Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-22
MOB LAW PREVAILED.

Ten Thousand People Re.ist tho Em-
pioyment OF scab street Railway Men
The Police PowerIess-ssveral Poo.
pie Injured.
BBIDGEPoRr, CONN, January eli
To-day has been one OF the most ex-
citing in the history OF Bridgeport. Not
since 1861, when marching volunteers
on their way TO the front filed the strets,
have the people been so aroused All day
excited crowds have thronged the streets
aud mob law has prevailed. The DO.
lice have been set at defiance and a
crowd OF angry men have ruled tho
town. The riotlng was one OF the re-
suits OF the discharge OF five employees
OF the Bridgeport Traction Company
yesterday and the strike which followed.
About one hundred employees OF
the company stopped work yes
terday, completely tying up
the road. They held numerous meet
ings and sent committee TO the man
ayers of the road In an effort to bring
about settlement. In this they were
unAuccessful. This morning fifty men
came up from Jersey City to take the
places OF tho strikers, and 10 was an
nounced that the company intended To
run its cars to-day. The men then
held long consultation aud decided thew
would not allow the company TO run the
cars. They concluded, however. To
give the company another chance for
settlement and sent a committee to the
owners and managers OF the road.
They wero denied audience, the man
ayers refusing to meet them As com
mittee, give reasons for the discharge
OF the mon.
They announced they would meet the
dissatisfied ones individually, but would
not recognize them as an organization.
The men withdrew and the strikers
held brief session at which IL was de-
cided that they would not return TO
work and would prevent the company
from running cars. Meanwhile the
company was preparing to start
service, and at o o'clock
nine cars were run out Of
the sheds. AS soon as all of tha
strikers were Informed OF the refusal OF
the ownerf Of the road TO arbltrate they
| proceeded TO block the tracks on every
street. The yards OF the New York.
New Haven g. Hartford Railroad ware
raided and all railroad iron, ties.
| coupling pins, boxes and barrels
were taken and piled on the tracks
al yarions points. Some Of the
| cars were moved out Of the sheds
but were unable TO proceed but short
| distance. They we're surrounded by
the strikers and their friends and the
crews were compelled to leave them in
the streets. Police were summoned
! from headquarters and several cars
we're started with three railroad en-
| ployes and guard OF three policemen.
The crowds quickly drove the police
from the cars, together with the con-
ductors and drivers.
Sticks and stones we're thrown aud
the windows Of the cars broken. Sew
eral policemen and railroad employees
were slightly injured. Main street, In
the vicinity Of the stables. was
| the centre OF the trouble.
Here crowd or nearly Eve
/ thousand gathered and encouraged
! the strikers. The men themselves dld
not take such an active part in IL As
/ did the young roughs ia the crowd.
/ The demonstration became so Threaten
/ Ing that ar alarm was sent out from
/ police headquarters and ali OF the Off
GERS aud specials who could be sum
moued were brought in. This force
was statlonen along the tracks,
AZ the stables and on the
cars. The crowds near the
stables and along the road increased In
number until nearly tee thousand peo-
pie we're in the street Tho presence
Of the police did not. however, deter
the mob aud INSTRUCTIONS OF all kinds
we're piled on the tracks as rapidly as
they we're removed. At intervals Al
tempts were made 20 move tho cars and
about noon several proceeded a short
distance from the stable
AZ two o'clock a car In charge Of five
policemen aud several railroad employees
was attacked a. the corner Of Congress
and Main streets. Here a mob Of about
two thousand men and boys we're gath
cred. They bonn bsrded the cars With
stones, breaking al OF the windows and
iniuring several OF those 10 charge.
At 3 o'clock the company succeeded
in getting one car. strongly guarded by
police, over the entire line. but this was
the only one % make the circuit during
the day.
Al o'clock a patrol wagon filed
with policemen and three wagons with
railroad employees left the stables 70
bring back a wrecked car a. the corner
Of Congress and Main streets. On ar.
riving there they we're surrounded by
mob and a lively row ensued In which
hostier aud another employe was badly
bruised. The police and railroad men
retreated and abandoned the car.
Meanwhile the Mayor summoned the
police commissioners, sherifs and
city officials, and a conferences lasting
three hours was bad with the owners
Of the road. Az the conclusion OF the
company bad agreed to re-employ the
strikers With the eeKception OF nine men.