New-York tribune., 1895-08-30
A CHARGE ON THE BUILDING.
POLICE CALLED TO PROTECT A BROOK
LYN COMPANY AGAINST STRIKERS.


FEATURING COMPANY QUIT WORK BECAUSE
OF A REDUCTION IN wAGEs-woRKMEN
HAVE TO BE TAKEN AWAY IN BOATS.
Hundreds OF people were in the neighborhoou
of the buildings of the American Manufacturing
Company. Noble Oak end West SITS, Brooklyn
and the East River, from o'clock yesterday
afternoon until o'clock last night. wheh 'ne
last employe OF the company left the pulidihss'
Five hundred girls and 100 men. employees Oh Tue
company went on strike yesterday morning Wv"
ing to a reduction of 80 per cent when was h'aue
In their wages two weeks ago. Before the ""-
bill went into effect the wages or the LOW
employees Of the company ranged from ~ 10 Si'
a week Since the bill has been law the wages
have been reduced one-haf and the employees
have suffered severely. Two years ago the 'oV
girls who went on strike yesterday. known as
loomers received % cents n hundred yards for
running their machines. After the passage OF
the Wilson bill the rates were reduced 10 10
cents, and two weeks ago notices were posted
that a further reduction OF wages wouId DC
made. The last cut in wages made the price
paid per hundred yards nine cents. Inc co'ue'S
were also reduced. and when on TUESDAY the
foreman. John Kelly. who had charge OF 'he
500 loomers. was asked to give up his place az
foreman and take that of an oiler at reduction
in wages of 81 10 a week. he refused to do so and
left the company's employ. Kelly was wen
liked by the employees. and when he was forced
to give up his place the girls got toge'he' anu
decided to strike.
The men who are on strike. known as ohers'
received formerly wages ranging from 81 30 10
80 and they were reduced to 81 so and &c. What
the strikers demand Is that the loomers receive
IS cents a hundred yards: the carders want an
increase Of 10 per cent and the oilers ask Tor
weekly rates Of from 81 80 TO 50.
When the committee of the employees saw su-
perintendent Upright on Wednesday and stated
their grievances he promised to look into the
matter but later referred the committee TO Man.
ager Norris who told the employees 10 keep right
on at the companYs rates until an order TOT
25 900 bales Of rope. which was to be sAipped TO-
morrow was completed. Yesterday morning
when the manager. Norris, arrived the empfoyes
informed him that they wanted an unders'ahu-
ing Immediately. Norris refused to talk ABOUT
wages until the big order was completed. Inc
men and girls then left the building, leaving be-
hind 900 other employees 600 Of whom are women
The latter will. 1t is said. go out TINS morn'hs.
When Norris realized the position he was IN ne
Immediately telephoncd TO Police Headquarters
and asked for protection. The reserves OF Ihe
Seventh Precinct under the command OF IN
snector Brennan and Acting Captain Lynch, hur-
ried to the works and dispersed the stIlkers anu
a mob OF 900 people, VINO uttered thlt'.9 -
violence against the manager ana supeIlhtehu-
ent Everything was quiet until dlhheI tl'iis, ,,
when the employees who had remained at Woik
went to their dinner. The officials refused 10 al
low any of them to leave the buildings ana
dozen girls whose ages ranged from eleven 10
sixteen who were employed on the ground MOOT
iumped from the windows and ioined the s'rik-
ers Another dozen girls who worked on the sec =
ond Aoor climbed down the fire escapes ana WtIe
greeted with loud cheers by the strikers ana 'he
crowd. , l., ..ors
,,ntu there were fully 10000 persons about the
huudirgs The reserves Of the Fifth Precinct
were called out and with much difflcuity' Nopie'
West and Oak sts. were cleared
The leader of the women strikers, JuIa re-
rard who Is scarcely fifteen years Old ADVISED
the strikers not TO resort 20 .loenoe, 80 80. ~,
rard when spoken TO. said that the company en-
Moved girls whose ages ranged from ten 10
eighteen wears and that they were badly treated
4 number of small fires broke out In the works
Yesterday due the strikers say 10 the HlacIilncs
not being properly oiled. When O'Clock arrived
,ha nah which had been driven into the side
streets made dash for the companys pullh-
inys hut were driven back by the police Inc
comnanv fearing trouble from the moD chartered
the tug Helen Vice. the excursion barge, |itS "i
Ncw-Yorls and a lighter, me Mar! D.. anu w, VA
vomen who remained at work were taken ABOARD
thn hoots ON the barge the girls enjoyed tnem-
selves by singing and dancing untii IL came 10
a sion AT North Fighth-st, nearly mile as
tant Part of the mob followed the direction 'he
barge had taken, and when the passengers were
landed one girl and man were badly beaten
The lighter landed at Long Island Clty. a ru-
NOR was current that Manager Norris had Deer
assauI,ed bv the strikers. but 1t could NOT be
verified as no one could gain admttance 10 the
works last night. The strikers VIII hoii q Hee'
ing tonight in Eckford Hall. in Eckford-s'''