The morning call., 1892-01-27
RAIDED TO RAZE.
Axes and CrOWbars Piled Amid
Pistol Shots.
Attempted Demolition Of an Eighth-street
Building by a Gang Of Fifty Men
Sharp Real Estate Transactions

Tricky and bloodthirsty Chile might well
learn lesson in diplomacy ana warfare
from a strategic movement and subsequent
siege at an early hour last evening upon a
building in the heart of the city. The
fight occurred at "a and 26 Eighth street, in
the building occupied by the City Carpet
Beating and Renovating Works, and about
fifty persons participated. Several shots
were fired in the fusllade that took place,
and the police were at bay for several
minutes.
1t was at 80 o'clock when the neighbOr-
hood of Eighth and Market streets was
astOnished by the rapid breaking of glass
and windows and the firing of shots. a
large crowd soon collected, but it was held
back by the fighters, who only asked to
settle their own dispute.
The lighting appeared all the stranger, as
1t was frat commenced on the roof, where
crowbars and axes were being welded by
thirty or forty persons, while another ten
were dong the skirmishng. At first the
police could do nothing and would do
nothing.
POLICE CALLED IN.
A telephone from the new City Hall
Police Station to Sergeant Spillane at the
Southern Station soon brought large posse,
under his command. The sergeant on arriv-
ing found the fighting had been transferred
from the roof to the lower rooms, rear yard
and the street. He Quelled this and arrested
I'VE, alter satisfying himself that they were
the leaders.
The arrested men are Bernard A. Tracy,
5. r. OKeefe, j. Spaldiug, G. Ii. Stevens
and Ii. l.. Jones. They were booked for
disturbing the peace and furnished $40 bail,
except the latter, in whose possession Il
revolver had been found. He was booked
for carrying a weapon concealed and had 10
PUT up $3.50 for his freedom.
Then came their stories, and each had
more or less varying tal9 TO tell From
their stories 1t appears that the trouble was
excited by Irregular proceedings on both
sides and desire TO control the future use
OF the building.
THE LOT HAD BEEN LEASED.
The lot on which it stands is leased by
Tracy Bros. d Co. from Thomas Malloy.
The building is, or rather was owned by
the City Carpet Beating and Cleaning
Works, but as its lease Of the ground eX-
pires on the 1st prOX, it had to make some
disposition Of the building.
1t appeared TO the best interests Of the
carpet-Ceanlng company TO have the build
ing RACED, that no competition company
might come into possession. In pursuance
OF this tRr-sghted policy, q. Ii. Stevens,
manager. sold the building to James L.
Whittier that it might be torn down. Whit
lltIs however, SOFA IL TO one 1BaCOCk,
who trans ferred it to Tracy Bros. q Co.,
just one day after 1t had been sold to Whit
tier. Learning that II was not TO be RACED,
and that the Tracy Bros. IL Co. would PROB
ably rent il to some competing carpet beat
ing concern, j. Spalding, stakeholder and
member Of the firm, claimed Stevens had
not been authorized to make the sale, and
that it was illegal, and SO it was that on
Sunday an aOortiv6 attempt to destroy the
building wRs made.
TRACY BROTHERS OUT-TRICKED.
Tracy Bros. had representative in the
field who urged that the interested par
lies resort TO law to settle the question, and
the trouble blew over. Since then il has
been smOldeTlng. About o'clock last
evening Manager Stevens invited Tracy
brOtbeTs-twO Of them-into a neiehbOTing
saloon for a round OF drinks, and while
there the forty or fifty men, previously OBJ
tanned, filed into the place, placed the two
Watchmen under arrest, and proceeded to
the roof, where with axes and crowbarS
they started to tear off the roofing.
The noise they raised and the gathering
excitement on the street appr.sed Tracy
u .os. " Co. that they mad been tTicked, out
generated, aud that things had reached a
crisis HurrIedly gathering their forces
they went into the building some say
three strong; some say a doZen-and with
their greatly inferior force drove the build
ing-raZers from the roof, which they scaled
by step ladders. a dozen or more OF shots
We're fired, but only one witness says to
any purpose. lie claims a outlet whlzzed
past his head.
The affair will now go into the courts, nd
good deal Of dirty commercial linen will
have to be launlried before the case IS set
tied