Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-30

leading To the business portion of the city pre-
sented somewhat the appearance Of country
roads during circus week. Tired pedestrians
making their way to their business were scat
tered all over the streets, thinking-if not say
| ing-very hard things Of those responsible for
this state of things.
The strikers not only proposed not to work
| themselves until their demands were complied
with, but were determined that no one else
should, and strong detachments of police
| were scattered all over the disturbed districts,
| ready for emergencies, and the emergency
was upon them as soon as the first car was
| started on the Grand street line, for it was
| attacked and in spite of the fact that it was
| surrounded by policemen armed with long
sticks, the horses were detached and the car
ltants were i'll sympathy with the
strikers and the hooting and veil
ing were ear splitting As the car moved along
| The mob was finally beaten back with many
sore head, the car put back on the track
and the horses again hitched. But its use
fulness was gone and it was taken back to
the stables The well known scenes attended
| the strike all day Trucks were overturned
an the tracks and other means taken to pre-
vent the cars from running, and though hum
dreds OF men were engaged in this work and
the police were III constant conflict with them.
but few arrests were made, and on several OF
the lines the attempt to run the cars was
abandoned
Tn some lines, however. there was better
luck, and as fast as new men could he en-
plcyed the cars were sent out and kept run
ming under police protection most of the day.
The company says it man its lines in a
very short time If the danger of mob violence
were not 80 great, and at any rate declares its
purpose to have nothing to do with the strik-
ers under any circumstances. They were all
paid off yesterday.
The Sixth avenue line managed to get cars
over their route at intervals of from fifteen
TO twenty minutes, each car being guarded
by four police officers. These cars met with
numerous Instructions, and the police were
kept busy in clearing the way, and in dis
persng the crowds of strikers who gathered
III a threatening manner at various points
along the route At about o'clock the
crowd at Thirty ninth street overturned q
peddler's wagon IN front of an approaching
car. This caused good deal of excitement
and some delay, but the policemen succeeded
IN driving the crowd away, after arresting
the ringleader. Another arrest was made at
Thirty fourth street, where the track had
been INSTRUCTED by large truck being placed
across it Three other arrests of strikers
charged with rioting were made during the
day. AT p. m. the company decided TO sus-
pend operations for the day, and no more
cars were sent out of the depot
The Fourth avenue line only succeeded in
getting two cars over its road during the
sl1r-
more demonstrative than those of the other
roads, and very serious trouble was threat
ened At Twenty-th street the strikers
unhitched the horses from cross town car
and then overturned the car across the Fourth
avenue tracks. THIS obstruction was re-
moved with great difficulty by the policemen
The mob attempted to drive the officers away.
but were compelled 10 succumb to the free
use of clubs by the policemen. Capt Ryan
arrested the rinGleader OF this crowd and was
Immediately surrounded by a hundred men
bent upon rescuing their leader The captain
drew his revolver and gave warning that he
would shoot the first man who intS-fered with
him. He then succeeded in getting his pris-
oner to the station house without further in
reference. The officers of the COMPANY
claimed TO be satisfied with their DAYS work
in getting the two cars over the route and no
others were sent put
The presidents of several of the roads re-
newed their demands upon the mayor for DO
lice protection. Master Workman Magee, of
the Knights of Labor, called upon the mayor
during the afternoon aud complained that the
police officers were too offcious in their oppo-
sition to the strikers. The mayor stated that
the police department Were responsible for the
preservation of order, and that he was salts
fed that they were acting with discretion and
would not exceed their authority
No attempt was made Icy any of the compa-
MES TO run cars after dark, but most of them
Will renew their efforts to operate their roads
this morning. The officers of the Fourth
Avenue company say they will run on sched-
ule time