Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-07
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A New Haven (Conn.) special says: Out
on WORK, declaring that nothing could be
aaded 10 the sufferings they have expe-
rfebced Tor the past two weeks. 1,500 hat
H,s OF south Norwalk to-day gave almost
iuii vent 10 the desperate feelings which
naNe been animsting them. Early In the
forenoon excited crowds began to gather
on tbe streets of tie town. Before noon
III uhwonied press Of determined shop.
nabus covered the square or open space IN
front OF The Norfolk and Danbury railroad
oinces. Men, who have worked years
ID Tue hai-factories gathered on the
corners anu collected about the hotel,
loudly expressing their indign ,tion at what
they characterized "a the Infamous treat
men. OF their employers. The firms OF
Adams. VINO, less than month ago. male
the first reduction Of wages, came In for
special attack by the operators. In other
strikes at this point, where a great local
Industry has been the be allv of exist
ence. the union-men have not been wholly
q controlling power. But things went DIFF
trentiy Yesterday, when al most every shop
hand became excitedly "union- in his
sentiments and violently ami openly de-
nunciatory OF the "bosses." The l,J00
angry people on the street felt that they
really bad grievance, and did not hesitate
TO say so.
As the crowds surged about the streets
efforts to quiet them were made. Such
attempts were futile. The strikers were In
no humor 10 listen 10 anything but full
and Immediate restoration OF the old scale
OF wages. Only the oflice-h ands'and a few
loyal foremen. favored men, surrounded
the heads OF the various factories when the
whistles blew for work, and long before 10
O'Clock the doors were hastily closed. At
noon the bitter feeling OF the strikers al
most reached climax, and threats Of firing
the factories were heard from the
hotter beaded. The better Judgment
OF the law-abiding men, however, over
came all such thoughts. Nevertheless, the
crowds at the station continued TO be aug
mented. The matters imported by Croffutt
& Knapp. who refused to work when their
fellow-workmen might be injured, were
the object Of much admiring attention.
From the station and post office steps the
recognized leaders OF the movement, with
an abundant following OF strikers, kept up
their midday journeys TO the bar and cor
lidors OF the Mackahemo Hotel and sur
rounding places. One brawny halter dis
tributed copies OF Danbury paper and
certain Newark and New York papers, In
which the following advertisement, signed
by South Norwalk firms, was conspcuously
placed:
WANTED. - Independent men; curriers',
fnishers. and blockers; good wages and
permanent positions guaranteed"
This bit OF reading kept up the excite
ment. Frequent appeals TO the hatters
were made by the head OF the city, and
Go cfr
vainly eDdeavoring 10 calm the growing
fury Of the mob.
Before . o'clock matters became more
quiet. over in the adjacent town OF Nor
walk conferences between the city auth ,ri-
ties. especially between the Chef OF Police
and the "bosses," were being held. The
matters. hea,ing OF this. dispatched repre-
sentatiyes there. who declared that no vio-
Ierce was proposed, nor would the factory
buildings be injured by the strikers. The
Mayor was cautioned against placing belief
in the stories OF the members OF the leading
firms. He was told that Cr0ffutt Il Knapp
and Coffin Il IIurlbut were trying TO create
the Impression that violence was medtated
only TO serve their own ends. Such seems
TO have been the actual fact. Nevertheless.
kilograms flew thick and fast during the
afternoon. The following telegram was
addressed to Governor Waller:
"NoRwALK, December 5, 1884.
$40 His ExcelIency Governor Waller:
"The manufacturers OF South Norwalk
most respectfully call upon you for pro-
lection, the city being in the hands OF a
mob, and our lives and property in danger.
The Mayor and Sheriff are unable to give
us the requisite assistance"
a .ot Ia - tf.n
NOrwalk station from New York was closely
watched. Every passenger who had the
misfortune to quit his train at South Nor
walk was the subject OF rigorous scrutiny,
which was not at all comfortable. How
ever, IL Glanced. none OF the help so enter
prisingly advertised for by the manuiac-
turers poured into the town yesterday, or,
il they did, they must have been swallowed
up by the unbrOken and defiant ranks OF the
striking matters. The presence OF Mr. c.
Haggerty. the president OF the National
Haltcrs' Association. lent additional conf
dence 10 the strikers. Since yesterday
funds have been coming in from outside
quarters. a great deal OF this money has
been spent in visiting workmen who had
been induced to Join the strikers.
There was a grim determination about
the strikers throughout the day which
struck outsiders uniavorably. No men,
bers Of the reducing firms appeared upon
the streets. They had gone early In the
the forenoon over TO NOrwalh. where the
disorder was less. A noticeable feature OF
the day was the absence Of women and
children from the thoroughfares. When
the mob continued TO surge about
the depot late in the afternoon the
timid fears OF many OF the inhabitants
began 10 be visibly aroused. In many OF
the stores the shutters were put on at dusk,
and with darkness the anxiety much in
creased. Most Of the hltters who had
come on from Newark, \. j., hal been pre-
vailed upon TO leave NOrwalk. Ats O'Clock
the rumOr circulated that some 300 hands
would reach here from Boston. In eXpec-
tatiOn Of this event the crowds continued
to surround The depot. But the workmen
from the Hub didn't arrive.
The greatest indignation was expressed
by the strikers when it became known that
their employers had been telegraphing for
protection. The report had gone forth
that Bridgeport and New Haven had been
asked for police assistance, and that spe-
cial train was on It's way with militia. TINS
only served to intensity the workmen's
feelings. At 10 O'Clock the crowd grew
aiger. still no violence was Of
fered, and no threats were openly
made. The reports spread by the
manufacturers that the town was threat
ened with mob-rulc soryed toput the work
men on their guard. Every care was tiken
to preserve order, and no serious outbreak
occurred. At midnight this bulletin WAS
issued and sent out by the strikers to Va
rious parts Of the county:
mo riots. no disorder, no fires at South
Norwalk. The city is perfectly quiet and
has been. Good order prevails, ali reports
to the contrary notwithstanding"
EDWIN L. BUSH,
&. ;. CROTFUTT,
GEORGE HALIOCK,
Executive Strike COMMITTEES;
CHRISTIAN SCHWARTZ,
Sheriff Fairfield county.
CONFIDENT with the issuance OF this dis
patch a committee OF twelve strikers were
Aofo;IaJ 20 uofch tho dgnntS az tlp New