Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-06-27
RIOT IN THE YARDS.
Special Police Have Set-to with
Jumbo" Cantwell's Men
at Racine,

Racine. Wis, June 22.-The vicinity of
the North Western depot here has the APP
pearance of place under martial law.
Squads of bluecoats are patrOlllng the
tracks for q distance of half a mile on
each side of the depot, and it is not safe
for private citizens to venture along the
line for fear of having their heads
cracked The presence of go COXeyiteS
in the city is responsible for the trouble,
When Gen. Jumbo Cantwell and his
band of braves arrived here yesterday
they were escorted to the fair grounds by
the local authorities. They were nearly
famished, and the citizens contributed
enough food to keep them from starving
for a day or two. Everything went along
smoothly, and the police were congratu-
lating themselves, upon the easy manner
in which they were dealing with the
army, but the Worst was still to come.
Gen. CantWel mounted a dry goods box
in the haymarket square and delivered
an address to a large crowd, and he found
many sympathizers' among the working
class. The meeting lasted until midnight.
About 1 O'Clock the Coxeyites became
restless and broke camp marching in Il
body to the North w estern depot. A few
minutes later the south-bOund freight
train drew up and the followers of 'Jum-
boz CantWell lost no, TIME in boarding the
cars. The conductor gave orders to side
track the train, which WAS done, and the
fires drawn from. the engine Within an
hour three more freight trains arrived
ance of the first act was re-
peated. Finally the yards became
stalled with trains, and the train
men telegraphed to, the officials at Chi
cago for assistance At 6 O'Clock this
morning a special train came dashing into
the North-W eStern yards and pulled up
at the depot. On board was Detective
johnson at the head Of twenty-siX special
police. By this time the yard was crowd
ed with the 2o0 C0Xeyites and about
1000 curious citizens. Detective Johnson
gave the order to clear the yards and at
the head of his band of bluecoats he
marched down the track The police
men dubbed the COXeXitRs and also many
private citizens. There was scrapping on
all sides and for a. time it looked if
more serious trouble would ensue. Local
residents were indignant at the manner
in which the special police attacked pri-
vate citizens and a number Of complaints
were made to the chief of police. The lat
ter tried to get out warrants for the ar
rest of few of the special guards, but
he discovered that the, local authorities
had no Jurisdiction i'm tine matter. A
printer who was dubbed In q severe man
ner SWore out a warrant for the arrest
of one of Detective Johnson>s men, but
he could not find any ONE who would
serve the warrant.
In the meantime the, COxeyites returned
to the fair grounds, u number Of them
presenting a sorry sight as a result of
their coming in. contact with the clubs
of the policenlen. The engines were
fired up and under the escort of the
guards the trains Left for their destina-
lions. Every train arriving here was es-
corted beyond the bridge by the special
officers, who returned to do guard duty
in the yards.
One Coxeyite4 is in jail for assisting
one of his companions in a fight with a
policeman The weary travellers claim
they had no, mtention of stealing the
train; all they desired was ride TO Chi
cago Gen Cantwell left at 4 o'clock
this morning, presumably for kenosha, to-
make arrangements for the reception of
his army there The band will probably
march to Kenosha tonight. The special
guards will remain in the yards until the
wanderers leave town