The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-01-22

from their stopping places, with nc
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 cha rye extortionately;
they made a big haul. Furniture
wagons, buggies, carriages, express
wagons, laundry wagons, push carts,
in fact eveything that could convey a
woman or haul 8 man, was out raking
in the dollars at 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 stitch 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 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 distaht place.
AS the day wore on men who dared to
drive a car were caught and beaten
for their impudence, 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 cat men. Ladies in
many places felt that they were hot
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 corr
ner of Canal and Royal and spreading
all over the neutral ground. They
were standing still, shutting round on
their feet, craning their necks, then
pulling them in, as if trying to draw
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 car rolled up to
the stand a rush was made; scram-
BILE for seats, and push to gain et=
trance, were the occupations of the
moment. The trips were growing in
frequent and much further apart, for
committeeman of the strikers were
persuading 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 damned when it left the
stand, and the mules could scarcely
pull it along. 1t was then quarter to
8. 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, man named Depez, was
dragged over the dashboard, knocked
down, kicked and brutal1y 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 50, 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 man who dared open his mouth.
Mr.. 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
Anu PnIu oAOAA AdAOs anu WCAC CIGlt1Cu
to trip up town. Mason replied by
vilely 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. 'Wen," said Mason,
"we 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 would get the same that
the driver of No. 81 .got.'' Mason's
mob was increasing, and as no police
were on hand began growing holder
and more dangerously demonstrated.
Car IS soon put in appearance, COM
ing down town. 1t was driven by
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.
.Ihe 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 tall policeman who was in car
No. 81 when it was stopped. Uttering
the words
''TH1s IS NO PLACE FOR Me-
he hurriedly vanished from the scene.
Sergeant Murphy, commanding the
precinct, next appeared, and taking
in the serious situation, repaired to
headquarters and soon came back with
quad of men:
In the meantime Mason and his
men, all of whom claimed to be COM
mjttee acting under the instructions
of the Car Drivers union, left for the
alleged purpose of reporting what they
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