New-York tribune., 1874-01-14
A sKIRMIsH AT ToMPKINs SQUARE.

INK GROUND CLEARED BY TIE POLICE FIFTEEN
MINUTES BEFoRE THE HOUR FOR THE MEETING
-REsIsTANCg ENCoUNTERED-A SERGEANT AT
TACKED-A RED FLAG sEHED.
Tompklns- square ls a large, unsghtly IN
closed space bounded by Avenues and and Seventh
and Penthsts Being the proposed rendezvous OF the
projected demonstration yesterday II the chief point
Of interest both in the matter OF police preparations ana
Of rotous proceedings There early congregatedln he
open square large number OF idle and vicious men VINO
were gathered the ground conversng in little KNOTS
and frequently their whispers swelied TO loud and
angry tones, the import OF which was revealed
by the threatening doubling up OF fists toward
the policemen who were stationed not Tar
away "a O'Clock the crowd increased 10 many hund
reds that time the arge reserve squads arrived
from the Eleventh Twentyfrst, lSeventeenth, and
Eighteenth Precincts, with Captains Murphy Alaire
walsh, and lyman, respectively in command. Tue
Sauare being in the Seventeenth Ward Capt Walsh
charge Of force stationed there about 200 in num-
ber. The little army was divided into small squads,
Which were statonedsat the different street and
the various entrances 10 the Square in the command
OF sergeants.
BY 10Y o'clock the square densely packed, there
teng at least 10000 In the vicinity Many carried clubs
heavy sticks which they fourished ercey. 1t had
been arranged 10 clear the square at 10I6 just min
ee before the time announced for the beginning OF the
meeting. AT that moment to a second, Capt Walsh,
with small but compact body OF "a men, in double file,
with drawn baons, marched rapidly through1ne
sses and did not pause til the center Of the was
reached The signal, " Hatv then given, and for
Enute the waited for the arrival OF the
snounted squad. II was a moment Of impatience and
excitement among the police and their officers The
crowd surrounded them every eide; yes and hsses
filed their ears occasional missile fell IN the midst
OF them clubs and other weapons could be above
the rough, angry faces, and, scarcely block away,
hung from the windows OF several OF the houses facing
Commune.
one many insults TO the ire OF the little band,
and, when before their very eyes, daring ruians
sprang into passing street car and attempted
30 rob its inmates, the order gwen TO
charge, although the mounted sgusd not in
sight, The crowd fell back with little
sstADce, though occasionally a small body Of would
pefoee until they soundly beaten with the
pObcemen's clubs. The division of eleven men led by
bergeaDt BergnOd started toward Avenue b. and they
lad reached the sidewalk before body OF about IS
encountered, who made very decided resist
snee Officer Walton grasped one OF the leaders by the
collar and ordered him 10 leave the square. The fellow
einehed with the ofcer and they rolled into the dust
together Sergeant Berghold went TO the and
was intercepted by who carried a white banner
inscrlbed Tenth Ward Arbiter Unon" with which he
struck the Sergeant in the face The officer
rounded, aud felled him the ground with the
heavy portion of billiard enc. The blow followed
by another inflicted his forehead by hammer in the
hands of u member OF the gang At this moment several
fellow Officers spraDg into the crowd striking right and
bf, knocking down a every blow .tand rescued
the Sergeant, who was very badly injured The three
who committed the assault arrested and the
Ssn who nsed the hammer was terribly beaten when
brought into the station blood sreamed down his face
aud saturated his clothing while his hung by BIS
side helpless from broken wrist. The clubbing
general for although the majority OF the persons who
lad gathered il-clad Idlers, many OF them
stubborn and ildsposed. Just at the time when the
last OF the mob scattering through the gates
rounding the square TO the side streets, the mounted
seD led by Capt speght the Twenty Precinct
and Sergeant Nesting gslloped UP Avenue A, and
surned into Seveuthst When they reached Avenue Il,
the order given TO drive the crowd away from the
vicinity altogether A portion Of the squad swept
through Tenth ST. the upper boundary OF the square,
while the remaining detachment cleared Seventh-st.,
the boundary. The heavy hoofs Of the trained
and the drawn clubs ofther riders exercised
wholesome influence upon the crowd and they
slough not with any great evidences OF fear Many dis
appeared into neighboring houses saloons and
Aeyways only To reappear when the chargers
passed but the majority were driven before the
horses first Avenue and then TO Frstave., where
three thousand people collected il the vicinity OF
the seventeenth Precinct Station.
While Capt Walsh clearing the square, Capt. Al
Jae Of the Twenty first Precinct with his detachment
stationed at Avenue and Tenth-st His attention
was directed suddenly 10 body OF men, numbering
shout 23O. who marching down the center OF the
avenue followed by numerous Iabble. The
Leader, Who appeared afterward 20 be Justus
sobwab, @ Communist, carried immense red flag
Which be triumphantly waved over his head. When the
band reached the square Capt Alaire ordered his
scatter them, which was done quickly and vigorously
Communists gnominiously driven down the cross
streets. and the red tsg raed in the dust II was not
many moments afterward when Schwsb reappesred
Win hs banner wrapped about hs body. Capt. Allare
Afde his Inch auuf fle rad "
sdorns the Seventeenth Precinct Station.
The Seventeenth Precinct Station, at Flrstave. and
fItbs, was IN state OF siege for several hours Tie
vigorous treatment OF all loungers about Tom pkins-
sQuare by the police drove them from the vicinity and
they naturally crowded about the spot where 30 many
Of their number imprisoned The people were
fairly crushed IN their endesvors TO view the lively
scenes that constantly occurring and travel was
seriously impedcd. The crowd extended down Ffth-st
and for a block either way Firstave The Jam was
just opposite the entrance Of the station
Policemen were thickly sprnRled among the motley
crowd, and aggressive movement by or boy
was invariably followed by arrest Detectives
Ieaby and Won Gerichten and other officers from the
detective Office also mingled with the crowd and caught
several slful thieves plying their vocation. Both Of
he abovenamed detectives considerably bruised
during one encounter in which they engaged. The
s.orekeepers Ia the vicinity closed their stores
early hour because the rushed in open house
or store hide from the police. Fights were con-
tDusy going on but the police were always victorious
stoDes were thrown frequently by men and
boys who anxious 10 incte mob. and
Tie officers were almost invariably tbeIrA targets.
Several pieces Of rock were thrown with violence
., the crowd Of policemen who guarded the entrance
10 the station but every such assault the signal for
retaliation for misses and Of abuse which
eepstaptly beard every side. Capt Walsh finally lost
all psteDoe In dealing with The miserable men who 90
annoyed him and At about O'Clock he ordered out 8