The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-23
RIOT ON THE BIG COMMON.
A Mob of 10000 Men Fell on
Them and They Vanished.
THE HUD NEVER SiW SUCH 4 ScEyE.
Speakers Jearsd and Hooied, and Finally
Trampsd Under Foot.


Marched TO tn. Csm-on from Their
Headqu.rt.r, TO SAY Farewell and to
Disseminate the New Propaganda. Beror.
They started for wn.binE;ou-A Vast
Crowd Met Them aud Pushed Thern
Down, I.,r-d Them Up. TAGGED Then Up
with n Barbcd-wire Feac-, Tore Their
Banners Into Hits, and frightened ths
Recruits-Evcn +. Woman Speaker was
Throw. e. ON H-r Rostruus nad w alike Ga
Socialist sanieis from New York Comes
TO Grief on the Barbed-uire Fence, ana
Finally the Coxeyites scntter-Taey Re-
.pp-n- Mt Hyde PsrL-The Town's Eiro-
trio l. gh,- Put Out. aud Trey Arc Made
TO NV. Oa-Dedh.m Receive. Theu.
Boston. April 22.-Pandemo nium raged on
Boston Common to-day. Coxey sm caused Il.
During its height the New England delegation
OF the Coxey Industrial army" made their
escape from among thirty thousand ex.
cited men and singly struck out for
Roxbury This was not. however. until
their banner had been torn to fraR-
ments and several OF them badly handled.
Speeches were interrupted. Kissed. drowned
In cat-calls. and overwhelmed with derisivs
cheers. Lucien Sanel OF New York was
unceremoniously dropped on the barbed wire
fence that surrounded the band stand. and his
hands severely cut and 4 branG-new suit OF
clothes torn. Even Morrison I. Swift. the
leader OF the nemployed In the State. was
spattered by tobacco thrown at him while he
was speaking Miss Charlotte Smith tried to
make an address from a dry goods box under
tree on the outskirts OF the mighty gather
ing. but was thrown to the ground and only
| rescued by a detachment OF police. Fights
were too numerous to count. and the much-
heralded departure OF Boston's CoSey contln-
gent to the rendezvous OF the idle In Washing
ton was broken up.
Twice had Mr.. Swift called upon the police
to stop the proceedings without avail. Then
he warned the six policemen who were
grouped outside the crowd that they alone
would be responsible for the results should
there be loss OF life or property. Still they took
no action. and 1t was only when q mob had
torn down the fence that surroun led the band
stand. and were in actual possession Of the
structure to tho imminent peril OF a dozen
women who had been carried into II for shelter.
that they rushed in. 1t was then too late.
however as tho crowd guyed the bluecoats
first and then penned them in on the stand.
Discretion at this point was the better part
OF valor. aud Swift adjourned the m Getting and
pleaded with the assembled thousands to go
home quietly They didn't CO. and such Sum
day afternoon was unparalleled In the history
OF Boston,
This morning broke over the city Goomily
enough. Clouds heavy with rain almost topped
big church spires. and u sopping mist rolled
against window panes. 1t was discouraging
enough to Field Director at Large" NJ. ID.
EitzCarald of Rnst0n'a (OCaY'a hut ha
was cheered during the early morning hours
by tho appearance at tho Equity Union on
Oak street. OF score OF the recruits who had
signed for the long march. The men were not
tough looking by any means. They we're conn
fortably clothed. one OF them even having q
fashionable new macintosh. Derby hats
were the rule. and few more white shirts
were seen. Those who wore the more Service
able flannel had neckties and looked clean.
All the men either wore or carried heavy over
coats. and were well shod. Two or three had
cut their shoes for greater comfort
THE ARMY" STARTS.
Promptly at 1880 p NJ. the army form cd on
Oak street in column of fours. Field Director
Fitzgerald. with natty little bag swung over
his shoulder. took the lead. Behind him stood
Msssrs. Swift. o'Neil. and Taylor. the leaders.
Then came the tallest recruit in the army.
with a banner which bore on one side the quo
tation from Lincoln: when corporations are
enthroned the wealth is in the hands OF few.
and the republic will fall" On the reverse
side was: TO save the republic let the peos
pie own monopoly industries"
The banner was thanked By two men on each
side. and then came four sets OF fours. and in
the rear man who did the jollying" that
kept all spirits from tagging. The general
feellag OF the little band Just before the start
SEQ ID TO be voiced by stlrdy-looking me-
chai,r. when he said to The SUR man;
We don't liEetO be elassed as tramps. but
It's lust as honest. guess. 10 walk to WASH
inGton as II Is to sit here and do nothing"
None ofths men was willing to talk about
himself or his past lie. and all refused to
divulge their names
Just before o'clock Field Director FitzGsr-
aid issued his first command in q voice that
rang up to Washington stree.
Forward. march" he shouted. A scAnt
dozen spectators clHppsd their hands heartily.
The route was down Washington street to
Hollis and when the turn was made toward
fremont street both sidewalks were nllsd
with curious spectators. There was no ehAIlng
beyond the small boys cry OF Git on ter
Coxsy's army" Al the same time there were
many ex pressions of pity for ' the poor devils"
After reaching fremont street the edge Of
the Common could De seen. IL Was black with
people There was smAttsrinE OF good-na-
tured applause as the army struck the board
wAls. and il was ehsered when q halt was
IN ade in front OF the band stand.
FXTENT or TIE CROWD.
Then for the FIRST time the mag nituds OF the
gathering could be appreciated A lane had
been made for the entrance Of the men, but 1t
closed up SO quicSly that tine handful was
swallowed as though bJ a tidal wave. From
the depression about the band stand as far as
the Gye could reach In every direction there
was solid terrace Of humanity. Here aud
there bit Of bright ribbon told Of the pres
enes OF women. but It was distinctly a crowd
OF men. aud seemed 10 embrace the entire
social. political and moral scale of the sex.
Six policemen met the delegation. and after
looking az the parade permit. awaited fsvsls
0pnsntE. somsbOdy had dT0DDsd DlGtfOEa