The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-09
IS THIS ALL Gas J?
Dxairs Becoming Critical in the
Strike Of the GaSmen.
THE "STRIKERS" BELLIGERENT.
The New Employees Beaten and
Pursued in the Streets.
An Appeal from the Outs" to
the Legislature.
THE NEW EMPLOYEES PROTECTED.
THE NEW EMPLOYEES PROTECTED.
The Officials Of the Companies Express Their
Views on "the Situation"
PROBABLE FAILURE OF THE "STRIKE."

Probable FAILURE Of The STRIKE"
The strike Of the gasmen assumed a very serious
phase yesterday 1t was feared early in the morn
ing that the scene OF the 1913 riots might again
become theatre Of bloodshed and starting
point for labor riots which might extend all over
the island The gasmen had been loleu III their
attempts that was plain from the beginning. me
wretched Italians who had sought on this Con-
tinent the exile promised to the humble peasant Oh
the servile powers OF Europe, had supplanted the
regular and skilled gasmen and had furnished a
Temporary expedlent to sbeat" strikes. The gas
men saw this; they saw that all their
humane appeals would be made in vain; that
the severe toll which they had undergone for years
would count for nothing because there was q
paupcr population on Wards Island which would
work for unreasonable compensaton-tha is
for mere existence. Could any other force have
trlumphed over this strike 1t is safe to say no.
1t was an accident which brought these Italians to
our Shores and it was bitter disappoin tment to
the strikers when they were wedged in between
the employers and the employed to decide ques-
ton which no human power has yet succeeded in
deciding against the laboring men OF the country.
1t was regarded as a sort of North Adams expert
ment; as introducing low-priced, "Chinese"
stan dard with which to compel obedience and to
for this guse de gue,ve this introduction of pauper
Italians and unemployed Germans to replace them
before the furnace doors and reorts. coup, as it
was, 1t exasperated them, and the violent actions
OF yesterday were the result
ITALIANS AND GERMANS WERE ASSAULTED,
badly beaten, cut and had to run for their lives
when they appeared in the streets about Twenty
first street and avenue A. The scenes up to night
fall reminded the passer and sojourner of the pre-
Jude to the bloody days OF the 18th of July and the
nevertobe forgotten riots OF 49, The rail balconies
Of the tenement houses were crowded with ill-clad
women and children, while the narrow entrances
on the sidewalks were occupied by people hoping
to beat hasty retreat in case of danger. The
rOughs and those Of rlotOus disposition gathered
about the street corners and lowered around the
doors of the gin shops and muttered threats
against the Italians and Germans The Eighteenth
precinct Is not frequented by the most angelic peo
pie in the world, and the newcomers from Wards
Island have not sweetened the dispositions of the
old Inhabitants.
1t was curious spectacle yesterday afternoon
TO witness the carts, laden with mattresses and
pillows, drive up to the works ana discharge their
These imprecati0ns were not loud, but they
were none the less emphatic. In the mean,
their same diplomatic, but foolish line. Of
conduct; and while protesting to be candid they
truth. The atmosphere was one OF embarrassment;
1t might be said, of positive fear None OF the COM
panys officials were frank and an assumes eesta conf
any serious disturbance had occurred yesterday the
press would not owe anything to the super-ser-
vicabe 'bl0wers" who manufacture Importance
and gas in equal quantities at the New YORK works.
They could not provide coal gas and they would
not provide apologies in lieu Of Illuminating gas.
Mr.. Everett the President, is always ready to ex
plain any matter concerning his relations with
the public, but his subordinstes sail on the other
tack and hoist different coIors.
THE SUPERINTENDENT
assured HERALD representative yesterday that
himself satisfied, and that the quantity of gas
would be largely in excess Of that OF the day be-
wandered to the Cronp OF gas tanks which usually
loom skyward on avenue A, but only one OF them
had risen into any All s Sdaq quiet
surrounded by policemen. stroll down Twenty.
FIRST street to the East River disclosed
TIE ITALIANS AT WORK.
But IL was necessary to stand before the barred
windows In order to measure these improvised fire.
TO their new employment well. Five retorts are in
Q group ard ltalia's sons are required TO charge
these retsrts with coal, to charge the furnaces
which re0erate the gas from the coal and to seal
IN the doors Of the retorts with plastic clay. The
novices would not talk much. Probably they had
been instructed not to speak to the inquistive
At six O'Clock, when the great laboring popula-
tion Of the Eighteenth precinct were returning
home, 1t was hardly possible for workman to pass
by the gas works with safety.
IN THE STREETS
was q gasman talking to has petty group there
soon gathered large circle, and wherever there
was a suspicious laborer he was pursued by the
ruiiians who borrowed the livery OF the gasmen in
order to satisfy their rlOtous appeLites. One mo-
ment 1t was party movement down the avenue,
the next moment surgng crowd pressing up the
there would be blood. They said it looked very
dark and were satisfied that 1t would be des-
perate night in the Eighteenth precinct. over
eighty policemen were on duty, and every man
was armed with club, though no weapons were
PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE.
At meeting OF the gasmen at their hall yester-
day, In the morning, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted
Resolved, That delegation of members Of the Cos
and assembly the state Of Affairs as "y now
In the ys scos ga gas wSk in this city and mat
The property Of said gas COMPANIES and that the property
BY he city Y and opepaed DSas the
the Right Hour law be enforced at said works
AT THE POLICE STATION
in Twentysec0nd street, near the scene OF the dis
turbance, a heavy force was Kept in reserve
were attacked in the streets fed at once to the
staton-house as the haven Of safety. The arrested
men were at once locked up, and the wounded,
after being cared Tor. were conducted to their
homes. .The Captain OF the Eighteenth precinct
liable to occur at any moment, and that he had
issued the strictcst orders for the dispersion
Of all crowds on the street corners Il the money
that they could become intoxicated, riot was not
Improbable. The Captains experience In this
ward warranted him In saying that the aspect OF
affairs looked very cloudy lie did not believe that
the strikers as body INTENDED to make any dis
turbance, but that their friends and the men who
had done s.subn work in the retort house appeared
to desire row. If the manifestations continued
to increase the patrolmen would he instructed to
compel everybody to leave the streets and TO go
TO their homes. The Captain felt perfectly able with
the aid which he already had and was promised
from the several precincts to quel any riot which
might occur.
NO FURTHER ADDITIONS TO THE "oUrs."
TIE strikers OF the New York Gas Company, to
the number OF eighty men, marched across
Nineteenth street yesterday to the west