The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-27
A STRIKE RIOT In PARIS.
THE STAGE DRIVERS MAKE 1T HOT
FOR TIE POLICE.

The Bluecoats Unable to Protect the
Men Taking the Places of the Strikers.
Attempts to Run Stages Brought on
the Confiict-Public Sympathy With
the Strikers.
PARIS, May 20-The strike of the stage
drivers throughout Paris, begun yesterday,
continues to-day. causing great excitement
In this city. Enormous crowds OF people, a
majority Of whom are in warm sympathy
with the strikers, surrounded the depots of
the omnibus company during the night, and
this morning the companys depots and
offices were guarded by strong force Of
police and q detachment Of troops. There
was no serious disturbance lass night
but rioting was renewed early to-day,
when the stage company, assisted
by the police, made an endeavor to run
several stages. The strikers pickets had
kept the main body of the discontented men
well informed of the movements Of the pro-
ject, with the result that a crowd of the
most desperate striking drivers assembled
at the point from which the stages were to
start. No sooner were the stages well out
of the depots than they were greeted by
volley upon volley OF stones, which were
accompanied with perfect storm Of hoot-
ing and jeering.
THE POLICE PowKRLKss.
Though the stages were escorted by
policemen, the strikers watched their OPP
portunity and, at a signal agreed upon,
charged furiously upon the stages, swept
away the police lines, dragged the "black-
leg" drivers from their boxes pounded thcm
vigorously, cut the traces of the horses and
in several cases overturned and seriously
damaged the stages themselves. The police
did their best TO protect the company's EN-
ployes and property, but their efforts were
nearly useless in the face of the overwh helm
ing, powerful rushes of the mob. At one
time 1t was thought that the troops would
be called upon to take action, but the
authorities, in view of the popular
sentiment Of resentment which was aroused
by the slaughter of the men
by the soldiers at Fourmies on Mayday are
not expected TO order the troops to fire upon
the people unless absolutely compelled TO do
SO. At IL o'clock this foreHoon a number
of stages were standing deserted In the
street. blocking traffic and showing how
well the strikers we're holding their own.
FEELING OF THE PoPULAoE.
The popular sympathy. as already stated,
is undoubtedly with the strikers, and in one
case this was illustrated in a manner some
stages were stopped by strikers at a certain
point and the horses, as usual, were unhar-
messed and led away amid the jeers of the
| crowd who witnessed the onslaught OF the
strikers. When the "blacklegn drivers and
conductors were pulled from the stages the
inhabitants Of the neighboring houses,
male and female, nearly smothered
water, filth, etc. When the "blacklegs
finally escaped they were in the most filthy
condition it is possible for men to be in.
/ Squads Of police attempted by repeated
| charges upon the strikers and their support
ers TO protect the stages issuing from the
depot on the Boulevard Bourbon, but the
crowds responded by attacking and over
powering the police. The strikers then
| pulled the "blacklegsn from the stages, NAL
treated them and compelled the stages TO
return into the depot. The police later on
we're reinforced and made many arrests
among the strikers who had been prominent
| in the rioting.
THE coMPANY's APPEALS.
The GGWLOis to-day says that the stage
| company asked M. de Freycinet, president
of the council and minister Of war, to allow
| troops to take the places of the company's
| drivers. and, in a word, to enable the COM
| pany to run stages loaded with soldiers
| through the streets of Paris. M de Freyci-
| nov bhO 1uWt1to uAAns iOAuucu tu1 COLuph-
ny's request. The latter then sent some Of
! its officials to the Hotel d'Ville and re-
| quested the municipal council to intervene
| in behalf Of the company. After some de-
Liberation the municipal council consented
| 10 formally receive and hear the CONS
plants Of the stage company's officers this
afternoon.
The extent to which the strikers enjoy
the sympathy Of the Parisian public may be
| judged from the fact that many of the
newspapers of this city have opened sub
scriptions In behalf of the strikers and their
families in order to enable the drivers 10
successfully push their fight with the stage
company. The strikers ask for twelve hours
work day and reinstatement Of the strikers
belonging to their union who have been dis
charged for agitating this movement.
AN AGREEMENT SIGNED.
PARIS, May q, A. M.-An agreement
between the strikers aud the company has
been signed. The company recognizes the
union. reinstates the dismissed unionists
and adopts the twelve-hour system. Work
| will be resumed tomorrow.
Il