The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-18
RIoTING AT PHILADELPHIA.
STREET CARS WRECKED by SYM
PATHIzERs or THE STRIKERS.


The Men Themselves Not Believed to
Have Taken Much Part in the
RiotIng-One Policeman Beaten
Into Insensfbiiity and Taken 10 q
Hospital Suffering From COncus-
sion of the BrnIn-Cars RunRing ou
Only One Line in the Entire City.
Philadelphia, Dec. 17.-Riot and de-
structon marked the opening day OF the
great strike of the street car employees
Of the Union Traction Company.
Aided by the mischlevous. lawless ele-
ment. the strikers succeeded to-day in
completely ueing up the lines Of the Un-
ion Traction Company. and tonight.
with the exception Of the ono line not
controlled by the company involved In the
strike. not a street car wheel is turning
In Philadelphia.
Never in the history Of the city has
there been witnessed such widespread
scenes of disorder as We're enacted to-
night To the credit Of the strikers ii
may be said that the disorders wera
created by too ardent sympathizers and
mischevous boys.
In every part OF the city these crowda
Of sympathizers and boys held up cars
and drove the motormen and conductors
from their posts with volleys OF bricks
and stones, and then smashed the glass
In the windows of the cars, cut the trol-
ley ropes. pulled out the fuses. smashed
In the cash registers, and tore or the
about 300 cars were badly wrecked. and
this afternoon the traction company
gave up the EFFORT to run cars and
with the aid of the police, withdrew their
shattered and abandoned rolling stock
back into the car sheds.
This afternoon the mayor issued a proc-
lamatiOn calling on ali good citizens TO
preserve the peace and asking them to re-
frain from gathering IN crowds on the
streets. He further addod that violence
and riot would be met with force. ana that
the peace Of the city will be preserved at
all hazards.
While the crowds to-day attacked the
cars, the spirit Of tho mob seemed TO be
one of malicious mischief more than thu
threatening temper that marks real riots
The suddenness Of the numerous out-
breaks seemed TO take the police by sur.
prise. ana for a time cars were wrecked
with impuntty In the very heart OF the
retail shopping districts. Then the res
serve patrolmen were massed at every
three tened point and tonight every po-
liceman IN the city Is on duty
The company made no attempt - run
cars tonight, but under the police pros
tection they Will start the Market street
branch Of their line tomorrow morning
ami trouble is sure to follow.
Despite the stone throwing, only ona
person was seriously hurt. Policeman
Joseph Hippler, who had his club taken
away from him by the crowd, was beaten
into insensibility and tonight is n the
horpital with concussion OF the brain. Tho
police made about 100 arr ets and all tho
rioters were held In heavy bail.
The principal streets arc thronged with
people tonight, but there ia no likelihood
of there being any trouble
President John Lowber Welsh, OF tha
Union Traction Company, was IN CONSUL
tation with Mayor Warwick all day and
the mayor has promised him ample protec-
ton from the police to operate the cars
tomorrow.
Numerous meetings of strikers are be-
Ing held tonight and they claim that by
tomorrow all the motOrmen and conduc-
tors who still remain Will 20 out. II Is
rumored tonight that the electricians and
power house men OF the company Will
strike In sympathy tomorrow. This report
cannot be confirmed.
Mayor Warwick tonight requested all
the saloons In the city to close. The ma
torlty OF them complied with this request
and much drunkenness and probably the
consequent violence was prevented.
The Union Traction Company employs
G,iO0 hands. At least 5000 OF them have
now Joined in the strike.