The Red Cloud chief., 1894-01-26
RIOT AT BRIDGEPORT.
THE aulGT OF GUNoAY BROKEN BY
AN ENRAGeO MOB.

'"S so'Ci ON SONOAY BROKEN BY
AN ENRAGeD MOB.
strik~~s and the i'opnIncc Set the huthor,-
ties At Defiance aud i'ay M Attention to
the ~roliec-The Tracks Blockaded and
Car Traffic Prevented by Violence.
,ERIDGEPoRr, Conn, Jan. 22.--Ycsterday
was one of the most exciting in the history
Of the city Of Bridgeport. Not since 1861,
when marching volunteers oil their way to
the front filled the streets, have the resi-
dents been so aroused. All day excited
crowds tbronged the streets and mob law
prevailed. The police were set at defiance
and a crowd Of angry men ruled the town.
Tit rioting was one OF the results of the
discharge of five employees of the Bridge
port Traction company and the strike
which followed. About 100 employees Of
the company stopped work, completely
tying up the road. They held numerous
meetings and sent n committee TO the man.
sgcr Of the road in an effort to bring about
a settlement. In this they were unsuccess-
ful. Yesterday morning fifty men came
up from Jersey City to take the places of
the strikers and IL was announced that the
company Intended to run its cars.
The men then held a consultation and
decided that they would not allow the
company to run the cars. They concluded,
however. to give the company another
chance for settlement md sent a commit
tee to the owners and managers Of the
road. They were denied audience, the
managers refusing to meet them az n COM
mittee or give reasons for the discharge Of
the men. They announced that they
would meet the dissatisfied ones individu.
ally, but would not recognize them as an
organization. The men withdrew and the
strikers held q brief session at which IL was
decided that they would not return to
work and would prevent the company
from running cars. Meanwhile the com
pany was preparing to start service and at
O'Clock nine cars were run out Of the
shops. They were in charge Of the new
men from New Jersey, the stable hands
and about q dozen Of the old men who re-
ported for work.
The Tracks Blocked Everywhere.
The report that the company was to
start cars and that the strikers would try
to prevent 1t spread rapidly through the
city and In q short time all Of the strik-
ers and hundreds Of sympathizers gathered
at the stable on Main street and along the
streets through which the road uns. As
soon as all Of the strikers were informed
Of the refusal Of the owners Of the road to
arbitrate they proceeded to block the
tracks on every street. The yards Of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford rail-
road were raided and railroad iron, ties,
coupling pins, boxes and barrels we're
taken and piled ON tie tracks at various
points. Some Of the cars were moved out
Of the sheds, but wey, unable to proceed
but a short distance. They were sur.
rounded by the strikers and their friends
and the crews were compelled to leave
them In the streets,
Police were summoned from head
quarters and several cars were started with
three railroad employees and agusrd OF
three policemen. The crowds quick.
aroy the police from the cars together
9TH Cne conductors and drivers. Sticks
= and stones were thrown and the windows OF
the cars broken. Several policemen aud
railroad employees were slightly injured.
Main street In the vicinity Of the stables
was the center Of the trouble. Here a large
crowd gathered and encouraged the
strikers. The demonstration became go
threatening that an alarm was sent out
from police headquarters n all OF the
officers and specials who could be sum
moned were brought in. This force was
stationed along the tracks, at the stables
and on the cars. The crowds near the
stables and along the road increased IN
numbers until nearly 10000 people were In
the street.
B~ombsrded Cars with stones.
The presence Of the police did not, how
ever, deter the mob and distractions OF all
kinds were piled on the tracks a. rapidly
a. they were removed. At intervals at
tempts were made TO move the cars and
about noon several proceeded q short dis
lance from the stables. At 2 o'clock a car II
charge Of five policemen and several rail
road employees was attacked at the corner
of Congress and Main streets. Here a mol
of about 2 1000 men and boys were gathered
They bombarded the cars with stones
breaking all Of the windows and ~iDjurinl
several Of those in charge. At Wilhnnm
street in East Bridgeport 500 men and boy
raided the yard Of Jones d Hoffman. con
tractors, and piled lumber, trucks ant
other instructions on the tracks.
At 8 o'clock the company succeeded II
getting one car, strongly guarded by pc
llCf, ONCI tuC ohtthO AhhSb " s"AS WV
only one to make the circuit during tn
day. Ate o'clock a patrol wagon file,
with police and three wagons with raj
road employees left the stables to brin
back a wrecked car at the corner OF Con
press and Main streets. On arriving ther
they were surrounded by a mob and
lively row ensued in which a hOstier em
ployed by the company had his nos
broken and another employe was badl
bruised about the body.
The police and railroad men retreate
and abandoned the car. Meanwhile tn
mayor summoned the police commission
ers, shcriffs and city officials and a COME
ence lasting three hours was held with tn
owners Of the road. At the conclusion
the meeting it was announced that Il
company had agreed to re-employ u
strikers with the exception OIL nine men,
Her Dream Came True.
Nrw YoRK, Jan. IS.-Daniel Guinar