Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-04
CHICAGO STRIKERS.
Lively scenss-Tbe Police Have Their Hands
Full.
by telegraph TO the Dispatch. |

Lively scenss-Tbe Police Have Their Hands
Full.
tBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
CHICAGO, July 3.-Groups Of strik-
ers and sympathizers began to gather
st the car-barns on Western avenue as
early as 3 o'clock this morning. 1t
had been reported that large reinforce
ments were on their way from the
stock-yards to aid in resisting the
officers in their attempts to get cars
started, and there was no little talk
Of possible bloodshed. Soon, how
ever, a striking conductor appeared
with the information that the president
Of the Association had accepted a
scheme for settling the differences by
arbitration, and that no attempt would
be made at present to start the cars
out. The arbitration committee, he
said, was to be composed of citizens,
Of which two members would be chosen
by the strikers, two by the company,
and Mayor Harrison tObe the fifth.
At 4:30 there were no indications Of
trouble, and less than twenty-five men
were about the barns. There are ru-
mors, however, that the hour for opera
tons by the polio has been extended
to 6 A. NJ, and that the riot may then
ensue. At that hour the West-Division
Street-Railway Company started a
few cars from their barns on
Western avenue. About one block
from the starting point it was
found that the progress Of the cars
was prevented by lumber and gas-pipes
piled upon the track, and the police
cleared this barricade away unmolested
by the strikers. Fifteen patrol-wagons
loaded with police were placed along
the street, and every corner on Madi-
son street has a strong force Of police,
Madison-street bridge being doubly
guarded.
AT 8 A. NJ. the cars reached Ash
land avenue. At Hoyne avenue the
strikers or their sympathizers had
gained access to lot of shovels which
had been used by the gas company's
trench-diggers and piled a huge bank
Of dirt on the track. A foreman
of the gas cOmpany's gang, finding
the shoyels left by the strikers,
took possession and locked them
up, so that when the police arrived
they found only the workmen present
minus their shoyels. The police cap
tain, it is reported, asked the men for
their shovels, and on their replying
that the foreman had locked them up,
it is stated commenced using their
clubs on the gas-works employees, and
several men were terribly beaten, some
having their heads split open.
At $3.50 A. NJ, under the protection
Of the entire reserve police force Of the
city, six cars sent out by the West-Di-
vision Railway Company succeeded in
making their way to the business CEN
tire Of the city, encountering no oppo-
sition beyond that mentioned at Hoyne
avenue, which proved not to be very
serious. The cars were filled with
policemen in TACT, the entire thorough
fare is lined with them west of Ash
land avenue. No vehicles Of any
kind were allowed upon the street.
The police already had made more than
one hundred arrests Of persons sus-
pected Of an inclination TO impede the
progress Of the cars or who refused to
obey the injunction Of the police to
quit the thoroughfare. These we're
carted off rapidly in the patrol-wagons
to the police-stationS. The cars made
the return journey to Western avenue
without any encounter, and were
started out again for another trip.
Madison street. along its entire length,
was filled with excited strikers and
their sympathizers and curious specta-
tors. The windows of buildings over
looking the street were also filled with
people. Outside Of this one street,
however, there was no semblance OF ex-
element, and business was pursued
without any apparent reference to the
strike or its consequences.
CHICAGo, July 3-7:45 p. N.-The
West Division Street-Car Company has
taken off its cars from the track, and
it is announced will make no further eff
fort to run them before Monday. The
company has taken this action in view
of the fact that tomorrow being holiday
the street will be crowded with people,
making the consequences of possible
riot much more serious, and greatly
augment the number Of idle sympa-
thizers, tending to add to likelihood
of disturbance. The cars have been
withdrawn, all is quiet, and no further
disturbance is expected for tonight.
At an open-air meeting Of upwards
Of 5000 strikers and sympathizers,
which was still in progress at ll:3O
o'clock. it was announced that Patrick
Coniey, the aged engineer who was Sc
verely dubbed by Captain Bonfsld,
of the police force, this morning,
had died of his injuries. Though
the meeting was an orderly one
great indignation was expressed, some
speakers going so far as to say lynch
ing was the proper punishment for
Mayor Harrison and members of the po-
lice force who, acting under his orders,
had offered such brutal treatment to
an inofiensiye person.