Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1878 — WAR ON THE WABASH. [ARTICLE]

WAR ON THE WABASH.

LugKiiHport Journal. Nov. 12.

Difficulties at Delphi Between the Wa - hash and Nan ow Gauge Ko&ds. There was music in the ai*' yesterday morning dtDelphi, the cause being a I'liisii between the interests of the Wabash road aad those of the I. D. & C. Narrow Gauge. That a crisis was bound to come, has been evideut for several days, as it was impossible for lire officials of the wo roads to come Ho an agreement as to tire questions and lights involved. The merits of the case arc about as follows: The Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Narrow Gauge road is now completed to Delphi. In order to proceed with the laying of the track of tae proposed rouie, it is necessary to cross the Wabash road at this point. The I. D. & C. road claims the ridit to lay its rails uireet.y across the Wabash track, which idea istnnp hutically repudiated on the other side. On Saturday night the Narrow Gauge road had been completed up to within.,a very short distance on both sides of the street along which the Wabash runs. At a special meeting of the Delohi Council, held about midnight Sunday night, an ordinance was passed, giving to the Narrow Gauge road the right of way across the street in question. The Narrow G, uge employes were ilien immediately set to work to complete their track at this point. The Wabash roud blocked this game by running.a freight train across the disputed point, uni were thus able to nold the fort. A bloody riot now seemed i eminent. The fire-bells were rung; • lie fire department was called out, and forty of them commissioned as special police to preserve the peace. Several of ihe principals on both sides were arrested and bad to give bui>. The Wabash operator had teh - graphed for assistance, and in a short time oue train load of employes from LaFayette, and another from this city and Peru were hastening toward the scene of the conflict. Upon their arrival affairs lmd quieted down, but threatened lo break o iton theslighte t provocation. The authorities of botli sides had by tills time arrived upon tiie scene of the difficulty, aDd through their efforts the peace was kept. Those leading ones effected a compromise, which was to the effect that the whole matter should be left to Ihe courts to decide. Acting upon this agreement both factions withdrew, and thus the difficulty, which might have resulted in a score of broken heads, and possibly in logs of life, remains to be settled after a legal and civilized method.