The Portland daily press., 1894-04-07
THE COXEY SIX HUNDRED.
Oakland Was Their Balaklrva and
They Charged a Tabernacle.
ONE THOUSAND ARMED CITIZENS
FINALLY REFUSED THEM.

The Industrial Business Brigade of Cali
fornia We're Fed and Provided With
Train of Box Cars-They Demanded
First Glass Coaches and Held Their
Ground Until a General Alarm Called
Out the People
San Francisco, April 6-The City of
Oakland was in terror and confusion
early this morning, and for time itTap-
| Deared as if fighting and blooshed would
be necessary to lid the city of the cause
of all the turmoil. The trouble and ex-
citement was caused by a regiment of
unemployed men which left this city
Wednesday to join the Commonweal
| army of Coxey on its journey to WASH
ington. Upon arriving at Oakland the
army, which mum bered 600 men, found
that the Southern Pacific railroad would
not allow the soldiers to ride on their
trains, so they oamped in the Mills
Tabernacle and waited. The people of
| Oakland fed them, and they were in no
| hurry to move.
The citizens raised $500 TO pay the fare
of the industrials to Sacramento, and
arrangements were made to have them
start last night. The army marched to
| the Sixteenth street station to take tbs
| train, and the people of Oakland heaved
a sigh of relief in getting rid of them so
easily. When, however, they found that
| they weree to be transported in box cars,
| the men refused to leave unless pas
senger coaches were provided, SO the
army marched back to the Tabernacle.
| Chief OF Police Schaeffer tried to make
peace by asking the railroad company
| to supply passenger cars. Division Su-
perintendent Wilder refused the re-
quest, saying that the railroad company
could not furnish coaches for the money
| that had been subscribed. All negotia-
| tions were declared off.
| At II o'clock last night Mayor Pardoo
issued positive instructions to Chief of
Police Schaeffer that the indutrial army
must be driven out of the city by force.
The chief then issued general order
to all the members of the police to re-
| port at once to the City hall. Tine mayor
| telegraphed to the governor to have the
militia called out, and Sheriff McKillican
| agreed to swear in all necessary deputies
| in order to keep the peace.
| In the meantime Major Frank O'Brien.
| commanding the First Battalion Cf the
Fifth Regiment, was summoned to the
| City hall. He was notified by the police
| to prepare for action, AS telegram had
| been sent to the governor asking for as
| sistance. Major o. Brien repaired to the
armory on Twelfth street and his officers
were summoned for duty. O'Brien soon
had Gatling gun loaded and placed in
front of the City hall. Several militia
men were in charge and had orders to
take no action until word was given by
| the officers in command.
At midnight the mayor. Sheriff Nc
Killican and Chief Scheaffer held con-
sultation, and it was decided to drive
the industrial army out OF the city. at
| O'Clock in the morning. 1t was O'Clock
when general alarm was finally
sounded by the fire bells. In answer to
| the summons large number of citizens
| focked to the City hall and over 1000
were sworn in as deputy sher ifs and
armed The city's forces then marched
to the Tabernacle where the members of
the army were asleep. They were
awakened and ordered to move out The
men refused and things looked ominous
| Finally the police arrested Leader Kelly
and several of his men and penned the
| rest of them in corner of the taber-
nacle, They suill refused to move unless
their leader was returned to them
| Kelly was finally returned and made
speech counseling moderation.
The ragged army eventually submitted
peacefully and, escorted by large body
of police and citizens, were marched TO
the depot, where they entered the box
| An engine was soon ready, and, shortly
after O'Clock the train drew out for
Sacramento, and he anxious citizens
gave vent to a sigh of relief.
Coxey on the March.
McKeesport, Pa, April 6.-The march
of Coxey's forces through the centre OF
the coal and iron industry of western
Pennsylvania was continued today, the
route being from Homestead to the out
skirts of the city. The army was every
where enthusiastically greeted oy great
crowds.