“Towers At Montreal Blown Up,” Border Cities Star. August 19, 1931. Page 1. ---- POWER LINES DYNAMITED; BLAME STRIKERS ---- MONTREAL, Que., August 19. - Two towers carrying high tension transmission wires bringing power to the Montreal Light, Heat, and Power Company, were dynamited this morning at ten o’clock and the city was running on a curtailed supply of electric current. Crowds of workmen were hurried to the Rosemount section of Montreal where the power lines were broken. Fear was expressed by power officials that attacks would be made upon the Cedar Rapids transmission line and the city left without any power.
The broken lines were those which bring power from Shawinigan Falls.
Since the strike of some 175 linesmen of the Montreal Light, Heat, and Power Company, two weeks ago, in protest against the refusal of the company to recognize their union, there have been almost daily reports of damage to the company’s property. Many transmission line towers and poles have been damaged. The strike committee declared they had no knowledge of these acts and expressed the belief that none of the strikers were concerned. Officials of the union furthermore offered to form a protective patrol from among the strikers to guard against sabotage. The power company established armed guards at various strategic points but no arrests have been made and dynamiting of poles has continued with startling regularity.
Last night a power transmission pole at Summerica, a western suburb, was blown up and a large section of the Lakeshore Colony was in darkness for nearly three hours. ---- MONTREAL, Que., August 19. - J. W. McCallum, general secretary of the Canadian Electrical Trades Union of Montreal linesmen and helpers stated today that local officials know ‘absolutely nothing’ of the dynamiting of power lines of the Montreal Light, Heat, and Power Company in and about Montreal. These outrages, the latest of which occurred this morning have been reported almost daily since some 175 linesmen went on strike as protest against the company’s refusal to recognize the union.
