The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-28
Berlin Police Savagely Slash
Rioting WOrkingmen.
FIERCE FIGHTING IN STREETS.
Troops Held in the Barracks, Ready
to Kill the People if Necessary.
The Crowds Largely Composed of La
borers Unable to Obtain Employ
ment-Other German Cities No Better
OLA Lively Sunday Expected.

BERLIN, Feb 27.-TAssociated Press.
Copyright, 1892. despite the quiet aspect
OF the streets this morning and afternoon
apprehensions were felt for the evening.
The situation seemed under the absolute
control of the police until nightfall, when
rowdyism renewed its tussle with the
authorities.
The first encounter occurred at the Haecke.
sche market. noisy mob assembled, consist
ing OF young workingmen, probably excited
with beer, and largely also of the most rowdy
element in Berlin. The patrols got 30 blocked
In the masses of the crowd that they sent for
reinforeements. Then they charged the mob
with sabers drawn, driving them toward the
Neue Friederichs strasse and Grainenburger
strssse.
Several thouaand rioters, thus split up BY
police tactics reassembled later in the streets in
the northern quarter. Rosenthal strasse be-
came the next focus for rioting. The position
at 9o'clock appeared critical. A great mass OF
people assembled in groups listening to social
ist speakers, who violently denounced the gov
ernment, the police and everything comprising
the existing order OF things.
The police made another charge and repeated
1t again and again, but the crowd after giving
way little at each charge, reclosed their ranks
and fought the police with desperate energy,
using as weapons sticks, stones. heavy
biliets OF wood and anything they
could lay their hands upon When
the police found the tide of battle
tdrning against them they did not hesitate to
use the edges of their sabers. A large number
ofrioters were badly hurt and were taken to
surgeries in the vicinity where their injuries
were attended to- By half past 10 the Rosen-
thai strssse melee was over, and q large number
of rioters were confined in the police stations.
As on Thursday some OF the rioters took sdvan-
tage OF the uproar to smash windows and SEIZE
upon goods displayed in them or anything else
that came within their reach.
The feature of tonights row has been the
large increase in the number of workingmen
mixed up with the mob. Hitherto the greater
part of the crowds consisted of men who had
never been known to work-professional agita-
tors and the dregs of humanity. Tonight, how
ever, there were many genuine workingmen in
the crowds. This is attributed to the fact tn at
today was pay day. The advice given the social
lists by their organ, Vorrs,rts, does not seem to
have had much effect. The paper appealed to
them to act in an orderly manner and keep
away from beer shops.
All the police available were concentrated to-
night in the northeastern districts OF the city
After the fight in the Rosenthal strasse serious
collisions occurred in the BIunnes and Frank
iuIttI htEusseH AS the rlOtlng Increased the
authorities issued an order calling upon the
people to remain indoors. The order, however,
did not suffice to keep the curious off the
streets and many spectators suffered with the
members OF the mob. At late hour the CEN
trail authorities were warned that the disorders
were spreading to legal, an outlying suburb
Mounted gendarmes were also called out in
other districts.
Tonight closes with worse prospects for to-
L. l.. u.
rioting likely, have taken decided precautions
to meet the trouble. All the troops are ordered
confined to the barracks, and Sunday is aDx-
iously awaited. 1t is believed that should seri-
Gus disturbance occur tomorrow it will be neces-
sary to call on the military for aid.
The origin of the riots is found in the appeal
of unemployed masons to the burgomaster at
Forchenbeck for employment in muni-
cipel work. The burgomaster declared
that the municipality authorities could
not give them work, and referred
them to the superintendent OF public works
The latter promised to use his influence with
the contractors. 1t was doubted that this
would be OF much assistance to the men and
their families many OF whom were on the
verge of starvation. The meeting at Fried
erichshain followed. One of the delegates told
the men that there was no immedis:e cnance
of the municipal authorities furnishing them
tons declaring that, in view of the pre-
vailing distress. the state authorities might
begin the erection of new buildings and thus
furnish work for the destitute. There is no
truth in tho report that extreme socialistic
views were expressed and that the crowd de-
manded that the government furnsh than with
work or bread. Only respectful suggestion
was made that the condition of affairs required
extraordinary excrtions on the part OF the
authorities n alleviate the distress
The truth of the whole matter is that the
workingmen at first had nothing to do with the
demonstration 1t was the lower strata, the
stragglers on the.cdges OF the meeting, that be-
gan the demonstrations. As the excitement
growing ont OF the conflicts with the police ex-
panded, the ferment among the better c,ass of
workingmen had grown. The emperors advice
10 the maleontents to emigrGte has added fuel
to the flames, aad the end now cannot be told.
though it is certain that If the soldiery are
called upon much bloodshed viii follow
Berlin is not alone in trouble. Distress is
prevalent in every pOpulous center OF Germany,
and the cry ior bread is clsInorous. During tho
week bread riots occurred in Dalt-ic and
Brunswick Meetings of the suffering poor were
held in Hamburg and Bres.au. In scores of
places the strikes that have occurred during the
past few months always resulting in defeat of
the men aud exhaustion Of the benefit funds,
have assisted employers 10 reduce WORK, causip s
further trouble for the men.
The government members of the reichsiag
accuse the socialists of playing a double game,
osteusibly restraining but secretly inciting the
workingmen to violence. On the other hand,
the socialists charge police agents with foment-
ing the riots in order 10 enable the government
10 execute q grand coup of wholesale 1epres-
sion.
At so O'Clock this afternoon the emperor in
an open carriage, accompanied only by aide,
took a drivs about the city. shortly after his
return 10 the castle the empress went driving.
Both the emperor and empress were greeted
quietly and respectfully by the crowds Of