Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-03-12
ANOTHER RIOT IN GERMANY
A Desperate Mob Sacks Shops in
the City of D%antzic.
The PlIlsging Done In an Orderly Manner
anu the Spells Distributed Among
the Rioters According to
Their Needs.

BERLIN, March A dispatch from
Dantzic says that serious rioting, sim
liar to that which took place recently
in this city, occurred there today.
As in Berlin, the trouble was caused
by the large number of people out of
work, and doubtless the flames of dis
content were famed by the cmperor's
recent utterances about crushing and
driving out of Germany all those who
oppose him. The spirit of
restlessness, it may also be
said, is kept alive by the
prosecutions Of the Cologne Gazette
and the Frankfurter Zeitung, for
criticising the emperor's acts, and the
general opinion prevailing that the
struggle between the people and the
emperor, who has been likened TO Nero
by the Frankfurter Zeitung, has com-
menced in real earnest
The troubles at Dantzic, like the
troubles at Leipsic and many other
places, began by n mass meeting of the
unemployed, by fiery addresses made by
agitators and by heated suggestions
upon the part of socialistic orators. A
delegation was then appointed to call
upon the chief local magistrate, who
had been warned that the 'rouble was
brewing.
Delegation Waits on the Mayor.
The magistrate referred to received
the delegation in the kindliest n
possible, listening to all they had to
say about their grievances and gave
them some good advice as to OBJ
serving a peaceful attitude In
spite of their deplorable situa-
ton Finally the magistrate IN
formed the delegation that the local
authorities anticipating some such
visit, had taken steps to provide some
relief works, upon which 200 of the
unemployed could find work. As there
are, according to the estimate, some
1000 to 5000 persons at Dant-
zic in need of employment,
this reply caused further grum-
bling among the delegates. The
delegation withdrew and later in the
day some 200 men from the unemployed
masses of Dantzic were embarked on
board a steamer chartered by the local
authorities and were taken up the river
to the port where the relief works are
situated. After the departure of the
steamer the angry feeling which ami
mated the hungry army of unemployed
laborers began TO get the upper hand of
them.
The Mob Sacks the,S shops.
Seeing that the temper of the men
was such that they might be excited
to do almost anything, the socialist
and anarchist orators began to har-
rangue the crowds, telling them of
their wrongs, of the oppression of the
government and OF the cruel bearing
of the emperor, with the result that no
sooner was the now familiar cry in
Germany Of Bread Bread"
''Breadi" 'Give us bread or give us
work." raised by the agitators.
than a mob of about 1000 men
spread themselves in attachments over
the neighborhood and pillaged a num-
Der Of baker shops, which were COM
pletely Quilted of their contents.
The police tried in vain to stem the
human torrent. but it gained force
with the demolishment of the bakers
shops and turned its attention to the
butchers stores, which were quickly
emptied of their contents.
The SpoiIs Divided Justly.
Then there was a strange scene.
Immense piles of stolen meats and
bags of flour were gathered at conven-
lent spots and the work of equal dis !
tribution began. Sturdy rioters
guarded these stores of provisions
while others measured out the meat
and -four to the starving men. But it
was not for themselves that these pro-
xieso-a a~. 1- MI |
he approached the distributing point
was asked how many people he had in
his family and upon the number being
given he was handed a piece of meat
and a measure or two of -four, accord
ing to the needs of his household.
The Police Held at Bay.
While this work OF distribution was
going on in an orderly n in the
public street, skirmishing parties of
rioters were keeping the police, who
were greatly o~utnumbered, at bay by
pelting them with stones or charging
bodily upon them and driving the au-
thorities from the scene of the riot.
Other diminishing parties emptled
wine stores, grocery stores and other
places where food and drink was to be
had until every man among the rioters
had laid in a stock of provisions of
kind or another. The mob in
spite of this r~iotipg vas orderly, If
such terms a be applied to rioters.
The Authorities L~enient.
During this time naturally the police
were not entirely idle. They formed
into several attachments and repeat
edly charged the mob. The latter
far outnumbered the police, fought
desperately with the policemen, injur-
ing a numbering of them and in sew
eral cases completely routed them.
Victory eventually rested with the
police, but the rioters were not dis
persed until they had lone all the
damage they had intended to.
Not over fifty prisoners were taken
by the police during the whole course
OF the riots and many of these were
rescued by the mob while being taken
to the guard house.
In view of the fact that the author
tiles are not Inclined to be severe with
the prisoners, 10 further rioting
is anticipated. especially as a commit
tee Of the influential citizens are TAX
ing steps to enlarge the relief work S
s o as to employ at least 1000 men.
Wilhelm Angry AT Mercy shown.
The emperor, according to rumors, is
kept advised as to all such outbreaks
and he Is said to be angry at what he
terms the lukewarm manner In which
the local authorities of Dantzic have
handled the rioters there.