San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-05
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1886.
cHIcAco,s BLOODY RIOT.

CHlCACO'S BLOODY RIOT.
Yesterday morning the country was
greeted with the welcome intelligence
that the great. labor strike in the South
west was ended, that the wheels Of COM
merce unclaimed would hencefOrth
move freely. business resume Its wOnted
channels, and the great industrial world
be once more at peace. This morning
the wires bring tidings OF fearful
labor riot In Chicago, in which not less
than half score were killed or MORALLY
wounded, and hundred, more or less,
seriously wounded. The riOting at Nc
COrmick's, on Monday, ended with few
policemen slightly injured with stones,
and some dozen ofthe socialists, more or
less, seriously wounded with pistol
shots. The men went to their work as
usual in the reaper factory on Tuesday
morning, about twO-thrds of the hands
reporting. There was considerable ex-
element during the day but no serious
outbreak. A mass meeting of the
socialists was called at the old Haymar-
ket for last evening, and the
most incendiary documents were
scattered broadcast in German with
an English translation appended.
An immense crowd gathered in the Hay
market, and the speaking was continued
some time, without any riotous tenden-
Nhan ha mora nj
had left, and only twelve or fifteen hun
bred remained, the proceedings became
more violent under the Innammatory
harangue of the noted Sam Fielding, and
the authorities apprehending a riot, de-
cided to disperse the assembly. Two
hundred officers, who had been detailed
for that duty and had been In the vicin-
ity from the first, moved upon the crowd
to dispense them. The crowd fell back
slowly on the approach Of the police, but
were ordered to stand firm by their
leaders. Suddenly several hand gre
nades were thrown into the police squad,
who instantly answered with their re-
volvers. The crowd fired In return and
volley after yOlley was exchanged, the
police finally clearing the market place.
Two policemen were instantly killed by
the explosion Of the bombs and a score
or more wounded. The rioters, as IA st
as shot down or disabled, were carried to
the rear, and it Is impossible to accu-
rately determine the casualties among
them.
The liberty Of speech SO freely en-
joyed in this country may become dan
gerous to the peace and safety ofsociety
and, when it is so demonstrated, the
constituted authorities must take the
responsibility ofsuppressing 1t in open
assemblies. Between two evils the less
er is always to be chosen, and the city
government of Chicago owe it to the
citizens who have placed them in
authority to guard the peace Of the city
and the safety. OF the persons COM
mitted to their care. Such demonstra-
tions as were made last night before
the meeting in Haymsrket square, the
infammatory circular sent over the city
calling upon the workingmen to arm to
arm !, should have been met by coun.
ter order from the authorities prohibit.
ing the assembly, and statiOning the
police so as to guard the entrance to
the market. 1t is much easier to present
mobs from assembling than to control
their actions under the inflsmmatory
speeches Of reckless leaders. Every
prudent man will see In the present
agitated condition Of society the neces.
sity Of conservative speech and action
no matter how intensely radical his
opinions may be.