Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1901 — FARMERS HOLD UP A TRAIN. [ARTICLE]

FARMERS HOLD UP A TRAIN.

Kansans Take Vigorous Measures to Procure Harvest Hands. Driven to desperation by sight of their rich fields being ruined for want of harvesters, a party of twenty Osage County (Kansas) farmers held up a west-bound Santa Fe train Tuesday night to obtain the help necessary for reaping their grain. No. 55 was pulling out of Peterson, a small town, when four husky, heavily armed fanners entered the engine cab and ordered the engineer to stop at a certain crossing a mile south of that place. At the same time others pointed revolvers at the conductor and brakemen, and when the train stopped compelled them to cut loose from the two emigrant cars containing harvest hands bound for the Western fields. Then there was a fierce conflict between the harvesters, who resented the vigorous measures taken by the wouldbe employers. Finally, however, after several of each party had been severelyinjured, a compromise was effected by several persons not engaged in the con.flict, and the two hundred harvesters agreed to work in Osage County at $3.50 a day.