would be secured. Then a dozen torpe-does would explode amid the deafening yells of the stri-kers, who, in hundreds, ran on beyond the train and workedwith might and main at the soaping and gi-easing. Everystruggle of the engine over the slippery spots would begreeted wich shouts of derisive laughter, terrifying the pas-sengers, discouraging the soldiers, disheartening the engi-neer, but always prompting the strikers to redoubled exer-tions. The struggle was too unequal Tliese liundreds offellows knew just how^ much soap and grease to use, andjust where to use it; and after the train had lal)ored alongthis way for about a mile, the sti-ikers finally captured itand took it back to the city with the wildest demonstrationsof delight. On the morning of July 26th, the strike
Size: 1293px × 1932px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectrailroadstrikeus1877
