The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-19
THE CAR LINES TIED UP
STRIKE OF 1HE PHILADEL-
PHIA STREET RAILWAY
MEN.
VERY FEW DISORDERS YESTERDAY

VERY FEW DISORDERS YESTERDAY
Bat the Effort TO Run he Cars Rcgu-
larly Failed, Though There Were
Four Policemen on Each Car-.The
Tracks Obstructed by DebFis--A Mo-
torman Badly Beaten by the Strikers
--PeOple Forbidden TO Assemble
IN Groups ON the Streets.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. IS
The second day of the traction strike
ends with every wheel at stand-still
Excitement has been at high pitch
all day, but the formidable police with
arms prevented any serious outbreaks
The calm was not natural and more
violence is expected at any moment
\ few cars were run to-day over branch
lines, guarded at all points by armed
policemen. In many instances they
carried their revolyers drawn The
mobs were no smaller but they respec-
ted the cleaning steel. Some few at
tempts to stone cars were made but
they had no grave results. Trouble
will surely come the moment an effort
is made 10 operate the cars without
this heavy guard at night. This is the
universal opinion. Rumors were plen-
tiful as to speedy settlement of the
contest. but at midnight both sides APP
peared to be frmer than ever. The
strikers declare that they are gaining
every hour.
Mayor Warwick is in constant COM
muniCation with Governor Hastings,
and troops are ready TO be on the
streets of Philadelphia within an hour
after the request is made for them.
This is what the governor wired to-
day.
When day-breal came the city was
wrapped in an ominous calm, which
continued throughout the day, barring
q few momentOuS breaks. This was
due to the new and stringent police
regulations. Special men had been
sworn in during the night to raise the
number to over $500, and every one of
these was on duty. Along Market
street two mounted policemen were
stationed ut each corner throughout
the day, jn addition to the three or
four men ON foot. At every principal
point in the city detachments of armed
police were concentrated, and scatter
ed along all the more frequented thor
oughfares were blue caps in plenty. 1t
was apparent that the mob realized the
changed condition of affairs and there
was practically no attempt to resume
yesterdays rioting, except one or two
instances in the outlying sections. Fol
lowing an order from Director Beitler,
any gathering of more than five per
sons was instantly dispersed. Several
peaceable but curious citizens resented
this and were promptly arrested
Throughout the day spasmodic at
tempts to keep several lines in motion
were made, but in every instance the
crawling cars bore more policemen
than passengers. This attracted from
the crowds more derision than vio-
lence. On Market street ears were run
ming but little. with four policemen
on the car platforms and surrounded
bv Gordon Of mounted officers. These
formidable professions were invaria-
blv greeted with boots and cries of
ridicule.
The earliest report of trouble came
from the Ridge avenue depot at 1880
a. m, a car with the charter of police
men was started out and crawled safe
lv through a bowling mob of several
thousand strikers and sympathizers.
4 short distance away however, an OBJ
stacle was encountered in the shape of
a heap of debris piled on the tracks to
the height of a car. A mob surround
ed the ear and was only restrained
from violence by the sight of cleaning
revolvers i'm the hands of the police.
When the debris had been cleared a
way the ear moved on but had not pro-
ceeded more than a few feet when
there was a fusillade of sticks and
stones.
Two attempts to stop ears were
made i'm the mill districts, but the pol
ice with the aid of their clubs, drove
off the mobs.
A Fifth and Sixth street car was at
tackled down town by a crowd of such
magnitude that the police were tenn
porarily overwhelmed. A number of
the rioters boarded the front platform
and rained blow after blow on the
motorman, who was only saved from
further danger by the arrival of an
additional detachment of police.
Attempted barricades were made at
various points along the lines during
the dav, but late in the afternoon the
cars ceased running and this sort of
trouble ended.
b. G. 0. PRESIDENT RESIGNS.