The state herald., 1892-03-04
A RIOT IN BERLIN.
THE POLICE AND woRkMEh IN
CONFLICT.
Unemployed Laboring Men Desiring to
Appeal to tho Emperor Arc Driven
Away After Hard Fight.

Unemployed Laboring Men Desiring to
Appeal to the Emperor Arc Driven
Away Ate. Hard Fight
There was very serious conflict in
Berlin on the 25th between the police and ak
thousand unemployed laboring men.
Tho disturbance originated at n meeting Of
about 900 or 1000 workmen ut Lipp's brew
cry during tho forenoon. Tho workmcn had
gathered there to receive tho report Of depu-
ter, Herr ForkenbeclS, asking him TO sec the
Emperor In behalf of the unemployed work
men Of Berlin and to intercede with his maics-
ty upon their behalf. The men wanted Herr
Forkcnbcck to ask the Emperor to appoint n
fair and unprcjudlced commission to inquire
into the wrongs which the workmen complain
Of and promote immediate legislation nee
essary 10 redress their grievances. The depu-
tatlon had been refused admission to the
house Of the burgomaster who, although n
liberal did not dare to encourage the men but
sent them word that they had better go to
their homes. The delegates were also warned
that the police forbade all rlotous gatherings
and professions, and that steps should be
taken to prevent any demonstration on the
part OF those the delegates represented.
With this information MS the result OF their
visit to the burgomastcr, the delegates re-
turned to Lipp's brewery, where they an
nounced TO their comrades, who by that time
numbered fully 5000 men, the disappointing
result Of their mission. The message Of the
burgomastcr was received by the workmcn
with regular howls Of rage and storms Of ex
ccration. They decided to march at once to
the castle, the home Of Emperor William and
present their petition to him In person.
Thcrcupon steps were Immediately taken to
gather the great body OF workmcn into some
sort Of order, the Socialist portion Of those
present showing themselves to be admirably
ready to convert nm unwicldy body of shout
Ing, yelling, excited men Into parade shape.
Amidst the uproar, number OF the cooler
heads and more thoughtful of the leaders of
the workmcn tried almost In vain to be heard.
In loud, piercing tones they implored the
men not to lose their heads and to remember
that they were but n small handful when
measured against the garrison and police OF
Berlin. But many Of the men were partially
intoxicated and gave no heed To advice Of this
kind
present emperor of Germany seem to have
struck deep and dangerous root in the hearts
OF the people, for upon this occasion rs II re-
solved to freely give vent to long pent-up
feelings Of indignation and wrath, the work
men, the Socialists and their sympathzers,
recalled and jccrcd at everything recently
credited to their monarch. The uttcrances at
Brandcnburg, about causing everybody in
| Germany who did not support him to shake
the dust Of Germany from their feet, were
particularly referred to with deep curses, as
were the other and similar remarks credited
to the effect that he would grind to powder
those who opposed him.
The crowd formed into n sort of procession
and marched through the Inter den Linden,
singing the 'Mnrsclllaisc."
AT that stage OF the riot many believed that
| n revolution had broken out in Berlin and the
widest rumors concerning the movement
| spread on all sides. The officers in command
| OF the different corps OF the garrison were
communicated with by mounted ordcrlics and
| by wire, and such was the excitement and
prcparutIod for some time that one would
have thought the people were rising against
the government. From every available quar-
| ter dctachmcnts Of police were hurriedly sent
for, arriving at the palace on the trot and
completely armed. By this time the rioters
had reached point outside the castle gates
and there they halted, sang the "Marsclllaise''
| In laundering tones and wildly shouted for
the emperor To appear.
- -<>,ss sss- ssrc~ Vt roiicc on the spot
had been sufficiently reinforced charge upon
| the rioters was ordered, and then began a
| series Of the most hand-to-hand fights ever
witnessed In the streets Of Berlin. The police,
| II was evident, had received strict orders to
avoid bloodshcd, but they hit right and left
with the Fat Of their swords, pounded away
with the stocks of their rifles and hammered a,
the rioters with baions. During the melee
the police made 100 arrests, but each arrest
seemed To be the signal for mn attempt at res
cue upon the part Of the mob, and In some
cases they tore their comrades from the grasp
| Of the police and carried them away In rri.
| umph.
While this battle was being fought almost
beneath the castle windows, Emperor VII.
liam Of Germany, pale and looking like man
| just recovering from u severe attack Of sick.
ness, watched his subjects struggling with the
men they had termed his ''buichcrs,n their
| only crime being that they desired TO appeal
10 their monarch for 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 a large
window on the first story there was such a
| howl, mingled with cheers, that II must have
caused him II very uncomfortable feeling.
But by lifting his hand he could have put a
| N all the rfnfiun aph hv lp,r /,
| few calming words to the mob, promising "a
Investigate their complaints, he could have
sent them home satisfied, bu, he did not do
| 1t, and the battle between the police and the
dissatisfied workmen continued.
The achievements received by the police
enabled them finally TO dlspcrsc the mob be-
| fore the castle, aud the crowd scattered "a
different parts Of the city where they con-
tinucd their disorlcrly conduct.
As darkness came on the mob increased IN
number and grew more dangerous In temper.
| The various bands must have numbered sey-
crsl thousands. They had no organized lead
crship, but they held virtual possession Of the
eastern quarters of Berlin, especially Of
| Frankfurtcr and Wcisscnbcrgcr streets. The
| whole police force Of Berlin was called out,
under orders 10 20 To any extremity TO sup
| press the uprising. The working people were
not sangulnnry, but they were rcsolutc. They
opposed the police stubbornly, and refused 10
dispcrle. They gathered In n large body on
tho frankfnr'cr strasse, with the intention Of
marching toward the palace. Near Kaiser
sirassc n severe conflict took place, In which n
large number OF persons were injured.
The police were directed with much judg-
mcnt and skill, their Instructions being To aim
for the capture, or II necessary, the killing Of