The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-07
EXCITED CITIZENS.
People of Oakland Rise fin the Night
and Drive Away an Army.


OAKLAND Cal, April 6-The city Of Oak-
land has had many exciting events in its
history. but nothing has occurred here TO
compare with the turmoil caused early this
morning by regiment Of unemployed men
which left San Francisco Wednesday, to join
CoXey'S army In It's journey TO Washing-
ton.
All night long every man. woman and
child in Oakland was on the streets, the
riot alarm sounded, the Governor was
asked to call out the National Guards,
extra police and deputy sheriffs were
sworn in and armed with rifles, and prep
arations made for fighting, because go un-
employed men refused to leave the city.
Only rash word or an unlucky shot was
required to precipitate a conflict which
would have resulted in the extinction OF
this branch of the industrial army, for the
men who composed it were mostly unarmed.
and it would have made but feeble resist
ance TO the officers and citizens But the
word was not uttered, nor the shot fired.
nor the army overcome by force. Ii con-
sented to move when il was seen that fur
ther resistance 10 the viii Of the citizens
of Oakland was useless.
On Wednesday last about six hundred men
applied to Mayor Elert, of San Francisco,
for assistance in getting across the bay TO
transportation on freight trains TO the
East. The Mayor contributed $25, and the
regiment was sent over to Oakland. Mayor
called the foistins Of San Francisco's uno M
employed upon Oakland, and tart corre-
spondence ensued between the mayors OF
the two cities. Upon arriving at Oakland
the army found that the Southern Pacific
railroad would not allow the soldiers 10 ride
Tabernacle and waited The people of Oak
land fed them, and they were In no hurry
TO move.
The citizens raised $500 to pay the fare
of the industrials to Sacramento, and ar
rangements were made TO have them start
to the Sixteenth-street station 10 take the
train, and the people of Oakland heaved a
trIy. u When. hoWevers the the army ar S"et found
that ii was TO be transported I'm boxcars
the men rebelled, and refused to leave unless
army marched back to the tabernacle.
Chief of Police Schaefer tried TO make
supply passenger coaches Division super
intendent Wilder refused the request, saying
that the road could not furnish the coaches
for the 500 that had been subscribed. All
negotiations were declared off, and then IL
was decided TO take action against the
army. The officers received Information
that among the leaders was who
had been interested in the Haymarket riots
in Chicago. This Information was some
what alarming TO the officers. and ii was
decided TO take speedy action and avoid
bloodshed If possible
Council and plan OF campaign was decided
upon At II O'Clock the Mayor issued pos
tive INSTRUCTIONS 10 1nle1 OF GOlce SC0dtI-
er that the Industrial army OF 64O must be
driven out OF the city by force. Chief
Schasfer ordered all the police to report In
uniform once to the City Hall. He
deemed his force insufficient, however, and
notified the Mayor who at once requested
the Governor TO call out the militia In the
meantime the local companies We're placed
under arms, awaiting a reply from the
Governor. Under the direction of Major
o. Brien "A Gatling gun was placed in 'front.'
of the City Hall and loaded for action. The
gun was placed in charge of militiamen,
word was received from the major i'm COM
mand.
At midnight the Mayor, Sheriff McKilli-
can and Chief Schaefer held a consultation,
and IL was decided TO drive the Industrial
army out Of The city at O'Clock I'm the
was running high. Officers were arning
themselves with pistols, clubs, Winchester
rifles. etc. Sergeant Fletcher commenced
to organize the men into companies so as
10 be ready at a moments notice. At l2-50
o'clock no word had been received from
began swearing in deputies. Oakland's po-
lice force consists OF fifty men, ana they
were all duty.
At o'clock a general alarm was sounded
by the fire bells, and the people hastened
TO the City Hall. There about l,2S men
were sworn in as deputy sheriffs and all
were armed. The fire department. also re-
sponded, and its members we're armed.
Then the citys forces marchec 10 the
Tabernacle. where the army was peacefully
slumbering The soldiers We're awakened
and ordered TO move. out. The men re-
fused, and things looked omiuous. Consul
tations were held on both sides Finally
the police arrested leader Kelly and several
of his men. and penned the rest OF them up
in a corner OF the Tabernacle. They stia