The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-05
Six Hundred Policemen Unable to Secure the
Passage Of Street-Car, but Reinforce
ments Arrive and One Trip Is Made.
Police Charge the Crowds and Number
of Persons Are Severely Clubbed.
All the Lines in the City Will Cease Operations
This Morning-A Brigade of the Militia
Ordered Ready for Service.
THE sTREET-CAR STRIKE.

Rioting in New York-A Number of Disturb
ers Clubbed by the Police.
New YORK, March 4-The strike of the en-
ployes of the dock..surface railroad continued
unchanged this morning About 1000 of the
strikers were congregated about the stable and
Office but the presence of large force of police
kept them in order. The police cleared the
street in front Of the Office and kept the crowd in
continual motion. Rumors prevailed of threat
ening strikes on other streetcar lines. but so far
none have taken place.
The reserve police force Of all the precincts
below Fourteenth street was detailed at the
Grand-street car stable early this morning.
About 11:30 Police Superintendent Murray Wis
tied the scene and an hour later he issued an
order calling the remaining policemen or reserve
in the station house above Fourteenth street to
reinforce the men already at the stables. The
additional men increased the number on hand to
600. A car was started out Of the stable
about noon. It's appearance was hailed
with derision by the thousands of men on the
streets. Police Inspector Steers mounted the
platform beside the driver, and the car started.
The police cleared the way until Lewis street
was reached, where the first obstruction was
met in the shape of a car of the Forty-second
street line, which had been placed across the
track Beside it were two trucks, and little
way beyond load of coal had been dumped on
the track. Another car Of the Forty
street line came along, drove on the pile Of coal,
and was also turned across the track. The
strikers greeted this with cheers. They sprang
into the street, and every wagon that came along
xvou ovxu %,,rro Cd no fha
horses unhitchsd and driven away. The police
fourished their clubs, gave commands,
and issued threats alternately, but in
vain. There was no hope, and the police
were powerless to act. While the police were
standing looking at the scene, gangs of men
rushed along. adding additional obstructions on
the track. At Cannon street q wagon was
turned upside down on the rails. At Loerick
street car of the Forty street line was
toppled over and fell with crash on the track.
Six cars, in all, were turned across the track,
and the side streets blocked with wagons wait
ing their turn. Two beer trucks had their
wheels taken off, and the wagon bodies fell
across the tracks. At point on East Broad
way a load of coal was dumped on the track, at
another point the switch plates were taken
away, and further on pile sf bricks and build
ing poles lay on the track. The contest was
practically over at this point, and orders were
issued to start back to the stables. The strikers
were good-natured, and chaffed the policemen.
but went about their work in way that showed
organization. At Mangin street the strikers
tore up several large stones and placed them OF
the track.
The board of police to-day received letter
from the railroad company asking police pro-
lection for their employees and property.
The cross.town line made another attempt
this afternoon to resume operations At 1:30
P. M. the police reserves were called to the
eastern terminus of the Grand.street line.
Superintendent Murray and Inspector Steers
were present and made preparations for the bat
tle At noon over six hundred policemen were
on the scene, and when the reserves arrived
fully twelve hundred were in line They kept
the street clear, but on the north side the
strikers were collected, and, with thousands of
the lowest classes Of men from the crowded
tenements of the narrow streets east Of the
Bowery, formed threatening body, capable of
almost any form Of outrage and riot. The po
lice patrolled the street from the Bowery to the
such a great mass of people could not be con-
trolled altogether. They surged along with a
seemingly irresistible force. The street was
scene of destruction, and the task of forcing a
passage seemed herculean. Standing in front of
the Grand-street ferry house, as far as the eye
could see were overturned horse cars, carts,
trucks and wagons of all kinds
At $50 o'clock a car started from the stables
and proceeded with an escort of fifty policemen
to the starters stand, at East street. There the
line of march was formed, headed by Superin-
tendens Murray and Inspector Steers. First
came six platoons of police, then followed the
car. enclosed in hollow square of police, num-
bering one hundred The rear was closed with
six more platoons of police. The car started
amid hooting, yelling and shouts of derision from
the mob. No obstacle was met until the car
reached Cannon street. At that point horse
car was lying on its side. It was lifted from the
track by the policemen who formed the advance
guard of the column. Thereafter the progress
was slow At Madison street the first stcAe was
thrown and struck the side of the car. in which
were some minor officers of the company and q
sergeant of police. All the way to the Bowery
the track was obstructed with the wrecks
Of street-cars and trucks, but the ad-
vance guard cleared them away. At
Henry street another stone went crashing
through the car window. AT East Broadway
large stone was placed beside the track, un-
noticed, and the car was thrown off. This mis-
hap was greeted with tempest Of yells from the
thousands lining the streets. Oaths, Kisses,
yells. screams and wild cheering made the street
q perfect pandemonium Of sound The car was
lifted back on the tracks. and proceeded AT
Ludlow street another window Was smashed and
rotten eggs were thrown. In Allen street
blockade was met Stones again new. and an