Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-08-19
A RIOT AFTER THE FIRt
Constables Fire on a Mob In
 Brooklyn.
TRIED LYNCH A SALOON KEEPER
When the Crowd Learned That Meyers Had Refused Shelter to Children Injured In the Fire, They LoOted His Saloon and Attempted to Lynch Him.

BROOKLYN, Aug. l9.-At an early hour this morning a riot was in progress in this city.
 Twenty-two families were made home less by fire which totally destroyed seven frame dwellings in Cooper street, near the city line, and rendered uninhabitable nine others, while seven persons were injured by jumping from windows in order to es- cape.
 Among the injured were the four 'chil dren of Frank Liebler, who were taken for temporary shelter to the neighboring sa- loon of Charles F. Meyers. The saloon keeper, it is said. refused to admit them. This aroused indignation, which deepened during the day until it culminated in a riot in the evening, in which Meyers saloon was demolished afOer much of its contents had been destroyed.
 The rioters were only dispersed after several had been wounded by shots fired by deputy sheriffs from Newtown. There was not much thought of punishing Meyers for his alleged inhumanity while the fire was in progress, but when it was over the indignation against him began to make itself manifest.
 Threats of Lynching.
 During the afternoon threats of lynch ing were heard among the men who had crowded about the ruins. and when night Caule on an angry ulOD nun many hundreds gathered and bitterly denounced the saloon keeper for turning the injured Liebler children from his door.
 The crowd increased in size and grew restless. It soon became worked up to a high pitch of excitement and only needed leader to give a signal which would re suit in bloodshed.
 Little groups, composed of less than a score of men each, stood around talking excitedly when darkness set in. Finally some one passed around word that Meyers house was to be attacked. Arm yourself for the battle," was the command which followed. Then the little groups broke up, and the men composing them disappeared in all directions. When they returned, they were armed with axes, pistols clubs and paving stones, and ut 9.3O there was an an gry army of nearly 1000 determined men marching over the hills toward Meyers sa- loon. Some one shouted, Get a rope" and at least 20 men obeyed the order. Then they began singing, "We'll hang old Mey- CTS on a sour apple tree"
 The saloon keeper had been warned of the approach of the mob and had a horse and wagon in readiness at the rear of his place so that he might make his escape. The saloon is just across the Brooklyn city line in Queens county.
 Meyers Makes His Escape. Quickly barring his doors and windows, Meyers extinguished the lights in the sa- loon, ran into the yard, sealed a fence, got into a wagon and hurriedly made his es- cape to Newtown. If he had delayed one minute longer, he would not have been able to get away, as the mob surrounded the house A big, brawny fellow who acted as the leader shouted:
 "If Meyers comes out, shoot him downr' "We wilI!' was the response. Some of the men carried torches, and when a suggestion was made to burn Mey- CTS house the crowd favored the idea, and the torch bearers hurried to carry it out An old man named Hebler, who lives | in a house adjoining the saloon. begged | the mob to desist from firing the place and his appeal was needed.
 | When within 20 feet of the saloon some \ one threw a paving stone through the plate l glass window. This was the signal for a general attack, and minute later hun | dred men were tearing down the front of the building. The torch bearers were | among the first to get inside. Then there was general havoc. Barrels of whisky were rolled into the street, and boxes ol cigars were thrown out among those who could not crowd into the place. Everything in the saloon was demolished or carried off, and then a visit was paid tc | the saloon keeper's living apartments. The | carpets were ripped up from the floors | looking glasses, bric-a-b brac and pictures | were smashed. A search under tables and ! in closets was made for the saloon keeper | by the men who carried the ropes Then when it was learned thatsMeyers had made his escape, the mob overturned the bar smashed open the icebox and carried out several small casks of whisky found in the StoreroOm.
 Deputies Fired on the Crowd.
 In the meantime Meyers had driven tC Newtown for assistance, the Brooklyn DO lice having refused to go outside of tn, lcity limits. A squad of deputy sheriff, and constables arrived at the saloon il time to see the last of the whisky barrel going out of the door. They got into tho place through the rear entrance, and ther followed a general battle. Pistol shot were quickly exchanged, and a number O Ipersons were injured.
 One man. who had been shot in the lel by a constable, was removed to a saloon a Cooper street and Central avenue, wher he was attended by physician. Another who had been severely injured, was carried away in a grocer's wagon. He refused t. give his name, as he was one of the leader of the mob. 4 boy was thrown down on of the cellars of one of the burned house and had his legs crushed.
 | several women who " ere On OoOpe street opposite the scene of the fire wer
 trampled down by the rioters as the latte
 retreated from the flying bullets of tn
 constables' revolvers.
 A second and a third attack was mad
 upon Meyers house, and at midnight tn
 mob was still fighting with the constables
 and the riot had assumed serious propoI
 tions. The entire reserve squad of polio
 from the Twentieth precinct hurried t protect the property in the neighborhoo of knickerbocker avenue and Coope
 street, which is within the city limits, bu
 the policemen would not go over the lin
 to the aid of the Queens county author ties.
 The rough element of the mob was hold
 ing high carnival. Men with small cask
 of whisky on their shoulders paraded tn
 streets and sang ribald songs. while other
 who had been their companions wer
 drinking from bottles and otherwise CT , toying the spols rom the footed saloon.
 Connecticut's State Eucampnent.
 NIANTIC. Conn. Aug. l9 All preparI
 tions have been nIAt.e for Inr \. ate eucanI