The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-19
FIRE FOLLOWED BY RIOT.
NEWIoWN CONsTABLES WOUND SEV-
ER4L OF THE NOR.

In tho Fire which Rendered Twenty-Five
Families Homeless Brooklyn Police I'M
willing TO Cross the CITY Line to Give Aid.
Twenty-Five families were made homeless
Yesterday morning by fire which totally de-
stroyed seven frame dwellings In Cooper
street. near the city line of Brooklyn. and rem
dered uninha btable nine others. while seven
persons were injured by jumping from win
dows In order to escape.
Among the Injured were the four children OF
Frank Liebler. who were taken for temporary
shelter to tho neighboring saloon OF Charles
+. Meyers The saloon keeper. It is said. re-
fused to admit them.
This aroused indignation. which deepened
during the day until it eliminated in a riot In
the evening" in which Meyerss saloon was de-
molishet, after 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 furnishing Meyers for his alleged In
humanity while tho fire was in progress but
when It was over the Indignation against him
began to make itself manifest
During the afternoon threats OF lynchlng
were heard among the mon who had crowded
about the ruins and when night came on an
angry mob mum boring many hundreds gath
for turning the injured Liebler children from
his doors.
Tho crowd increased in size. and grew rest
less. 1t soon became worked up to q high
pitch OF excitement and only needed a leader
to give signal which would result in blood
shed. Little groups. composed OF less than
score Of men each. stood around talking
excitedly when darkness set in.
Finally some one passed around word that
Meyers house was to DO attacked. Arm
yourself for the battle" was the command
mp sna III the ali they
clubs. and paving stones. and Mt half past 9
there was, an angry army OF nearly 1000
determmned ~ men ,I marching over the nils to-
Some one shouted. get a rope" and at least
twenty men ob!sysd the order. Then they be.
gan s sinSIin Fee wen hang old Meyer On
The saloon keeper had been warned of the
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
Quickly barring his doors and windows.
Meyers eXtngusshed the lights in the th
wagon. and hurriedly made his escapeto New
town, II he had delayed one minute longer he
fellow; who acted as the leader. shouted,
We will" was the response.
Some OF the men carried torches. and when
ths crowd aronsi the e asd
torch bearers hurried to carry carry it out, An ola
man named me- aH6ier who !yes In house Sss az
from from firing tho place. and his appeal was
When within twenty feet OF the saloon some
one threw a paving stone. through the plate
glass window. This was the signal for a gen;
WsrS seaas the the
ssss ,Sss ss 4.
those Who cou ID not crowd into the place.
carried off. and then a visit was paid to the
saloon keepers living apartments, The car
Ing glasses. Dric-a-brac and pictures were
smashed.
made Tor the saloon Keeper BY the men who
carried the ropes. Then when 1t was learned
that Meyers had made his escape. the mob
overturned the bar. smashed open the icehox
and carried out several small casks OF whiskey
found in a storeroom
In the mean time Meyers had driven to New
town for assistance. the BROOKLYN police hav-
ing refused to go outside Of the city limits. A
rived at tho saloon In time to see the last Of
the whiskey barrels going out Of the door.
They got into the place through the rear en-
Pistol shots were quickly exchanged, and a
number OF persons were injured;
constable was removed to a saloon ut Cooper
street and Central avenue. where he was at;
been sev e Was earred awaS IN
grocers wagon. He refused to give his name.
as he was one Of the lenders q the mob: !
one OF the burned houses had his legs crushed.
Several women who were on Cooper street;
from the flying bullets OF the consta bes' re-
A second and third attack was. made upon
Msyers's house. and at midnight the mob was
sill lighting with the constablos. and the riot
reserve, squad Of police from the Twentieth
pr%cinct hurried to protect the property in the
Cooper street. which is With the city limits,
but the policemen would not go oyer tho line
The rough element Of the mob was holding
high carnival, Men with small casks Of
and sang rlbaid songs. while others who had
been their COMPANIONS. were drinking from
bottles. and otherwise enjoying the spoils
Tie IRE Which caused the riot began at 3
H. II the OF Josenh M1r en- a ass
spread with such rapidly that when Frank
Licblerand his family,on the second tioor at3i3
Of the house enyeloped in fire and escape by
ileolsr ana his four children ran to the
y rSn1 Wine chid josie aged years. in
small mattress. and threw her f. the side
zie., nged II; Maggie, aged IA. and Frank
Liebler. Jr. aged II. to, jump out. They |
did so. and Liebler also escaped that way. |
Lieblcr received cuts and bruises while his
broke her right leg. Maggie fractured her left |
ankle and sustained internal injuries. and tho
boy injured his left shoulder
Willing hands picked UP tho Injured children ndaa
saloon at the corner Of Irving avenue. Ad-
placed In wagons and taken to the residence |
q William Rows. at, 1877 Mofrat street Mr.;
Rowe and several Of his neighbors denounced |
the action OF the saloon keeper in refusing 10 |
admit the Injured children Ambulances |
presently arrived In which the four children |
were finally removed to 81 Mary's Hosnltal.
In tho mean time three alarms Of fire woro |
sent out. The Grrmen from Middle Village and |
all the ilro apparatus from the, Brooklyn de-
partment in that section OF tho city wero |
promptly on the ground. They discovered that |
lilo nearest water hydrant was nearly 1900 |
fUet away. 1t took some time to connect hose |
to reach from the hydrant to the fire, and the
delay gave the flames annie opportunity to |
envelop almost tho entire row OF buildings on |
that block.
wild scenes among the occupants OF the burn |
k..Bt 20.