Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-03
CONTAMINATION OF One strlke.


The elimination Of the street car
strike was disgraceful day In the his
tory of Indianapolis. Mobs at several
times had substantial possession OF the
streets. Men and women encouraged
scenes and acts Of violence, and a
woman displayed amid the crowd brick
red flag, Haunting 1t about her head, and
then hastily conoealing 1t In the drapery
about her breast. The street car strike
began q week before because OF a re-
fusal by the president of the company
to advance the wages Of employees. Sew
eral mornings attempts were made to
start the cars, but the strikers inter-
fered, and the care were pushed back
into the barns. The Mayor took the
position that he would not afford police
protection until he was assured that the
company had men to properly run the
cars. He received such assurances and
the police appeared to aid the company.
No attempt was made to run the electric
cars. All efforts we're concentrated on
the horse cars.
One hundred strikers met one car at
the Grand Opera House. Here a des-
perate encounter occurred with the
police, and when 1t reached Washing ten
street, the main thoroughfare, the mob
had increased in numbers to 1,O0O.
Slowly it made its way few squares
farther, where at least 5000 people had
gathered. Prominent among its num-
bers was burly negro, who was fore
most in trying to stop the car. The
officers laid hold of him to place him
under arrest. With maddening yell
the crowd sprang upon the officers,
and the negro was wrenched from
their grasp. Police Superintendent
Colbert headed q detail for his re-
capture. They waded into the crowd,
moving right and left with their clubs.
Crashl and big, heavy board, welded
by one of the crowd, descended upon
the Superintendents head. Another
crash, and Capt. Dawson was nearly
felled to the ground by brick, which
struck him,o on the head, being thrown
from an upstairs window. Such ac-
tions as these precluded all possibility
cof further leniency. Superintendent
Colbert pulled a revolver from each
pocket and pointed their muzzles into
the faces of the surging mass of people.
Slowly the mob parted, and the negro
was recaptured.
No sooner was this accomplished than
the crowd made a rush for the man who
was attempting to drive the car. Hang
the scabi" "Over with the cart" KNOCK
out of himl" and similar express
sions filled the air. In an instant he
was pulled over the dashboard, while
several men belabored him over the
head. The police charged, and again
the bricks began to fly. One brick
struck Capt. Dawson in the middle OF
the back, doubling him up with pain,
while strikers fist landed beside his
nose. Another missile struck Patrol
man Settle beside the head, cutting his
helmet and clear through to the skin.
But Patrolman Smith Jared worst Of all.
A big stone struck him just under his
helmet on the back of the head, ripping
open the scalp and hair and laying bare
the bone. After severe fighting the
crowd was dispersed and quieted.
Smith was carried away by an am
bulance.
Not over five minntes after the crowd
had quieted down some one yelled
There goes one on Meridian street,
and away went the crowd. There were
two cars there guarded by,a handful OF
police. The crowd swooped down upon
them like birds Of prey on their victims.
1t was of no use that the officers dubbed
and pounded. The mems heads seemed
made of iron. In trice they had the
mules unhitched, and with yells they
pushed the cars into the gutter. A large
crowd of men and boys were standing
upon an improvised soaffolding of boards.
Into this the car was pushed, and the
structure came down with it's load OF
humanity, and the air was filed with
cries of fear. Luckily no one was hurt
beyond a few bruises. The other car
was backed west on Maryland street
until 1t stuck in the mud, and there II
stood. Both had their windows smashed,
and more than one striker and policeman
will wear knots on their heads for the
next few days.
In another part of the city two women
boarded a car, rushed to the driver,
threw their arms around his neck, and
then gave him a terrible beating. An
officer rescued him, but the women got
away. In one case the mules were un-
hitched, and then we're stampeded, while
the car was derailed. Many arrests
were made, but bonds were promptly
furnished in all cases. Finally all at
tempts to run the cars were abandoned.
The Mayor stands firm by his latest
decision, and will again afford all the
protection to the company within his
power. He said: This is a very sad
business, and all we have to do is to
unite for peace. There is not word of
truth in the statement that there was
any pressure brought TO bear on me to
order out the police as soon as Mr.. Fren-
eel had men enough to operate his cars.
When the strikers advisory committee
called on me the other day told them
tho same thing. They asked me to say
nothing about 1t, and did not. This
morning the time was ripe. / was in
formed that plenty OF men were in readi-
ness to start the cars, and upon advice
from the Board of Public Safety we de-
dided to call out the police. My every
effort will be to quell the riot, and IL
am to be censured, let it not be done till
peace is restored. My mind has never
changed on what ought TO be done, bat
IL did not seem to be the proper thing
until this morning"
The Board of Public Safety decided
to swear In $50 special officers and
Mayor Sullivan issued proclamation
closing oil saloons until the strike is
over.
Ex-Banker Harper's wife wins Suit.
At Cincinnati Mrs. +. w. Harper, wife
OF the ex-banker now In the Columbus