The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-04-10

duu DCduLy, uHIli HOW SfeOle Is dlIuOSC
a meaningless word, except as it re-
fers to the people of other times.
THE STREET CAR DRIVERS,
and in fact all the working men con-
nected with the street car line in the
city, about 5000 men, have been on a
strike since Saturday afternoon. It
came to many like a thunder-clap, and
$4,000 people were and still are, great
ly Inconvenience. Thousands Of Wis.
itors were scattered about, miles away
from their stopping places, with no
dependence but to street cars to get
back home. The situation was a
frightful one, and to add to
the charm it was soon pour
ing down rain. Cabs were sent
for when it could be done, and as they
are allowed to charge extortionately,
they made a big haul. Furniture
wagons, buggies, carriages, express
wagons, laundry wagons, push carts,
in fact everything that could convey a
woman or haul a man, was out raking
in the dollars at a ruinous rate. PEG.
pie came in wet and muddy, came in
at all hours of the night, and wives
excused their husbands for late hours
and allowed them a warm toddy. The
whole thing was such a surprise, and
seemed so ridiculous that the visitors
generally took the matter as pleasant
ly as possible, laughing and crying
and swearing by turns. The multitude
were in sympathy with the drivers,
but yesterday things commenced to
assume a serious turn. The Drivers
association determined not to work
and to do violence to any one who
dared to drive a car. Now and then,
all through the day a struggling car
could be seen going out through the
rain, and persons who had not heard
the news would board the car and pay
their fare, only to be left at the car
stables or some other distant place.
AS the day wore on men who dared to
drive a car were caught and beaten
for their i%mpudencc, and in many
cases mules were unhitched and the
cars left standing on the street and in
some cases lifted across the track. A
number OF the associates were locked
up by the police, and along in the af-
ternoon a general riot was feared and
the sympathies of the people turned
against the street car men. Ladies in
many places felt that they we're not
safe on the streets.
In the afternoon there occurred
A RIOT AT LEE CIRCLE.
There was a large collection of men
and boys, black and white, at the cor
ner of Canal and Royal and spreading
all over the neutral ground. They
were standing still, shuttiing round on
their feet, craning their necks, then
pulling them in, as if trying to draw a
Prytania street car in sight, and asking
all sorts of questions relative to the
strike and how they were to get up
town.
There were strangers in that crowd
who were anxious to get somewhere,
ladies with tired feet, and little chill
dren holding them by the hands; men,
wives and mothers, who wanted to get
home, and whenever a car rolled up to
the stand a rush was made, a scram-
BILE for seats, and q push to gain en-
trance, were the occupations Of the
moment. The trips were growing in
frequent and much further apart, for
committeeman of the strikers were
p%ersuading and frightening the men
off the cars, which in consequence
soon ceased to run.
The reporter then walked out to
Baronne street where one of the Car
rollton line was ready to move up
town. 1t was jammed when it left the
stand, and the mules could scarcely
pull it along. 1t was then quarter to
3. AS it turned from Delord street to-
ward st. Charles and neared Lee place
it stopped. just ahead, on the down
track, was car No. 81 of the same line
surrounded by an Infatuated crowd,led
by a striker named Mason. The driver
of No. 81, a mar named Depez, was
dragged v e the dashboard, knocked
down, kicked and brutally used. On
regaining his feet he started to run and
was pursued and beaten. He finally
sought refuge in a house on St. Charles
street, the mob following him to the
door and breaking the flower vases
that were on the side of the steps.
Mason then, followed by his gang.
returned down the track, stopping
cars 81 and SO, taking out the mules
and driving them off. He was ours
ing, yelling, defying the law, shout
ing. wanting to fight, abusing bystan-
ders, %assaulting passengers, and, back
ed by his followers, began ordering
people away and threatened to whip
any mar who dared open his mouth.
MIR. Charles Ranlet, who was stand
ing on the front platform of car No.
81 at the time Mason unhitched the
mules, demonstrated at the action be-
ing taken, saying that the passengers
had paid their fare, and were entitled
to a trip up town. Mason replied by
Wiley cursing him, and climbing upon
the dashboard struck him alongside
the face. "Where did you come from,
anyway" demanded Mason. II was
raised here among you, and the SYM
pathies of the people which have been
with you will be withdrawn and you
will be the sufferers by it," replied
MIR. Ranlet. ''Well," said Mason,
I'VE are now running this and will
down things for the present"
People who protested were ordered
to keep quiet or it would be the worse
for them, "they weuld get the same that
the driver of No. 81 got" Mason's
mob was increasing, and as no police
were on hand began growing bolder
and more dangerously demonstrated.
Car IS soon put in appearance, com
ing down town. 1t was driven by a
gentleman who explained to the strik-
ers that the car was a private one,
chartered by it's passengers, most Of
whom were ladies, for the purpose OF
getting down town. His explanations
were hooted at and the mules taken
out and turned loose.
The crowd then returned to cars 81
and 80, and taking them off the rails
placed them crOsSWayS on the tracks.
During all this time the only law
officer of the city who had been seen
was a tall policeman who was in car