The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-05-02
MALICIOUS STRIKERS
BY Night They Tear Down
the Walls of the New
West Bergen Public
School.
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS DAMAGE.
Stone Cutters and Other Union
Workmen Appeal to the Un-
ions to Protect Them
Against the Strikers.
Police Now Guarding the Building
Against the Organized Thug
Bricklayers.

The striking bricklayers are resorting
to outrageous means with q view of COM
pelling the boss masons to accede to their
demands for higher wages Last ght
about half-past eleven o'clock, two strik-
ing bricklayers went to the new public
school building now in course of
construction on Virginia avenue; tore
down the foundation walls; tore out the
brown lone lintels and sills from their
settings; broke them and then hauled
them into a mortar heap. This out
rageous conduct has aroused the
indignation of the bricklayers
atEJ work ON the building
and also the brown stone cutters and set
ters. who unanimously decided this morn
ing 10 complain TO their respective unions
SO as to prevent a repetition Of such law
lessness, and protect the men by whom
they are employed.
About two months ago James Kelleher.
contractor Of this city, was awarded the
contract for the construction of the build
ing for public school No. a. He had the
necessary excavations made and was
ready TO proceed with the work OF erect
liz suD AOaAA4atlOA WH4A5 WACA buc VIVA
layers struck.
He refused to accede to the demands of
the strikers, and secured nom union men
and union men from New York TO take
their places.
STRIKERS RESORT TO VIOLENCE.
The first day the new men went to
work the strikers threatened to do them
bodily harm, and as a result few
Of the men returned TO New YORK.
Mr.. Kelleher finally filed the places of
the men and the work was again COM
menced. Three of the striking bricklay-
ers, realizing that victory was impossible.
returned TO work at the old rates, and
as a result war was declared against
the contractor. In all parts OF the city
petty cepredations were committed, until
the contractors were compelled TO ask for
police protection.
firreen feet OF the north wall, which Is
four feet high, was torn down and the
bricks thrown In the mortar tubs The
window frames, which were set yesterday
afternoon, were torn down and demol-
isheG.
THE POLICE ARE SUMMONED.
BY the time police officer was found
the men had disappeared. An examine
tion was made this morning by Con-
tractor Kelleher as to the extent
of the damage done, aud at the
very lowest figure 1t will reach $780,
The inner walls and corners of the build
ing were torn down, and the bricks scat
tered in every direction. making It neces-
tn fhor, half ~ . f1s.
walls.
The foundation walls for the new school
building were completed last night and
the first tier of beams were to be placed
on the walls this morning.
1t was about half-past eleven o'clock
last night when Mrs. Cornelius VreeIandr
who lives near the new building, was
aroused from sleep by the sound
of bricks being thrown against the
shed in which the tools of
the mechanics are kept. She
raised her window and saw
two men with crowbars tearing down
the north wall of the school house build
ing. She aroused herhusband. who hur-
riedly dressed himself and rnshed out to
look for assistance.
THE STONE CUTTERS INDIGNANT.
James Bostwick. one of the stone cut
ters, said:-"We b ave the strong, st union
in the United States and we are opposed
to such work as this. That men belong
ing to any union should q such thing
as this is an outrage, and feel positive
that no bricklayers' unicn world coun-
tenance any such action as this. When
union men win maliciously perpetrate
such an outrage as this it is time for de-
cent men TO stop work.
s'This was not the work of school boys
and the men who did iu knew how TO put
up walls. as they tore out sections of the !
walls in such a manner as to weaken the |
remainder of it."
The general impression prevails among |
the employees that the outrage was per- |
pesrated by the striking bricklayers.
Contractor Kelleher could not be found |
this morning. but it is stated on good |
authority that he had complained |
to the police. The case is to be thor
oughly investigated and arrests may be |
made before night. Tne building is to be |
guarded In the future by police.