Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-05-06
SOCIALISM IN CHICAGO.
Violence and Bloodshed at the NIcCor-
mick Works.

Dispatches from Chicago detail the incidents
of the strike at the Mccormick reaper works
on the afternoon Of May 3rd At $3.50 the mob
inundated the grass plot in front Of the works.
Officer West, who was on duty at the big gate,
warned the invaders to leave. He faced the
bowling horde and put his hand upon the ham
die of the revolver in his hip pocket Before
he had time to draw the weapon a thousand
rocks fell about him like hail. They crashed
against the high board fence behind him with
terrific noise and sang warning as they sped
past his head The storm was too hot for the
officer. He do lged the missiles as best he
could, but the mob drawing nearer he at last
bent his head and tried to make his escape by
dashing through the ranks of his assailants.
He rushed forward in perfect storm Of stones.
When he reached the first line Of the strikers
he was subjected to merciless beating, but
being man ofsplendd physique he continued
his race until he had pierced the last ranks of
the mob Then he started west on Blue Island
avenue. He was pelted with stones at every
step until he fell exhausted nearly block
away.
Emboldened by the fight of the brave officer
the strikers surged up against the walls of the
factory 'Kill the scabs," roared one of the
leaders as he hurled boulder through one of
the windows where second before pale face
had been pressed. Tear down the building"
shouted another, who was waving huge club.
Almost instantly the great factory was subject
ed to an ominous siege. Stones crashed
through the windows and clubs carried away
the sash. Nothing escaped the fury of the
mob. Snow let us drive out the scabs," roar
ed man with a ha ndkerchief knotted about
his neck. The mob rushed forward with a
yell.
Just as it was about to burst into the yard,
the Human street patrol wagon dashed down
the dusty road. Twelve officers were in the
body of the wagon, and sitting beside the
driver was Sergeant Enrght. Shouts of deris-
ion greeted the officers as they clambered out
of the vehicle and drew up in line before the
strikers who wese now massed on the side
walks and in the road. The officers stood
shoulder to shoulder for moment, and then
the command to march was given Ghe dozen
officers stepped towards the 10000 angry peo-
pie before them. Each man carried revolver
in his right hand. The mob remained firm.
'Disperse or we will fire." shouted Sergeant
Enright His reply was a shower Of stones
that whistled unpleasantly around the little
band of blue. The officers wavered for a mo-
ment before the onslaught then leveled their
revolvers at the crowd. The barrels Of the
weapons gllstened In TIE sunlight, there was a
flash and then an explosion followed that
startled the horses in the car barns two blocks
away. The first shot of the strike had been
fired, but nobody was hurt. The bullets few
over the heads of the strikers and buriel them
selves in the prairie to the northward An
other volley was fired by the
officers with the same effect
The strikers contested every inch Of ground
until the blue coats reached the sidewalk,
when they retreated to the roadway. There
they made stand and hurled stones and clubs
at their antagonists. Daring this fusilade Of
deer Tom Condor was hit In the back with a
BRICK. Enraged at the misfortune Of their
comrade the officers fell upon the mob with
reyolvcrs and clubs The rioters were prepar-
ed to retaliate. They fired at the officers from
ambush with weapons of all patterns and cali.
bre. Bullets whistled right and left and off to
the southwark half dozen men on shed
kept up a plunging fire. At times 1t was
square stand up fight. The policemen and
strikers shot at each other at distance of
twenty PAGES, yet so defective was the marks
manship OF the latter that not an officer was
hit