The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-06
REIGN OF TERROR.
Detailed Account of the
Great Chicago Riot.
Officers Fall Before the Fire
of Anarchists.
A Saloon cutted and Rioters
ReveI i'm Rum.
Men, Women and Children
Act Like insane Persons.
Mayor Harrison Issues a
Proclamation.
The Leaders of the NIB
Held for Murder.

CHICAGO, May 5.-The Anarchists of Chicago
began in earnest last night the reign OF lawless-
ness which they have threatened and endeavored
to incite for years. They threw bomb into the
midst of line of 200 police officers, and it ex-
ploded with fearful effect, moving men down like
cattle. Almost before this missile of death had
exploded, the Anarchists directed murderous
fire from revolvers upon the police, as if their ac-
tion was prearranged. AS the police were
hemmed in on every side by an ambuscade the
effect of the fire upon the ranks of the officers was
fearful. When the police had recovered from the
first shock of attack, they gallantly charged upon
their would be murderers, shooting at every step,
and moving them down as their fellow officers
had been by the bomb. The Anarchists fled in
dismay before the charge, but everywhere they
turned they met withering fire from the revol-
vers of the policemen, who followed them and
thinned their ranks. The cowardly ours. finding
that their attack did not completely annihilate the
officers, and that force large enough to cope
with them was left fled in all directions seeking
the darkness of alleys and side streets to escape
the revengful fire of the police. The collision be-
tween the police and Anarchists, was brought
about by the leaders of the latter, August Spies.
Sam Fielding and A. R. Parsons They endeav-
From the Socialist headquarters they issued late
in the morning, yesterday, the following circular,
which was distributed throughout the quarters of
the city which are inhabited by thousands of
workingmen.
ATTENTION woRKINGMENi
Great mass meeting at 7.3O at Haymarket, Ran
dolph street, between Desplaines and Halsted.
Good speakers will be present to denonnce s fsd tne
Workingmen yesterday afternoon =
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
At O'Clock a large crowd had collected eniDes-
PLANES street, just north of Randolph, in dimly
lighted spot, near which were many wagons and
trucks. August Spies was the first speaker At
ter long rambling talk on the labor problems he
asked:
'swhat means this display of Gatling guns. can.
non, bayonets, patrol wagons and clubs? What
means the calling out of the First Regiment? Is
it an entertainment for you gentlemen? The de-
mand of McCofmick'S men was reasonable. ana
yet Mccormick denies that he is responsible for
the blood shed yesterday. sayhe lies, he IS re-
sponsible for the death OF our brothers There
are % 900 10000 families in Chicago suffering
starvation today because the husbands and
fathers are not men enough to stand up for their
rights"
Loud cheers followed this speech. and cries of
"The, Lake" and THE Rope" were heard from
hoarse throats
A. r. Parsons was the next speaker. He went
y,
ence between Trade Unionists and Socialists.
Sam Fielding, Socialistic Englishman, was the
next and last speaker He harangued the mob in
a loud, blatant way, and asked what the crowd
was there before him. He said
"We who came here to address you are Social
ists rebels to law. Legislation will never help
you, never. Martin Foran went to Congress in
the interest of labor and he tells you that no leg
islation can be had for the workingman. When
the rich man understands that it is not healthy to
live among a lot of discontented workingmen, we
shall be able to get legislation, and not before"
That the mob was in sympathy with his utter
ances was evident by the wild applause which
was accorded him. While this was going on,
Captain Banfeld and Captain Ward, with nearly
200 policemen had been waiting patiently in the
station for the Socialists to disperse or attempt
some act of lawlessness. When officers who had
been sent to mingle with them returned and re-
ported the temper of the Anarchists, both cap
tans came to the conclusion that prompt
measures only would avert another serious riot.
The order
Fall In"
went round among the lieutenants with lightning
rapdty. 1t was reported to the men, and they
jumped into their places with accuracy and pre-
cision, prepared for march on the Anarchists
There were five companies in all, commanded by
five lieutenants. Captains Banfield and Ward
took position at the head of the line, which was
marched to a point almost 100 feet north Of
Randolph street.
When the front of the column reached the
speakers wagon, Capt. Banfeld ordered halt,
and cried, SIN the name of the State of Illinois,
command this crowd to disperse." AS the words
left his mouth, sputtering spark of fire arose
through the air from the opening of an alley, and
over the speakers wagon. 1t was the burning
fIcn nf a hyn mi
its deadly mission, and fell directly in the middle
of the street, and between the two first double
eI PSdede with hs TSe
were fearfully wounded, and the dying fell on all
sides. The death-dealing effects OF the bomb
reached almost to the rear ranks, and 80 manged
officers were left groaning on the ground A
Gatling gun could not have cut wider swath;
scene of horror followed, the details OF which
may never be known. The officers were demoral-
ized and for an instant broke ranks, but almost
instantly recovered their presence of mind Be-
struction1 which had been wrought in their ranks,
crowds of anarchists gathered in front and on
either side of them, and opened fire with revolv-
of the mob was quite as fearful in it's effect ss
was the explosion of the bomb, but the officers
did not lose their presence OF mind. Orders flew
thick and fast from the captains and lieutenantS,
and within the briefest possible space OF time,
they were charging the mllrderous assasslns deal
ing death on nd d w sap tbe Charge
an instant, but fled as soon as they could dis
tinguiSh the blue coats and bright buttons of the
officers through the smoke of their revolvefs. The
cracking of these weapons was incessant for five
minutes, and only once was anything like voley
fired by either side. This was fired by the Anar.
chists when the bomb exploded in the ranks of
the police, thus showing that theyrhad been care
fully drilled before hand to act in concert When
the officers emptied their pistols they used them
as clubs and it is quite probable that numerous
skulls were fractured. With revolver shots
cracking like the rattling of mighty drum, and
bullets Singing inethe air, the mob plunged away
into the darkness, with yell of rage and fear. 1t
was an indescribable scramble for life. Scores of
men were knocked down by those behind them,
and trampled upon
After the Anarchists had been dispersed the
police set to work to look after their wounded and
dying companions. Two of them were found the
bomb exploded both so desperately wounded as
to be past the hope of recovery. About 80 others
were found lying on the pavement in the vicinity,
and suffering from pistol shot wounds. The drug
stores and saloons about the scene OF the battle
were soon filed with wounded men, but it was
impossible to obtain any idea of the number. The
squad room in the Desplanes street station, half
an hour after the shooting, reSembled charnel
house. Wounded and dying policemen were lying
everywhere.
Fifteen Wounded Officers
sat in chairs around the room waiting for the ar
rival of surgeons. A large number of patrol
wagons were called to convey the men to hospl-
tails. A sad incident of the hospital scene was
witnessed when the wives and sisters of the Off