New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-12
A RIOT IN JERSEY CITY.
STRIKERS AND ITALIANS FIGHTING.


which number of men were seriously injured and
an Italian laborer lost his life, being driven off the
pier into the water, where he was drowned.
From the statements of eye-witnesses, it appears
that party OF ruffians started the disturbance,
and the striking freight handlers on one side and
the Italian aborers on the other. The strikers had
held their usual meeting in the morning at Saint
that the Erie Railroad officials had sent
word that the paymaster of the company
would pay them the wages due them in the after
noon. The business of the meeting consisted in
dividing the city INTO two sections to be canvassed
for contributions by the strikers of the Erie and
Pennsylvania roads, who were furnished with
ians at the Erie station, on Monday, denounced
at the meeting as ruffans and enemies of the
freight-handlers, who were advised by the presi-
dent to keep away from any disturbance III order
that they might not seem implicated.
The men met according to the notice given at the
meeting, at 2:30 p. m., and marched down Payonia-
crossed the yard and passed through the tOur-shed
on their way to Pier No. g, where the paymasteTs
car ear is usually stationed. They ,, were led
X. McNamara. Meanwhile small, party OF
loungers and turbulent persons, whom the strikers
bad tired to dssnade from following them, had en-
tered the flour-shed from the western end and at
tackled with yells the Italian laborers The latter
fled from the shed across the yard, between the
their heels They met the body of strikers and
seized with fresh terror. Instead of the large
force of police who have been at this point since the
strike began there only Sergeants Jellifie and
Scanlon and three special officers. The police
ranged themselves across the entrance OF Pier NO.
to prevent the strikers from entering and interior
ing with the large body OF Russian Jews at work
there.
BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT.
Meanwhile the Italians had run among the
feight-cars beyond the pier, and from the shelter
of these began to fire their pursuers. Previous
assaults and mtimidations had apparently made
them think that when the strikers appeared they
must fight or run to save their lives. Up to this
time the body of the strikers had re,
NAMED orderly. party of them had
tried to enter the pier to get a drink
of water but being refused had gone to hydrant
Ii tie distance from the main party. Here John
HAYES one of their number, received q pistol shot
in The back of the head as he was drinking. Ihe
shooting incensed the strikers and they charged on
the Italians although Mr. Mcnamara and the fore
man on the pier and the policemen tried to
restrain them. The shots came in quick succession
from the demoralized Italians, while the strikers,
picking up coupling pins and whatever they could
lay hands on to throw strike WITH drove them up
and down between the cars and across the tracks
toward H0bOken. Several hand-to-hand lights oc-
cured when the Italians generally drew some kind
of knife stiletto OH their assailants. When nea
Pier No. s another small body OF policemen and
special officers sought to check the mob, and they
tried to keep the strikers from overtaklng the
Italians. Some of the latter ran all the way to
Hoboken, where they took refuge IN q
polce-staton, being nearly exhausted, and
beaten. One of them was thrown down and terri
bly beaten on the way; he was carried TO q shanty
near Grove and Fifteenth-sts.
DROWNING OF AN ITALIAN.
Part of the Italians tried to find refuge on Pier
No. 8, where another body of their countrymen
were working. Some of the strikers charged down
this pier driving the Italians board of q barge
used to transport them across the river, which
Law a few feet from the pier Three of the Italians
fell into the water and one of them was drowned
the others, being pulled out by their companions
The barge Was allowed to drift away from the pier,
and the intervening water served TO stop the fight.
Many of the Italians jumped into the hold
of the barge. At the first sound of pistol shots DO,
lice aid was telegraphed for to the Second
Precinct and to Police Headquarters. Chief
Murphy ordered out all the reserves, including the
night force and all the men that could be spared
from the day force. Captain Mckay, of the Fourth
Precinct, and Captain Glenney, of the Third Pre-
cinct marched with the Chief to the yards with the
main body of reserves, while Captain Edmundson,
of the second Precinct with the rest, guarded the
local station, where another assault was antici-
pated Mounted police were detailed TO communl-
cate between the various points The arrival OF
the reserves prevented probably a bloody not, as
the strikers greatly excited and the presence
of the immigrants on the other piers was
great temptation for further fight. Some of the
Strikers aided the police in keeping their compan-
ions in bounds.
St. MichaePs Institute, where President Nc
Namara called the meeting ort TO- .,noints order
to go to the Erie yards and try to identity
some of the Italians who had used weapons In the
riot. 1t was also resolved not to receive any pay
from the company yesterday. The officers of the
ity TO tell the strikers that they
would be paid YESTERDAY Thle the the men sR
a railroad empoye. The officials, hearing that the
men were coming for their money sent word to
the paymaster III this city, aud he crossed the river
to pay the men. The paymasters car was run up
near the local station at about D p m., but only
few strikers were given thelr wages.
ARREST OF FOURTEEN MEN.
The committee of strikers went to Pier No. with
Chief Murphy. They boarded the barge on which
the Italians had taken refuge. The latter were or
dered on deck, and were searched for weapons,
while the strikers pointed out those who they knew
had fred on them. Fourteen Italians arrested
for assault with intent to kill or for carry
ing concealed Weapons nine belug taken TO Pollee
Headuuarters and five TO the Second Precinct. 1t
was impossible to get their names correctly, as
there was no interpreter, although the police
sergeants tried to invent names out OF their repes'
The Italians had hidden most OF tn ar weapons III
the barge. diligent search resulted III the lndlng
of ten revolvers and sixty-hve daggers and KNIVES
There were pieces of scissors old files sharpened,
SG oHa dSEs GEasp Most aRVss Of '9Ss aSs
revolvers had empty chambers. some
of Nhe knives, foot in length, were pulled
out of the Italians boots their owners meahw1ite
looking Oh nonchalanty with the most stold indif-
ference to thing, apparently After the search
the barge brought those who were POT arrested 10
This cIty About thirty dirks of all kinds and five
revovers were found ON Italians at other piers and
taken TO the Second Precinct Station AS the po-
iicemen were conveying the Italian prisoners
TO Police Headquarters. the cars containing them
were attacked by crowd. They climbed on the
platforms and were only prevented from wIeaklng
vengeance on the prisoners by free use of clubs
and a show of reyolyers. ,,o
Soon after the riot, Sergeant Jellife arrested
Jack" Crimmens, by order OF Chief Murphy, tor
being one of its meters, and took him
10 the Second Precinct Police station.
Matthew Socum and +. ii. Percy, deck hands
on the barge Jessie Hook, were arrested on charge
of mans aughter for allowing the Italian laborer 10
drown at the end of Pier No 3. The captain OF the
barge says that the men were not to blame 1or the
occurrence.