St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-10
Chicago Blue Coats Called
Upon to Suppress an In
cipient Riot.
Friends Of the Striking EN-
ployes Of the Yerkes Sys-
tenn Make Trouble.
Police Charge a Howling
Mob and Crack Many
PateS.
1t Is Feared That the Bitter
ness Will Extend to Out
side Elements.

CHICAGO, Oct. 9.-The spectacle wit
messed in this city to-day was that of
half million people reduced to the
necessity Of walking to whatever point
they might desire to reach. This un-
comfortable and unprecedented state
of affairs was the result of the strike of
the street car conductors and drivers on
all of the lines in the North and West
divisions. These lines are all con-
trolled by syndicate of Philadelphia
capitalists, and the president of the
Company is Charles L. Yerkes, late of
Philadelphia. The North division
strike was inaugurated for the advance
in wages and Encouragement of hours
of labor. and the West division strike
was begun this morning out
of fear that President Yerkes
would ultimately reduce their wages.
Five hundred men are engaged
in the former, and 1000 in the latter.
In both divisions, when the strike
began, it was stated on behalf of the
strikers that no violence would be per-
mitted, and that no obstruction other
bIidll lIdI vi HlOIdl SudSlOu upOll JHOS0
who should take the strikers places
would be used to prevent the companies
from running cars. So far as the
strikers themselves are concerned this
promise seems to have been carried out,
but the bitterness of feeling toward the
management of the lines appears to in
crease as time passes, and the cOntagiOn
gives evidence of spreading to outside
elements in the population which are
not under the strikers control. 1t is
from this element especially that
THE POLICE LOOK FOR TROUBLE.
Yesterday, the crowds which cOngre-
gated along the lines where cars were
being run on the North side, cOntented
themselves with hOoting, and tlinging
opprObiOuS epithetS at the new men. 1t
was renewed with increased violence
this morning, and this afternoon it de-
velOped into placing of distractions on
the track: and collisions with the pO-
lice. At Garfield avenue and Larabee
street, the first obstruction was placed
by number of boys. A large plank
was lad across the car tracks and
fastened securely by iron spikes. The
strikers themselves took no part in the
lads. When six Garfield avenue GAYS
came from their down trip they were
stopped by the obstacle. The police
got out of the patrol wagon,
but did not offer to remove the
obstruction. The strikers immedi-
ately surrounded the vehicles.
and commenced their appeals. Under
these influences three Old drivers left
the cars and went over to the strikers.
The SecederS were borne OH the ShOul-
derS of the crowd 10 saloon, where
their pockets were filled with cigars.
The success of this action led others to
follow the boys example, and
A RIOT RESULTED
at the corner of Garfield avenue and
Orchard street. The streets were
jammed with a bowling mob and the
tracks were covered with Instructions.
Some employees of the road and the
officers removed the debris, but as fast
as it was taken away it was replaced.
The mob became so great that the ser
geant in command of the men Or
dered a charge. The officers, az
gravated somewhat responded with
a will. They made a rush and
were hit. and hit hard too, and the
women were not spared. A woman
named Wide, who was particularly
demonStrative against the new men,
was badly wounded by severe blow.
Three men were caught spiking the
rails at HalStead street and were locked
up. 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 epithets from
the crowds which filled the streets, par
ticularly at the termini. Women and
children in the outlying districts were
particularly free in the use of a volum-
inouS
VOCABULARY OF EPITHETs.
The strikers also continually appealed
to their successors sense OF the brother
hood of man and to their love of money
by offering them bonuses and return
tickets home if they would quit work.
In several instances they were success
full. Very few people rode on the cars
which were run. Aid. Reich, of the
Twenty-third ward, took part in delay
which occurred at Garfield avenue and
Burling street. At this corner a water
pipe was being placed under the track
and the horses had to be unhitched and
taken to the other side of the eXcava-
tioD. The blue coats showed the first
car over and the policemen on the sec
ond car were about to do the same when
Aid. Reich stepped forward.
"By -, don't touch those cars"
yelled the alderman. Let every officer
keep his hands from them and let the
'scabs' do it. It's d-n dirty shame to
have these 'scabs' run the cars. Stay
right on the cars, officers, and don't
make a move to help them. If Mr..
Yerks intends to run this road he has
got to get up early in the morning."
The strike in the West division was
without special incident during the day.
AS soon as the men had run their cars
into the barns at the end of their last
trips, most of them went home. During
the forenoon Manager Parsons issued
card to the public saying that the strike
was without just cause, as the
men in his division were paid
better wages than were paid any
where else in the country, and
placing the blame for the public incon-
Venience on them. Subsequently he
stated that no effort would be made to
run cars till Thursday; but he changed
his mind, and late this afternoon few
cars were sent over the principal lines
under police guard. Both in the North
and the West divisions, at the request
of Mayor Roche, all special policemen
have been withdrawn, and therproperty
of the companies is guarded by city po-
licomen. A large number of extra men
have been sworn in and put on patrol
duty, while the regular force is
held in reserve for emergencies.
One of the cars on the Forth side came
near going into the river to-day, with
its load of passengers. most of whom
were women. There is a steep down
grade leading to State street bridge.
Just as the car started down this incline
the bridge began to turn to let vessel
through: the driver became panic