Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-26
A DEMONSTRATION
BY UNEMPLOYED WORKMEN IN THE CITY
OF BERLIN.
-Four Thousand Of Them, Led by Socialists, March
Almost to the EmpsrOr's Castle and are Only
Stopped by the Most Desperate Efforts
Of a Large Body of Police.

BERLIN, February 25.--The Emperor's
speech yesterday to the members OF the
Brandenburg diet, who banquetted him,
| has caused q sensation. An instance OF
the heated passions of the masses was
| exemplified at l o'clock this afternoon.
At the hour mentioned 5000 or 1000
unemployed met by preconcerted ar
rangement in public square and pass
ed series Of inflammatory resolutions
| denouncing their employers and the
system Of government which enabled
| the latter to 'crush the workingman
beneath the iron heel Of capital" and
calling on the government to take steps
TO protect the interests OF the working
classes.
The news OF this bold gathering in
defiance of the recent order OF the au-
thorities, preventing such meetings,
spread with rapidity throughout the
city. The result was that the Socialist
agitators determined to take advantage
of the excited unemployed men to make
a demonstration before the castle Of the
Emperor. Led by the Socialist agita-
tors, the workmen formed in column,
and marched from the square mention
ed in the direction of Inter Den Lin
! den, the most celebrated avenue In
Berlin.
The onward sweep of the workmen
was at first irresistible. The police
were utterly unable to cope with the
roaring, swelling, enthusiastic crowd,
encouraged by thousands Of other per-
sons who watched their PROCESS through
IL a. hn
statue of Frederick the Great, a halt
was made and Socialist leader made
passionate address to the throng, urging
them to carry their demonstration up to
the grtes Of the castle.
Loud cheers greeted the suggestion,
and then at signal from prominent
Socialist who seemed to be the chosen
leader, the workmen began singing the
Marseillaise, and marched, cheered by
thousands who had gathered on these
broad avenues TO witness the demon
Stration, toward the castle.
The workmen, passing through line
Of police which barred their passage,
had nearly reached the castle gates
when a strong detachment OF police
threw themselves ncross the short por-
ton of the thoroughfare intervening
between the rioters and the castle, and
made a determined charge upon the
head Of the workingmen's column.
The latter for moment or so nerved
by the roaring cheers OF thousands,
bravely and stubbornly wlthstood the
attack OF the police, and pressed onward
by those in the rear actually managed
to gain Roadway and to beat back the
powerful police detachment.
The latter, however, rallied and hit
ting furiously right and left wounded
scores upon scores of workmen who fell
bleeding beneath the feet Of the officers
of law. Somebody among the workmen
called on them TO retreat and come again
some other day 100, 900 strong, and pre-
parde to meet the Emperor's butchers,
as they called them.
A retreat then commenced and soon
developed into flight and panic. The
police after wounding from so to 100
prisoners seemed content to allow the
remainder to escape. The 60 or 20
wounded rioters who remained upon the
field of battle were then attended to at
a neighboring hospital and the regular
prisoners were placed under lock and
key.