The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-03-13
STRIKING TIMES IN GOTHAM.

. Car Llne-The company EHoEts I" -"
serve Their Charter Requires Heavy Po-
lice Assistance-Passenger Traffic at
standstill-More Trouble Anticipated.
NEW YORK, March 5,-Early yesterday
morning hundreds of strikers and others
collected along the sidewalk in the east
erly part of Grand street, near the foot OF
which are the Offices and stables OF the
Dry Dock, East Broadway and Battery
railroad. 1t was expected that the COM
pany whose employees struck would at
tempt to run car over the line, and the
strikers determined to prevent it. A total
of 800 police were stationed in the yicin-
lty.
About eleven O'Clock car was run out
Of the company's stables with two OF the
office employees as driver and conductor.
Inspector Steers stood beside the driver
and four policemen we're with the con-
ductor. A squad Of police surrounded
the car, which ran down from the stables
to Grand street ferry without Interrupt
ton.
AS the car started on it's way across
town the strikers and roughs in the
crowd made preparations to obstruct 1t,
and two green cars Of the Forty-second
street inc loaded with passengers were
dragged across the track in front Of the
Dry Dock cars. One of the strikers en-
tered the cars and politely requested the
passengers to leave, and, as the last one
alighted, he cried, Gan right" The two.
cars were quickly turned over.
These cars were removed from the
track, and the Dry Dock car started
on its way, but going up Grand street,
the obstacles multiplied. Tons of coal
were dumped on the track, and other
cars and all sorts Of heavy articles
were placed in position to stop the I'M
lucky car.
At the corner of Cannon street, tw
brewery wagons loaded with empty kegs
were upset across the line. A wheel was
taken off the heavier of the wagons, and
the horses were led away by the helpless
drivers. These obstacles were established
by sudden movements of crowds of men,
evidently directed by leaders, and could
not be prevented by the police without
resort to forcible clearance Of the entire
| roadway. r..l. It
The crowds of strikers and their sym
pathizers, who swarmed in the roadway
and along the sidewalks, appeared to be
very good natured, and to regard their
success in blocking the car as o capital
! Joke. The only anger shown was directed
| against the driver and conductor of the
| car. They were Kissed and cursed as
| they rode slowly along. The policemen,
too, were generally good natured, but
grumbled a little at the labor Of removing
the heavy distractions.
! Finally, at 1880 a. M, the attempt to
| run the car was abandoned, and it was
| sent back to the stables, while the strikers
| cheered over their victory.
! At 2:30 it was determined to make an
| other attempt to run car over the route,
this being necessary to save the COM
pany's charter
Superintendent Murray, under orders
| from the police commissioners, had Or
dered out the reserves from fifteen
precincts, and I 1000 policemen were as
sembled when the car started. Notice
having been circulated very publicly that
this attempt was to be made, Grand street
was filled with sullen and determined
looking men. Shop-keepers had taken in
|
the Bowcry and Grand street some shops
closed and two banks locked their doors.
When the procession Of policemen pre-
ceding the car came up the street every
window and house-top was crowded.
Derislve and angry yell' filed the air.
When the car reached Eldridge street
there was stop for some unknown rea-.
son, and 400 policemen directly in front
Of the car broke ranks and mSde dash
toward the dense crowd. "Some one
threw a stone" exclaimed the sergeant.
The crowd gave way and fell back into
Eldridge street under the blows of
the polcemens' clubs. Vindictive shouts
and execrationS filed the air. Many
bloody faces were seen. The police
dropped back into marching order, and
had hardly started when bottle crashed
through q window OF the cars. At
Forsythe street another missile took eff
feet on q side window. This occa-
stoned yelling and great excitement, and
vigorous attempts were made to break
through the police ranks and get at the
driver and conductor. Both were pale
but apparently determined.
A delay was occasioned at the BOwery,
where many cars of the Bowery lines
blocked the streets. One of them was
upside down, and when righted by the
police it suddenly burst into flames.
There was mighty shout at this, but the
Are was soon extinguished. The car was
then dragged out Of the way, the crowd
was dubbed back and the Dry Dock car
proceeded, with frequent stops on account
If barricaded trucks, cars upside down
and loads Of refuse dumped on the track.
1t reached the Desbrosses street ferry at
$40 p. m.
The same obstacles were met with on
the return trip, and at several points the
crowd became so large and demonstra-
tive that considerable clubbing had to be
done to keep passageway. The car fin
ally reached the Grand street ferryat 80,
completing the trip amid the greatest ex,
element.
To-day the cars of the lines CROSSING
, the Dry Dock were prevented from run
! ming regularly until late in the afternoon
) Twenty-three warrants were issued las
night for the arrest Of members Of the
trades union charged with aiding the
car-driyers to break the peace.