The Steamboat Strike That Tied Up the Sound

THE STEAMBOAT STRIKE Manager W. H. Holcomb Abandons His First Position. The Offerers Attempt to Resume Work at the Old Rates—A Partial Reconciliation.

The chief topic of conversation in waterfront circles yesterday was the strike among the employees on the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's steamers. All sorts of exciting rumors were flying about during the day; one was that there was to be a general demand on the part of all the officers for an increase of from 10 to 25 per cent over the old rates. It was positively stated that the officers held a meeting during the afternoon for the purpose of taking united action looking toward an advance of 10 per cent in their salaries. The meeting was not unanimous enough in resolution, and the movement was abandoned by a majority of those who attended it.

At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Oregon Railway and Navigation steamer Olympian arrived from Victoria, and left for Tacoma at 6:35 in the evening. In the interim the officers of the steamer Olympian were seen, and they expressed the intention of tying up the steamer as soon as she arrived at Tacoma.

The steamer George K. Starr arrived from Whatcom at 3 o'clock yesterday morning and at once was tied up to the dock. The officers all refused to accept the reduction.

One of the striking officers was seen yesterday and expressed himself as follows in regard to the strike: "The wages heretofore in existence on the O.R. & N. Steamers are 30 per cent fewer than are paid on the same class of boats in the vicinity of San Francisco. What I blame the O.R. & N. company for in the present case is for not giving us a month's warning. If they had said to us, 'On the 1st of next month wages will be reduced 10 per cent,' those who did not care to submit to such a cut could quit at the end of the month and their places could be supplied with cheaper men. The company didn't do that, however, but made the reduction in one step. In essence, the company said, 'Accept this reduction of 10 per cent or walk ashore.' This left no alternative for us but to tie the steamers up to the dock and leave them there. In doing this we were simply obeying orders issued from headquarters at Omaha; so it is not our fault the steamers are tied up. We do not particularly care how soon the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company replaces us with cheaper men. Our position is simply this: The Oregon Railway & Navigation Company wished us to work for 19 percent less than we were receiving and we refused to accept the terms. I cannot see either why this reduction in wages was made, as the steamers of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company never made more than at present. The reason of the reduction is more than any fellow can find out."

At 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon a dispatch was received from Captain Clancy of Tacoma stating that General Manager W. H. Holcomb of Omaha had telegraphed for the officers to go back to their duties at the old rates. This seemed satisfactory to all but the second engineers and mates on the Steamer Hayward and North Pacific who demanded an advance of 10 per cent on the old rates. The second engineer and mates of the George K. Starr expressed themselves as satisfied at the old rates and that steamer left for Whatcom at 9:50 last evening.

The wages of those affected by the strike are as follows: Captains, $125 and $135 per month, varying according to length of service and size of steamer commanded. First officers, $60 to $75; pursers, $50; chief engineers, $100 to $110; second engineers, $50 to $75; stewards, $35. In all cases in addition to wages the officers received board and lodging.

It is due to Captain Thomas Davis to state that he was not included in the cut of wages and therefore had no cause to join in the general strike.

The Fleetwood and Skagit Chief did a rushing business yesterday between this city and Tacoma. The Puget Sound Shortline railroad will put on an extra train between this city and Tacoma during the strike. It will leave here daily at 3 p.m.