The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-07-23
FORCED TO FIGHT.
Nearly 1000 Cleveland Mil Men March
on a Plate Mill In Vain.
Repulsed by Police In Ambush---Forty
strikers and Four Policemen Wounded,
Some OF Them Fatally.

CLEVELAND, July l5.-The Cleveland
Rolling MIL Company succeeded In
starting all the departments of the plate
mill this morning, and thereby precipi-
a'ed the most serious disturbance that
has yet arisen from the wage dispute
between the w0rkmen and their en-
plOyers, A squad Of patrolmen guarded
the mil all night, In apprehension of
an attack from The atrikers, but no die.
turhance Of any kind occurred. This
morning 80 patrOlmen were set TO
guard the gates and prevent inter.
ference with the men who might choose
10 return TO work,
About 3 o'clock q large mass meeting
was held at the foot OF Fullerton street
and an attack on the plate mill was
agreed upon. AT the close OF the meet.
ing mo strikers, nearly all Poles and
BohemIans, formed In procession and
marched toward the plate mill. The
superintendent Of the latter had been
apprlsed Of their coming, and the men
AT work were quietly dismissed 10 their
homes and preparations were made 10
resist the attack,
In the meantime the police had been
notified that here was mischief In the
| air. Runners were sent out and 70.
turned with the intelligence that
small'slzed army was advancing on the
mill. The police, 81 In number, under
command Of Sergeants Dunn aud John.
son, were drawn up inside the mill yard,
awaiting the attack, Word was also
sent TO the Central station, and an extra
squad OF police was at once dispatched
70 the scene Of the impending conflict
The mill yard H. separated from Hsna
street by n high board fence very strong.
ly constructed. A wide gate afforded
the only means OF ingress. About five
o'clock the mob arrived ut the mill, after
u march OF two miles. The men were
angry aud determined All were armed
with stout clubs but no are arms were
exhibited. Deputy Mcmahon stood his
ground, and engaged In q parley with
the riDgleaders. He advised them TO 20
home peacefully, for they would surely
be beaten II they attacked the police.
This the men reiusek TO do. rhey had
come 10 dem0lsh the mill, and they
would not leave until this was accom-
pllshed.
Deputy Mcmahon held back the crowd
fully ten minutes, when the onset came.
Stones, clubs and other missiles were
hurled at the officers, and Mcmahon, 70.
treating, gave the word for the charge
by the officers. A desperate aght en-
sued, A few of the strikers rushed
through the gate and met the police In.
side the yard. Here ths conflict was OF
short duration. The foreigners were
speedily driven Into the street. The
strikers fought we'll for q few moments.
V0lltys OF stones were hurled at the DO
lice, and stout clubs In the hands of
brawny men did terrible execution; but
the pOlicemen's blllets triUmphed In the
end. The un0rganized mob could not
long Withstand the onslaught of 10 large
a body OF disciplined men, and hand.
to-hand conflict OF perhaps ten minutes
settled the battle. The rioters scattered
and He'd In all directions. A running
| Aghtwas kept up for some time. but
when the reinforcements arrived from
the Central station the fight was over.
IL has been q serious one for both sides.
The casualties among the rioters were
much more serious, but their real ex.
tent Is not yet known. As rapidly as
the men were Injured they were helped
10 the rear, where wives and friends re.
ceiyed them and hurried them home.
Not u policeman could be found whose
club did not bear evidence OF contact
with the skull Of q striker.
Six OF the rioters we're captured In the
melee, oil OF them pretty well used up.