The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-22
LUCY PARSONS.
She Briefly Sketches the Chicago street
Fight and Subsequent
Outrages.


For The Enquirer.
CHICAGO, May 10.-The readers of The
ENQUIRER have read with bated breath
the startling news flashed from this city
on Tuesday last, of the ushering in >and
demonstration of the new method of
scientific warfare.
What was it, and what the occasion of
the bringing forth of the fell destroyer
from his lurking place, in the realms Of
science, with such direful results ? The
cause may be given in future letter;
the. results may be given here.
When the ninions of the depressing
class were marched up to one of the
most peaceaoly assembled meetings ever
held in this country, by any class of
people, to discuss questions concerning
their own interests, and demanded of
them to "disperse." The individual
giving this order was backed by about
300 or more armed and bludgeoned po-
lice. whom the capltalistic press describe
as having ''grasped their clubs tighter,
as they came in sight Of the Anarchists
assembled"
Well, as the minlons moved from the
station, which was half block away
from the meeting. they came like low
ering cloud to blot out the sunlight of
free speech on American soil. Sweeping
from curbstone to curbstone, "a new mil.
itary tactic which they had been prac
ticing for some time, especially for the
Anarchists). and stepping with military
|precision and unbroken ranks, each one
''grasping tightly his club" compelling
the 5000 or more people peaceably as.
sem5led there to fall back upon the side
walk. When the three first columns
had moved past the speakers stand a
halt was called. Then the individual
referred to commanded these peaceable
people to "disperse" The reply was
given in thunder tones, which shook the
great massive buildings for blocks
around. A great swath had been cut in
the ranks of the Iolice. But before
their groans, mingled with the succeed
ing echoes, of the great explosion, could
rise, as it were, from the place where
they originated, there came a fusilade
of pistol shots. The bomb had been
flung with such sudden and ueadlv effect
that it had thoroughly disorganizel and
demoralized the police, and they be-
came an easy prey for au enemy to at
tack and completely annihilate, if there
had been any conspiracy or concocted
understanding, as has been hoWled and
shouted by the capitalistic press.
1t was the shortest, sharpest and most
decisive battle, l believe, on record. In
less than three minutes, the most horri-
BILE explosion ever known, of Its kind
had taken place; over 200 shots had
been fred, and over fifty police lay
wrlthing in their blood upon the ground.
The 5000 and more persons who had
been assembled on the spot less than five
minutes previous-where were they ?
For nothing now was to be heard or
seen but the writhing, groaning police
and the coming and going of the patrol
each loaded with them, and conveying
them to the hospitals
Since that date reign of terror has
been inaugurated which would put to
shame the most jealous Russian blood
hound. The organized banditti and
conscienceless brigands of capital have
susE ended the only papers which would
give the side of those whom they had
crammed into prison cells. They have
invaded the homes of every one who
has ever been known to have raised their
voice or sympathized with those
who have had aught to say against the
present system of robbery and oppres-
sion. say they have invaded their
uOLuOS hAO 5uUJCClco GuOm duu LQ6lr
families to Indignities that must be seen
to be believed. This organized banditti
have arrested me four times, they haye
subj scted me to indignities that should
bring the tinge of shame to the calloused
cheek of hardened barbarian. q
But evidently becoming convinced
that had nothing to give away" they
have ceased to drag me to the station,
for the time at least. But my comrades
need have no concern lest these ruffians
should, BY their brutal treatment of me.
drive me to distraction. They simply
challenge my contempt.
| All we in Chicago ask of our comrades
abroad is, to withhold their opinion
until they hear our side, and to furnish
US such moral and financial aid as they
can. -.# --,s..H..
~ Yours for truth and justice at any cost,