Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-20
Actvs Part Thsy Ar Taking in tho
Labor Troubles.
THEY HEAP ABUSE On THE POLICE.
Little Children Being Taught 20 Commit
Acts az violonsc- -some Of the Meth
obs That Are Employed.


what var1c1 part naS WOMAN Detn
playing I'm the terrible scenes OF the last
week. Here and there. everywhere. over
the vast network OF railroads about Chi
cago, have gathered the lawless mobs
strikers" rioters" "!awiess nends' they
have been called: but In all this the ter
ribIe words have been aimei at men. Can
1t be that they have fallen upon the
heads OF women? Look more closely
among all these surging masses. Yes,
more's the pity. look in the front rank of
all this lawlessness: flutter Of skirts Is
there: high. sirili voices. not from the
threats OF men. rise above the deeper
roar Of tafiied rage.
With the keys OF their houses OF dscon-
tent hung upon their wrists, and their
babies on their arms or hanging TO their
skirts, the women OF the great strike fol-
low down the tracks in the steps OF their
husbands. guided by the yells and shouts,
10 the scenes Of action. Where great net
works OF tracks cross each other at right
angles near n quiet roundhouse cattle
train IS standing. The engine Kisses threat
eningly, but moves not. The crowd jeers
and looks proudly down the tracks TO
where frelght-cars are lying on their sides
barring the way. Soldiers OF the United
States army. with glistenlng bayonets. sit
on the pilot Of the engine. Others are on
the tender and palroiing regularly up and
down the sides. while at each cars end
and on each side soldier stands to guard
the coupling pins. Police officers are sta
toned on the top OF every car. And from
within the cattle low, and call In restless
anxiety SILL the engine Kisses threaten
fngly, still the crowd jeers.
WOMEN TO THE FORE.
The women climb on knobs of ground.
on cinder-heaps, and piles OF rock. on
every vantage point to peer over the
seething mass OF men. Gradually they
push their way into the throng. and their
heads. covered with blue-checked aprons
or draped In black shawls, give a
strange setting 10 the stern hard faces
beneath. Many girls. with uncovered
heads In all stages OF frowsiness. are seen
in the front line. Gaining courage from
the patience Of the patroIling boys In
blue, these women OF the strike shrek
their maddening taunts and are wildly
cheered by the crowd. They press nearer.
Now something peers. wild-eyed and ex-
cited, from maternal arms and the folds
Cf maternal skirts. Children are here;
even babies must go to swell bowling
mob. The women go beyond the guard
swift. harsh words and curses of de-
lance.
Then comes IL shrlll little pipe from
the shadow of a skirt: "Scabs. Scabs!'
And the mass applauds. Still the train
does not move.
The cavalry goes forward to the OBJ
ttructions but on it's arrival produces no
effect upon the recumbent cars, and the
troopers return amid the boarse trium-
plant cries of the mob that follows.
Farther down the track an incoming train
has slackened speed In the press of the
multitude. Instantly 1t is surrounded.
and the engineer and fireman are dragged
from their places. Triumphant yells and
cries from men. women. and children
rend the air. 4 woman. white with wild
excitement. lends her handkerchief. 1t is
run up on a stick; man climbs upon the
pilot, and amid deaiening cheers and
shouts OF laughter. the flag of surrender
Is fastened 10 the headlight of the engine
The crowd thckons fast and becomes
more unwieldy. The patrol is brlsker
over the tracks. and the restraining pres
sure of bayonet is often felt.
But holding their babies close for
shields the women still break past the
patrol lines and 40 where no man dares
10 step Now children follow, and when
u
tauntingly
shoot "A kid. will you? Shoot kid"
And one man airs his NEUROLOGICAL lore
in crying: you're Il hero. you are. /
think / see your name engraved in the
calendar OF Mars"
CHILDREN IN THE RIOTERS RANKS
The children are stepped with the
poisonous spirit of Instruction Each de
monstration of II is cheered TO the echo
by the mass of kindred souls From down
the tracks wild shreks and yells come
nearer and nearer. Then stolen hand
car comes in View, loaded with these
little heirs of promise, waving flags and
yelling derisive epithets and curses. The
cruel features of their mothers and grand
DANES light up with savage delight; and
not 10 be outdoIe by their offspring
they add their volley of curses 10 the
boys in blue. and their hearty praise TO
the wee rioters.
An aged crone, with struggling locks of
white. hobbies through the line. and
vents her wrath upon the guard In
string OF black, ugly words. Respect for
the aged is a sentiment rooted we'll in
the heart of every American man, and
this only IL Is that makes the deputy
rest his hand in firmness upon heI
shoulder as he urges her back. In an
other centre OF excitement the cavalry
ranges across the track in advance of
train that is hurriedly made UP, and the
infantry forms Ia the space between.
driving all trespassers from the line.
A building close beside the tracks Is
rhingied with excited small boys. Bay
onets presented at the edge Of the roof
cause them To tumble quickly Off. sliding
down the ewes spouts and disappearing In
space. Ono ragged brown cap comes
slowly up over the ridgepole. after the
roof is cleared. and an urchin hnally
perches himself hesitatingly on the edge,
ready TO slide out of sight at the first
tntimation that cavalry can climb. Far
Their down an empty car on the side
track has an irregular. notified fringe
about the edge of its roof-black little
legs, brown little legs. white little legs.
Children creep In back OF the lines
and appear on the tracks with shouts OF
dersion copied from their elders.
final rush along the line from the sol
dIers and policemen put them 10 flight
The bugle sounds. There Is feeble
shout OF bravado from beneath the ragged
brown cap on the roof. IL drops out OF
sight And the train pulls out.
Here and there men are even teaching
their children the ficndish work OF nrlhs
cars themselves drawing the guards at
tentiOn while the boys swarm oh tiit
tracks to do their bidding. And when the
blackness OF night gives It's shadowy pro
lection the forms that creep about the
yards and apply the burning brands are
not those OF men alone. but OF women ana
children. too--active, eager, wiid' ana
vengeful
A woman's voice IL raised In awful mo-
ments with no quality Of mercy In II. IL
was a woman who wildly screamed
'Lynch him" when deputy marshal
shot into furious crowd trying TO over
power him Ii was a woman that ursea
on the man who leaped to the engine OF
the milk train, pulled the throttle WIDE
and sent the engine dashing into the over
turned freight-car. 1t was at a womans
instisatlon that the cars at Burnside were
fired.
The babies must sleep when they can
and as they can on the restless maternai
shoulders. The hear.hs In the homes are
cold, for the mothers are away ana oniy
the red light of anarchy Is there.
WOMEN OF THE STRIKE. NOT IN 1T.
But not all OF womanhood found drift
Ing In these lawless mobs Is OF the sort
that sinks to Its level. Women are there. In
sober garments. and with serious faces
With them are their husbands. quiet and
thoughtful. Both have been caught In the
whirlpool, and behold In CONSERVATION