The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-14
NAILED UP BY GIRLS.
Women Strikers in Biddeford Bar
Gates and Carry Clubs
RIOTOUS SCENES AROUND, THE
BIG FACTORIES.

D1U EACIVklE ESs
The Police Force Had More Gates to
Guard than There Were ofacers-Men
and Women who Wanted to Work
Subjected to Insult and Abuse-One
Girl Smashed Her Umbrella Over Her
Tormentors' Heads.
Especial to the Press.1
BDDEFoRD, June 13.-Today it was
just one week since Biddeford's big
strike was inaugurated by the going out
of 80 backboys in the Pspperell.
It has been said today that neither the
Pepperell nor the Laconia mills would
start up tomorrow morning, but Agent
Macarthur says that they will. Not so
many workmen went in today, however,
as were at work Monday, the first day
of the regular strike. Many were afraid
to go in.
There were several small-sized riots
around the different mill gates this
morning and tins noon. Biddeford's
limited police force, under the head of
City Marshal Cote, tried Intellectually to
guard moro gates than there are men on
the force. OF course their efforts were
not remarkably successful. There are
four regulars on the force and one spec
ial was on duty with them. This
morning people who went to work were
hooted at by mobs of strikers around the
gates. One Irish girl who was caught
hold of by crowd of boys, laid about
her with her umbrella and drove off her
prosecutors. The umbrella was wreck
but the girl got through the gate.
There was a big crowd around the
barred the gate and only few succeed
ed in getting in. Someone who was in
| side threw several pals of water. upon
| the crowd of strikers from the second
story window of the mill. This enraged
the strikers, and volley of stones and
| bricks drove the man away from the
window. There were many who want
ed to work who did not dare
To Run the Gauntlet of the Crowd
at the gates.
At noon, the scenes about the Laconia
gates beggar description. The strikers
| with their sympathizers and the hood
| lums, let themselves loose and fairly too,
possession Of the gate ways. Gate
were nailed up almost IN the faces of th
police, watchmen were driven away an
| operatives who wished to go in to wor ]
were held, struck, kicked and clubbe d
1t is doubtful if ever in any city pers o.
| or property was more absolutely at :h
mercy of mob than were the Lacol ala
operatives and property this noon.
| There was big mob at the lower M ain
street gate, where the trouble occur red
| in the morning. A small gate at the top
| of the hill was actually nailed up by
strikers, and girls at that. They :, yers
armed with clubs and they took DO sses
sion of the gate. They drove back Q, very
| body who tried to go in with their oluf
and when the watchman came to thu are
cue the men and boys came to the Girl
assistance. They brushed the watc 6u,
| away from the gate. shut it to, got sol
| nails and nailed it tightly up and th
half dozen sturdy young Frenchn
stood guard over it to keep it in pla
| Nobody went in that gate after that
The rankest work was at a gate
Smith street, where no policeman !,
stationed. Half dozen striking Q
and - ,5vt
1 q
under their cloaks and when anyo
operatives tried to go in they usM ii
clubs vigorously and pushed theht III
the way. The men set in witt th
They drove off the watchman anHk ,rr
a wall around the gate through Vi ict
one could pass.
Several men tried to help liz
through or tried to protect Il e ,
were being dubbed but they E n
erless in the mob and got rou, " +
died themselves.
One good-looking French CIR Who
pluck enough to try to get in, & str
on the head until she cried. She q
planned to the officers but q arr
were made. Another woma Who /,
70 get INTO uhe same gate, lot SUI
ciuDDlng tnat wnen sne put II han
her head she wiped off bloot which
worked out tnrough her r. III
are only two of dozen sin Ar circ
stances which occurred at Il gate
If those who want to wo1 aftemr
go in tomorrow morning, j g oener
feared that there will be tro ia m
were small crowds around oma If
gates tonight, when the + J 5onerat
who are still at work, cam out. .bu
violence was offered. ..,1,g
The Particular lGri anca
of the strikers seems to bs be,Jenptl
cuts which they have to seaye.
say that in spite of the mnroved
cninely Tnlcn tne ofncf say is b
nclaa 70 the Workmen, 1ns cannot n
SO much pay now as merly. I
right along, aud often fou or Ave. I
have other grievances, yuch as 4
against overseers ana sc ond hands,
Many French people ! fl for Ca,
today on their annual cation. r.
strike lasts much longer large MN
| of those who want to ,orr will i
here to find work in otht manmfact,,
i towns.
The situation now loo % mora duh
| than it has at all and erchants ar
down in the mouth. rhera are m
however, who do, not ,sIieve that
| strikers are well enou RI or~an;zel
hold together long and thew think u
break must surely com in week
carrier. Ihe one I'M that hol