Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-24
:"
IDLE HORKMER RIoTIN6.

They stormed Hall, Took it by Force
and Resisted when the Pelice Tried to
Drive Them Out.
New York, Aug. 1.-THE first of
the riots which labor leaders have pre-
dicted as a result of the large number of
unemployed occurred to-day when 5000
lawless Russians, Mostly clothing work
men, stormed Walhalla Hall because
admittance was denied them. The police
reserves had to make repeated charges
on the mob before they would yield,
having smashed everything in the hall.
The rioting was renewed In the streets,
the frenzied foreigners fighting des-
perately with everything they could lay
their hands on.
The mob gathered at the Labor Ex-
change and shouting "Walhalla Hall"
marched to take possession. Proprietor
Fliegman barred the doors, but tho
crowd forced them after smashing all
the windows in the saloon below, and
poured in. lncendiary spokesman began
to harangue in Russian, denouncing the
government for not furnishing work.
THREATS AGAINST THE POLICE.
Meanwhile the police reserves had
been started to the scene on the double-
quick. Three Of the prominent rioters,
Albert Rosenfeld Joseph Gold and
Abraham Simon, were arrested, great
crowd following them TO the station
house and threatening the officers.
Besides the excited men who thronged
Walhalla Hall there were 1000 othors
at Covenant Hall, few doors away.
One orator urged that the police station
hn at ~ los, a
condemning the police and saying that
the men wanted work and must have il.
Workingmen were warned to prepare
themselves for repetition of such con-
duct by the police.
Finally the police chief ordered the
halls to be cleared and fierce rough
and tumble fight ensued. Hot headed
Russians gathered about the officers as
they charged, shouting "Stone them,"
dynamite them"
When the men in Walhalla Hall were
ordered GU. they began to wreck the
place. Chairs were hurled at the win
dows, gas fixtures were pulled down
and glass partition was smashed. At
least dozen men mounted a handsome
piano and jumped on the lid until it
was ruined.
The mob surged about seeking an
egress. The police formed themselves
into battering ram and rushed at the
locked doors. The doors were torn from
their hinges and the crowd swept into
the street.
DESPERATE FIGHT IN THE STREET.
The police drove the mob to Grand
street, still fighting. Officer Fitzgerald
was knocked down and beaten by a
dozen Russians. All sorts of missiles
were hurled by the rioters, and women
shoppers fed into the stores. A. dozen
arrests were made, the men bowling
| and cursing as they were hauled away.
The news of the trouble having
spread all over the city, vast crowds
collected about the scene. They were
kept out OF Orchard street by Gordon
of police, the reserves of five precincts
being called out. Late in the afternoon
the three rioters originally arrested were
released. Proprietor Fllegman refusing
to make any charges, fearing personal
harm.
New York, Aug. 1s.--The turbu-
lence of the unemployed that devastated
Walhalla Hall yesterday lived through
the night, but it was more subdued this
ihoIninb' lHc imprisoned members OF
yesterdays mob were TO be arraigned
this morning in Essex Market police
court, and prior to the opening of the
court and as early as o'clock at least
| 500 persons gathered in Essex street
above Grand. They swarmed about the
court and prison, and policemen were
compelled to hight them back with clubs
from the court doors.
The crowd constantly grew in num-
beTs and its riotous demonstrations in
creased. The reserves were called on
and responded, so that about 25 mon
were soon massed between the court
rooms and the head of the mob.
Just across the street is Essex market.
The presence of the mob produced a
minor reign Of terror. The stall owners
appeared to fear that the fury of a mob
might at any moment break forth and
wreck their miniature places of business
and perhaps move off with their edible
stock in trade.
| Justice Voorhees, opened court at 0
O'clock and imposed small fines upon
the prisoners.