The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-20

HEADyN AM Nohlh SIDE
nineteen; the latter demand equal pay with
the former, and being refused strike. This
was on the north side" M Chicagoans call
that division OF the city north Of tho Chicago
river. Tho drivers and conductors on the
west side declared the usual rule, San injury
to one is the concern of al, ;" and struck in
sympathy with the others
II is needless TO detail the successive steps;
they we're such as the public Is now familiar
with. The evolution OF riot Is monotonously
regular. First strike, then the search for
"scabs,n rats" or ''blackbgs" to take the
places OF the strikers; then en- obstruction by
the latter, All appeal to the police, swarm OF
private detectives a mob, clubs ON one side
and stones or softer and nastier missiles on
the other; then the revolver, and, AZ it now
apuears, the bomb, and finally massacre.
Americans have got 80 used to this line OF de-
velopment that, as they read their papers
from day to day, they know with tolerabls
certainty what to look for in them next day.
A street car strike, however, has its COM
ical features, and Chicago had q great deal OF
fun the first day. In pouring rain the
wearied clerks, shop girls and other employees
issued from the stores on the main streets
south of the river and sought the corners, 10
find with dinnay that no cars were running.
All who lived on the north side had from one
to five miles walking before shem. There
was "panic in cOnveyances." OmnlbuseS,
hacks, cabs, market carts and all clean and
commo,. vehicles were filled in few min
utes; then the unlucky late ones turned to
butcher carts, coal carts, furniture vans,
humber wagons, anything, everything that
would do transporting, and in few instances
wearied but financially solid men were
wheeled home in hand carts or hauled in little
boys wagons. All these had money; but the
weary and impecunious thousands had to
walk. 1t was like the days OK epizooty IN
1872. when street envcyances were drawn
by oxen. Curses on Yerkes and the COM
NAMES were both loud and deep, for at the
start public sympathy wns with the strikers
During the first Saturday and Sunday no
attempts we're made 70 run the north side
cars. President Yerkes was consolidating
his forces. Some experienced drivers were
obtained from Philadelphia, and many new
men employed. The barns were put in
charge of detectives hired by the company,
and 400 extra policemen were put on the
north side force. And with this dread array
the Mondays excitement began. But after
examining tho law Mayor Roche informed
the ear compauys officials that the
priyate Detectives oould not be allowed
10 engage; the yxotection business must 10
done by the regular police. Early IN the
morning n few cars loaded with policemen
were run; the general public was too timid
to take passage. The strikers and their sup
porters gathered fast, and soon tho streets
were blocked 20 that the cars had to be lit
orally forced through them. But there was
no fighting yet Tho women in the crowd,
and we'll dressed and apparently respectable
ladies on tho sidewalk, jeered at the drivers
end yelled ''Scabsl rats Philadelphia pau
persl- etc. The strikers pressed close on the
cars and urged the new men not to "act as
tools to Cypress their brethren" Occasion
ally one abandoned his car and Joined the
strikers, being received with loud cheers
and occasionally borne away on tss mems
shoulders. And 50 passed Monday.
On Tuesday began the second stagc-miid
fighting. There were paving stones, tin
cans, mud, dead cats and garbage on ono
side, cluts on the other, but no shooting YET.
Only one pistol drawn. The blood was not
yet up to fighting heat. Through the cen
trail section the few cars moving were forced
a few rods at a time-pale drivers gripping
tho reins and police in front and rear fight
ing their way. At one place several paving
stones had been set up in tho middle OF the
track, on which were written in chalk such
threats as. "Scabs, look out for bombs, v
"Down with tho scabs," 80, you dirty scab
dogs" and wen fix all scabs" Garbage
boxes filed with stones were placed across
the track, and on them were also written
threats to do" the non-union men.
The west side drivers and conductors had
now Joined the strike, and tho rioting grew
serious Superintendent Maggie Of that divi'