The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-25
DELUDED BY BAD LEADERS.
The Cleveland Rolling-Mill Company
Offers to Restore the June Wages,
But the Leaders of the Strike Urge the Men
to Demand Further Advance-A Ter
rible Riot Narrowly Ayerted.

CLEVELAND, Sept 24-At IL o'clock this
morning the following bulletin was posted about
the yards of the Cleveland Rolling mill Com
pany in the Eighteenth ward:
SAT meeting of the wire manufacturers, Just
held In New York. prices were advanced, and, in
accordance with the promises made, please mott
fly the men that the June prices are restored
from this date in all departments
civilian CHISHOLM. President"
The first Of the notices was tackled on the
fence close to the entrance to the wire MILL A
hundred or more strikers were about the gates,
aud there was at first wild cheer of delight
1t was soon quieted, however, by half a
dozen lawless leaders of the strike,
who have from the first
been responsible for all the trouble.
They quickly passed word to the crowd, "Stand
out for country prices" The men received this
new order with amazement. They had at last
received what they asked for. Every committee
that had been sent from their ranks to she man
prices be restored. This was all they were
striking for For minute the men
hesitated. The hopelessness of fur
ther strike was apparent, and nineteen
out of every twenty of the men wanted to 60 to
work. Consequently, the question whether OF
not work would be resumed again tomorrow
morning remained an open one during the after
noon.
Had it not been for the notice that was posted,
however, a general attack upon all the mills
would have been made at o'clock to morrow
morning by mob of 1000 or 5000 men. This
course had been definitely agreed upon.
ha1 md <ho
near for the men to come out of the mills,
the crowds began to thicken. The gates were
opened, and the men that had been employed
through the day came out. The crowd greeted
them with Kisses and cries of ''Black sheep" and
'Backlegs." The men did not pay the slightest
attention to the mob, but hurried along toward
Broadway Several of them kept their hands
in their hip-p pockets, but none drew weapons
AS they approached Broadway another
chorus of boots and bowls from mob of 400 or
500 tough-looking men greeted them. About
thirty of the men wS.o came out of the mills
sprang on Broadway car that was passing north,
and the others scattered in various directions.
The car had gone four five blocks down
Broadway when five shots were heard in rapid
succession. A dozen or more cowardly- look
Ing men were seen TO QaSn down
side street out of sight, while a crowd of six
hundred people went running in the
direction of the shooting. Three of the shots
were fred by A. A. Housberg, master mechanic
In the wire mill. Housberg was returning from
the mills in company with Gustav Mohr, ma
chinist. The two stepped from the Broadway
car at the corner of Fullerton street. AS
tn ey started toward South Prospect street,
they were followed by a mob of
seventy-fve or eighty desperate characters, VIII
had chased the car down from Wire street.
struck Mohr on the shoulder, making a painful
wound. Housberg then turned and fired his
pistol in the air to brighten the mob back. AS
he did So red faced man fred twice at him in
quick succession Housberg again drew his
revolver and returned the fire. sending two
bullets after the fellow, who ran away.
Instantly the mob turned and pursued the two
and missiles on the way. Both men entered
Housberg's house, which was also stoned
At a meeting of strikers tonight speeches
were made in English, German, Bohemian and
Polish. The leaders were on hand, and made
speeches In which the men were ad-
vised to demand of the company that
every striker be taken back if they returned to
work. This finally agreed to, and
it was decided to resume in a
body on next Monday morning, under these
conditions. The leaders, who are aware that they
have forfeited all claims to re employment, were
jubiiant at the issue they had forced upon the
less offensive members. The meeting adjourned
with three cheers for the alleged victory" The
strike began July l.
At meeting of wire manufacturers held at
New York to-day, at which seventeen of the
leading mills of the country, including those at
Cleveland. were represented. the prices of wire
were advanced 10 to Is per cent.