Pullman/Aru Strike Mail Of 1894?

While the San Francisco Bicycle mail covers in response to the American Railway Union (ARU) strike are well known, does 14 days in transit from St Louis to Seattle likely represent delay due to the Pullman/ARU Strike of approximately May 11, 1894-July 20, 1894?

Shown are the front and reverse, then the 4 postmarks as the cover went from St Louis MO to Seattle WA taking 14 days although not marked as delayed! Then forwarded back on the same day to St Louis taking 6 days. I find no references in the daily Postal Bulletins relating to the strike despite the historic connection to the RMS, etc.



Origin postmark June 30, 1894:

Received postmark: Seattle, WA, 7:30AM, July 14, 1894:

Second origin postmark to begin its journey back: Seattle, WA, 1PM, July 14, 1894:

Second received postmark from return leg: St Louis, July 20, 1894


As additional data points for typical long-distance transit times, here are three covers from the same era:
San Francisco CA to Chicago IL, 4 days in 1898:

San Francisco CA to Delaware OH, 6 days in 1897:

Spokane WA to Philadelphia PA, 5 days in 1900:


I would politely ask that replies relate directly to vintage rail transit times and delays and NOT to anything current.

I have no answers, but this is an interesting topic and worthy of a bump. Are there no RPO fans who could speak to this?

I too am puzzled at the lack of replies.