Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-22
TIEDUP BYTHEMOB
Bridgeport. Conn.,. INDUCES In
. Wild Sunday.
TIE-uP OF A STREET CAR LINE.

the fOllee-The Tracks Blockaded and
Car Tra0o Prsveaeed - violeace-Ne
Carr Allowed e - Raa - 4 Day e
Rioe.
BRIDGEPORT. Conn. Jan. 2a.-Yesterday
was one OF the most exciting in the history
OF the city of Bridgeport. Not since 1861.
when marching volunteers On their way to
the front filed tbs streets. have the rest
dents been 50 aroused. All day excited
crowds thronged the streets aud mob law
prevailed. The police were set At defiance
and crowd of angry men ruled the town.
The 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 committee to the man.
ager Of the road in an effort to bring about
a settlement. In this they were unsuccess-
full Yesterday morning fifty men came
up from Jersey City to take the places OF
the strikers and It was announced that the
company Intended 10 run its cars.
Decided - Ran the Town.
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 and sent commit
| tee To the owners and managers Of the
road. They were denied audience, the
managers refusing to meet them as a 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 rs an
organization The men withdrew and the
strikers held . brief session 1t which it 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
2 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 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 it 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 runs. As
soon IA 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 were
taken and piled on the tracks ut variou.
points. Some of the cars were moved gu,
of the sheds, but were unable to proceed
but n short distance. They were sur
rounded by the strikers and their friend;
and the crews were compelled to leave
them in the streets.
POpulAce with the strikers.
Police were summoned from head
quarters and several cars were started with
three railroad employees and u guard Of
three policemen. The crowds quick
ly drove the police from the cars together
with the conductors and drivers. Stick.
and stones were thrown and the windows o.
the cars broken. Several policemen and
railroad employees were slightly injured
Main street in the vicinity of the stable
was the center Of the trouble Here larg,
crowd gathered and encouraged tn,
strikers. The demonstration became s,
threatening that an alarm was sent GU
from police headquarters and all of tn
officers and specials who could he sum
mOned were brought in. This force wa
stationed along the tracks, at the stable
and ON the cars. The crowds near tn
:, stables and along the road increased il
numbers until nearly 10000 people were il