The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-21
GARMENT OF WHITE
Snow Covers the City and the
Whole Sound Country.
SNOW BATTLES On THE STREETS
A Gang OF Hoodlunss Pursues the Sal
walton Army Women Also As
saiied-Fun for. Small Boys.

Beautiful snow has cofoe at last and will stay
Tor a few hours at least. 1t was the longed-for
opportunity OF the street boy and he proceeded
to enjoy himself hugely al the expense OF every
one In range. Such an opportunity to turn the
town upside down does got often come to the
Seattle street boy, but last night he certainly
improved his chance. Taere was snow in the
air. snow under foot, and you were indeed
lucky II there was not snow in a more or less
solid form in your eye or ear before the evening
was over. The snowballgIg began in sport, but
was carried to excess, for many OF those who in
dulged in it showed NO respect for the gentler
sex and carried the attack on the Salvation
Army to the point of persecution.
When the Army started on its usual march
through the streets at 30 in the evening it was
assa!ied with a voiiey Of ~snowballs aud was
peFsistentiy peited until it returned to its bar
racks. As it marched up south Third snd Sec
ond streets a mob OF hooslums varying In num-
Der from forty to 100 pursued it and kept up q
continuous fire. The Army turned down
Cherry street and marched across Pioneer place
TO the south front OF the Occidental block, the
hoodiuns reientlessly pursuing. Capt. smith,
the veteran commander, who, as usual, brought
up the rear, turned about and faced the mob,
wnicn pelted men and women alike.
This drew the attack on him particularly
and he was struck by abogt 500 snow balls, one
OF which hit him squarely il the right eve. The
crowd occasionally became bold enough to ad-
vance to close quarters, but the old captain
drove them back with Bis cane, and gave one
fellow a sharp blow, which he will not soon
forget.
The attack was kept up while the army was
noidlng Its service In front of the Occidental
book, and q bystander. disgusted that the sport
should be continued until it became persecu-
ton, shouted a protest. The mob immediately
SET upon him, and for a time snowballs were
flying at him thick and fast from 100 hands.
FINALLY the crowd which was watching the
proceedings from the sidewalk shouted that
100 to l was too big ODDS, and the MOB again
turned its attention to the men and women of
the Salvation Army. All the way back to the
barracks the army was petfed i'll the same way
ana every member was dripping with melted
snow as he entered the door.
The assault happened az the time when the
police were changing watch, so that circum-
stances were rather favorable to the mob, but
they were not as ready as they might have been
ID checking the disorder. One boy, who gave
the name of Otto Smith, aas arrested, but the
police, when the new watch came on, did not
show the energy which tho occasion demanded,
and one officer, whose name could not be
learned, went calmly on has way, as though the
outbreak did not call for his attention. Chief
jackson was all the time comfortably ensconced
in his office.
The street car men were not in clover. Com
PEELED by their duties to follow an undertaking
line and powerless to resist or escape, they were
~AA * cfStN 1lu L
volleys of snowballs at every corner. A snow
shovelsr also attempted TO try conclusions with
q mob OF boys but his shovel was speedily
taken from him and he was only too glad to
seek refuge in a neighborEng shop. A police
man met with a similar experience, and soon
manifested the greatest interest in matters
which took him to the opposite end of his beat.
parties were Frequent and battles
occurred at almost every corner. Hills were
dotted with boys coasting on sleds. pieces of
boards or anything that could be made to
answer the purpose, and there was a great dea,
OF harmless amusement.
Two unpleasant features of the evening were
the brutal attacks upon women who happened
TO pass. 1t was a practice which happily was con-
fined to comparatively fey, but was enough to
cast discredit upon what otherwise could be
passed over as al exhibition of animal spirits.
The other feature was the re ported breaking o!
panes aud street Car windows.
Dr.. Jordan was late at the meeting of the
board of aldermen last night. as he had beer
on the way, his hat smashed and his
person subjected to other iadignities. He called
this to the attention of tns board and requested
that the chief of police be desired to protect the
rights OF pedestrians, which was accordingly
done.
was general throughout the Sound
country.
The street railway companies kept cars run
ming ali nigh; in order to Keep the track clear.
On the Front and Madison stree:
cable roads three Gags with sweepers
in front ran over the roads. Ga
James street similar precautions were taken.
the Consolidated electric lines four cars
hisched together were continually run and on
other electric lines special measures were taken.
At the time of going to press it was still
showing and about four inches had fallen.