The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-14
Employees Driven from Their Work and
Clubbed and Beaten, and a large
Amount of Property Destroyed.
Captain Edwin Nicar Badly Beaten by
a Number of the Enraged Strikers.
One Man Mortally Hurt and Ten or Dozen
WOunded-Threats of Another Attack
on the Works This Morning.
ORIGIN OF THE RIOT.

1 anu TFOPOFVy DOSuONeus
| Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SOUTH BEND, Jan. l3.-The most serious riot
that ever occurred in this section of the State
was inaugurated at the Oliver Chilled Plow
Works last evening, by about two hundred Poles
and few Hungarians, who are employed in the
grindngroon,. The business of these men is to
polish plows The work is done by the piece,
and at the time they struck they were earning
from 81. so to 81 or more day. Nearly three
months ago the divers found that goods were
accumulating in their ware HOUSES in different
parts of the country and they decided to restrict
production. As to shut down entirely would
throw over thousand men out of work
during the entire winter they decided to run on
half time at the old rate of wages. This plan
was tried for few weeks, but was unsatisfacto-
| ry to the men, and particularly to those in the
grinding room. The divers then proposed to
run on full time, at an average reduction of l23
per cent in wages. At this proposition the
| Poles. almost to a man, threw down their tools
and walked out Of the factory. The works
were then shut down. This state of affairs con-
tinued for three weeks. The ringleaders among
the Poles tried to incise them to acts Of violence
Incendiary speeches were made by imported and
| lOCdi SpCdhcTS pludJly, dlbcT lying Out Va WOAh
three weeks a committee from the Poles waited
on the divers and begged them to start up and
| give them work. They expressed themselves
willing to work at the l23 per cent. reduction
On the 9th of December the divers started up,
and took back all but the rngeaders in the
former strike. These they refused to employ un
der any CIRCUMSTANCES
The factory ran smoothly in all the depart
ments until few days ago, when the Poles in
the moldingrooms and grinding rooms began
complaining that they were not receiving enough
money. They were told to put their grievances
| in writing, and present them at the Office.
through committee and the matter would be
considered. The fact that they did not do this
Immediately showed that they were being man
ipulated by the discharged rlngleaders. Yes
teraay they again demanded of the superintend-
ent an increase of wages-not only restoration
of the 12a per cent cut but an additional raise of
IL per cent over that They were again told to re-
duce their demands to writing and present them in
proper form at the office. Instead, the Poles in
the grinding room stopped work late in the af
ternoon, and, arming themselves with irons and
clubs, marched into the other departments, and
demanded that the men quit work. Where any
refused to comply, they were attacked with
clubs, and those who fought back beaten
senseess. The belts were cut to stop the ma
chinery, and finally a rush was made for the
engine -room and the engineer forced to shut
off steam and stop the works. Having done
this, the rioters went home.
THE RIOT RENEWED.
This morning before daylight they gathered
in full force at the factory gates and declared
nobody should enter. AS fast as the workmen
came they were driven of, in spite of the eff
forts of the sheriff, marshal and policemen.
One of the policemen was roughly handled by
the mob. At 7:15 o'clock Captain Ed Nicar, de-
partment commander of the G. A. r. in this
State, and belonging to the divers Office force,
came to the Office and was warned that he could
not go in. He replied that his duties called him
to his desk, and he proposed to 60 there. He
reached the office steps, which on the street,
without much trouble, but as he started up the
steps the mob began crowding him and hand
ing him roughly. AT the top of the steps, as he
took the keys from his pocket to unlock the
door, he was struck a severe blow on the right
side of the head; the club cut a great cash, and
blood spurted freely. Captain Nicar turned
to defend. himself, and received a SINH
lar blow on the left side Of
his head. Officer Lew Keller and
Major Julius Waldsmith. veteran soldier,
rushed to his rescue and were both clubbed. Of
fcer Keller receiving serious injuries. Captain
Ncar got the door open. but not unit! he was cut
on his right hand and received many blows 1t
was reported that he was killed, but when the
Office was telephoned he answered it himself,
stating that he was in bad shape and besieged in
the Office with only q ffteen-y -year-od Office boy,
Burt Berner, to help him; both were armed,
and would hold the fort until relief came They
made preparations to give the mob warm re-
ception, and keep them at bay for two
hours, when the Veteran Guards who had been
hastily gathered from their places Of business,
double quicked up the street with fixed
bayonets. under command of Captain John
Hughes and Lieutenant-colonel Joseph Turneck
of the State militia. At sight OF the guards
the mob fell sullenly back. The troops
were drawn up in front of the factory Office, fac
ing outwards and Colonel Turneck distributed
ammunition. The rioters hssed and made
demonstrations with their clubs and few
threw stones, but at the command 'chargs
bayonets!" they fell back pell NELL, knocking
each other down in their hurry to get away from
the close proximity of the bayonets.
Before the troops arrived the rioters beat
open the gates and swarmed in. The gate Office
was destroyed and Mr.. Card, the gate e-keeper, at
tackled and fatally injured Once inside the
yard the work Of destruction began. One
gang ran to the warehouse, twelve
hundred feet long. and with huge hammers
broke plows and injured the building and stock
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