, 1888-10-10
THE CHICAGO STRIKE.
a Riot Occurs in the Attempt
to Run Cars.
The Public Indignant with the
Management.
An Alderman's Defense of the
Strikers.

CHICAGO, Oct. 9. 1.-The two great
street car systems of the West and North
sides are now tied up The strike ON the
West Side began this morning as soon as
the last night car was run into the barns.
Nearly three-fourths of the population of
the city is left without other means of
travel than footing it or riding on extern
ported c~arry-all and express wagons.
No attempts will be made to run the
cars in the west division to-day. Every
thing is quiet in all directions and no
trouble is expected.
Altogether about fifteen cars were run
at irregular intervals on the North Side
during the day. Everywhere the new
drivers and conductors were greeted with
Kisses and opprobrious epithets from the
crowds which lined the streets.
Alderman Reich of the twenty-third
ward took n prominent part in a delay
which occurred at a point where an excav-
alton was being made under the tracks.
The policemen in the first car alighted and
pushed the car over, and those on the
next car were about to do the same when
Reich stepped forward and ordered the
officers to keep their hands off, adding
that 1t was a shame to have these scabs
run the cars.
The strike in the west division was
without special incident during the day.
A few cars were sent out over the princi-
pal lines late in the afternoon under police
guard.
q a disturbance more serious than those on
the North Side marked the ending of the
trip on Madison street this evening. As
the cars we're approaching Western
avenue on the return the crowd surged
around them in such a compact mass that
it was impossible for the horses to move.
A platoon of police forced the way for the
leading car, but the one following was
brought to a sudden stop by a wooden
wedge inserted in the switch by some
person in the crowd. In a moment after
its stop the vicinity was a pandemonium.
Stones and sticks were hurled at the car,
and the air rang with yells and curses.
A flying brick caught Assistant Superin-
tendent Nagel, who was driving a car, in
the stomach. Uttering an oath, he pulled
a revolver from his pocket and turned
menacingly towards the crowd. His ex-
ample was quickly followed by the con-
ductor, but the two men were disarmed
with little ceremony by the police.
Nagel left the car and was Immediately
attacked by a Northwestern switchman
named Gleason who was under the infu-
ence of liquor. This man had to be mer-
cilessly dubbed and then sat upon in a
patrol wagon by several officers before he
could be subdued. Others were scarcely
less determined and but for the fact that
all appeared to be unarmed the fray
would scarcely have been finished without
loss of life.
Bitterness of feeling toward the man
agement Of the lines appears to increase,
and the contagion gives evidence of
spreading to outside elements in the pop
ulation not under the strikers control.
AT Garfield end Larrabce streets to-day a
number of boys laid a large plank across
the track and fastened it securely with
iron spikes. When six Garfield avenue
cars came from their down town trip they
were stopped, The police got out of the
obstruction. The strikers Immediately
surrounded the cars, and as a result Of
their solicitation three of the new men
Joined their ranks.
The success of this action led others to
follow the boys example and a riot re-
suited, The streets were jammed with a
bowling mob and the tracks covered with
distractions. The employees of the road
endeavored to emove the debris, but it
was replaced as fast as taken away.
Finally the mob became so large and
demonstrative that a sergent in command
of the police ordered a charge. The Off
GERS, aggravated somewhat at the stubbor-
ness of the people, and used their clubs
freely.
The men and boys we're hit, and ever
women women were not spared, one
woman, who was particularly demon
s%trative, being severely wounded by a
club blow on TIE head.