Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-26

IL 10 Claimed That . Little More Excitement
Would Have Turned Il Into . Revolution.

I - - Sseime0 Tnat . Little More Exctfemen
/ would Have Turned Ii Into . Revolution.
The riot in Berlin yesterday afternoon wal
officially investigated and also weighed mp b,
the newspapers with the result that while the
official report attempts to belittle the affair tn,
more independent newspapers make no attemp
to deny that the outbreak was a serious OK
hibition of the state Of mind in which larg,
masses of the people find themselves. The ex
] tremists. on the other hand, say that . very
little more excitement would have converted
the riot into a revolution in Berlin.
The disturbance originated at meeting Of
about 5000 or 1000 workmen at Lips brewery
during the forenoon. The men had gathered
there to receive the report of a deputation
| which they had sent to the burgomaster, Herr
Forckenbeck, asking him to see the emperor in
behalf Of the unemployed workmen Of Berlin
and to intercede with his majesty upon their
behalf. The men wanted Herr Forckenbeck
to ask the emperor to appoint fair and I'M
! pretudiced commission to inquire into the
wrongs which the wvrkmen complain of and
1 promote immediately the legislation necessary
I to redress their grievances. The deputation
| called upon the burgomaster at his official res
| idence. but they were halted at the doors Of
that officials ofiices and were asked their bust
ness. The delegates announced that they came
/ to visit the burgomaster on behalf OF many
thousands OF unemployed people in Berlin aud
That they wanted him to Intercede with the EN-
| peror on their behalf.
This message was communicated to Herr
Forckenbeck, who, by the way, is an extreme
liberal, almost q socialist, in fact but, IN spite
of his well-known political sympathles, the
burgomaster, recognizing the fact that the stua-
ton was very dangerous one, refused TO receive
| the delegation, sending them a message to the
effect that, in mis- own Opinion, the workmen
bad better return peaceably to their homes, as
there was nothing to be gained by the demon
STATIONS similar TO the one be understood tney
were concentrating. The delegates were also
warned that the police forbade all riotous
gatherings and professions and that steps
would be taken to prevent any demonstration
on the part of those the delegates represented.
With this information as the result OF their
visit to the burgomaster, the delegates re-
turned to Lips brewery, where they announced
to their comrades, who by that time numbered
fully 5000 men, the disappointed result Of
their mission. The message of the burgO-
master received by the workmen with reg
ular bowls of rage and storms of bitter execra-
ton, mingled with yeiis Of Lets 60 to the
ministry Of commerce"
Lets march in . body to the reichstag and
demand redress and. finally, with the shout
OF Lets appeal in person TO the emperor"
This last suggestion caused such a howl from
the assemblage that 1t must have been heard
for miles around.
10 the castler' was the cry.
Lets tear down the gates If necessary and
zee the emperor"
Tbereupoa steps were Immediately taken to
gather the great body Of workmen into some
sort Of order. the socialist portion Of those pres
ent showing themselves to be admirably ready
to convert an unwieldy body of shouting, yell
ing. excited men into parade shape.
Amid the uproar number OF the cooler
heads and more thoughtful of the leaders of
the workmen tried. almost IN vain, to be heard.
In loud tones they implored men not to lose
their heads and to remember that they were
but small handful when measured against the
garrison and police OF Berlin.
Herr Kessler, the noted agitator, was con-
spicuous in his efforts to calm the passions of
the multitude. Standing upon table which
had been handed over the heads Of the people
| in order that it might serve platform from
which the orator might speak Herr kessler
shouted, bareheaded, holding his hands above
his head 50 As to attract attention, Il
beseech you TO be prudent Do nothing which
will give the government an excuse to use arms
upon You. The hour mas not come; this is not
the time to make a demonstration III behalf of
your wrongs As you value your future happi-
ness,for the sake OF your wifes and children do
not be led to be slaughtered by the soldiers.
Even now police agents may be in your midst
exciting you TO walk into trap"
THE PALE KAISER A SPECTATOR.
While the battle was being fought almost be-
meath the castle Windows Emperor William of
Germany, pale and looking like man just re-
covering from a severe attack of Sickness
watched his subjects struggling with the men
they had termed his butchers" their only
crime being that they desired to appeal to their
monarch Tor the justice which they claim, they
are unable to obtain elsewhere. When the
presence OF the emperor at the window became
known (he stood at large winGOw on the first
story there was such a howl mingled with
cheers, that ii must have caused HIM a very
uncomfortable feeling. But by lifting his hand
Ia va stnV 10 nll tha riot nj
by addressing few calming words to the mob
promising to investigate their complaints he
could have sent them home satisfied. but he
did not do it. and the battle between the
police and the dissatisfied workmeE continued
The police had, during the fight, continually
been receiving reInforcements, and it was
lucay for them that such was the case for when
they hrst came IN contact with the mob the lat
ter fought SO desperately that the police were
driven back and it began to look as ii the
guards at the castle would be compelled to fire
upon the mob. these reinforcements how
ever, enabled the police to beat back the riot
ers, who retreated into the eastern quarters
attacking stray bodies of police en- route, rOut-
ing number of them and fighting desperately
with the authorities at every opportunity.
Ten THOUSAND TOOK PART.
Though tits said that not more than s. 600 men
we're gathered around about the statue OF Fred
erick the Great when the '.Marseilaise' startled
Inc Sooo peOpic vi tht heiSADOfLOOd IL Id now
estimated that fully 600 people took part III
one way and another In the rioting. Aen
were not alone In resisting the charges Of the
poi.ce-women, aud even children, took part III
the fray with as much desperation us the bus-
bands, fathers and brothers. and as "a result a
number OF women are now locked up III the
same depots as the male rioters. The exact
number OF prisoners made and people injured
Is not known. but rough estimate has il that
about 100 persons were captured and that quite
lOO people were severely injured. In addition
some two or three hundred other persons must
have received injuries more or less serious, of
which II Is impossible to obtain any record.
II rioting was not ended by the repulse of
the worhlngmen who went to attack the Aite
Scloss or Ancient Palace of Hozollern. The
| FIRST Of the hungry thousands was u surprise to
\ the people seneraIiy-it to the police but
i as the news new from street to street In the
quarters Of the city where the workingmen
most cougregate il was like electric turIll to
| the popular nerve The quiet GERMANS emed
| TO lose their apathy and 20 be fired with the
| spirit Of 49, when their fathers on that
memorable March day raradod before the
! same palace with the peoples dead, willie King
! Frederick William ~ stood a barehedded wit
ness OF the CHASTITY review. Not since that
| BRIEF reign OF the people has Berlin witnessed
| such a scene as Yesterday. The thousands OF
unemployed gathered i'll the streets especially
I oil the quarter. They rushed forth from their
! homes, followed by wives AID children be-
1 seechinS them not to risk their lives. IN some
| instances, however. women incitcd and urged
| ON their husbands, and on Weissenburger
strasse tail wonian vas seen, good looking