The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-18
WOMEN IN IT.
Traction Strike at Philadelphia Has
Assumed an Alarming Phase.
RIoTous MODS FILL STREETS.
Cars Bombarded With Disas-
trouS Results.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 1s. - Despite tho
efforts OF the strike leaders To preserve
order, there has been much violence, alS
though none OF serious nature. At
Sixth and Ma1et streets somebody threw
brick through q car yesterday and the
conductor and motorman fled for their
lives. The crowd then broke every win
dow I'm the car and the one which followed
It,
At Second and Rerk streets crowd Of
men surrounded Y car. The motorman
and conductor refused 10 abandon their
positions, and were thrown TO che street.
The car was turned upside down and both
streets were blocked.
At Cumberland and Amber streets about
100 women plugged the switches and
blocked the cars on Cumberland street.
Conductors tried 10 reopen the switches,
but wero driven away by the women.
Scores OF men have been arrested for cut
ting trolley ropes. Strike leaders mounted
on horseback are at several of the big
depots urging men at work to join the
strikers.
The mayor yesterday afternoon issued
proclamation, calling upon all good citi-
zcns To assist the authorities in preserving
order, and to that end begging them not to
collect in crowds on the public highways.
violence will be met with force and
peace will bc preserved at all hazards" lao
says.
Philadelphia is all but Mt the mercy of
a mob. Not a street car of the Union
Traction company is running, and that
company controls
Every Line In the City,
with the exception OF two comparatively
short cross-town lines.
The police were absolutely unable TO
control the mob violence From early
morning until dusk, as each branch line
made desperate efforts to start, bowling
mobs surrounded each car, stoned aud
hooted the motornan and conductor,
smashed the windows, cut the trolley
ropes and wrenkcd all possible destruc-
ton. Then the attempt was abandoned.
The strikers took little il any part i'm the
work OF destruction.
Five hundred extra policemen were
sworn in by Mayor Warwick last night,
and these, with 1hc regular force of 2I00,
will make an , empt TO quell the rioters.
They have orders from Mayor Warwick 10
carry their batons unsheathed. Should
this fail, the governor will be appealed TO
to ordereut the militia. The city's execu.
tive declared In unmistakablc terms thet
the strike Is no longer contest between
a railway company and its employees. bus
n battle between the city aud violence.
and the city will win, il it takes tho
United States army
The situation is the gravcst the city has
ever been called upon 10 encounter. The
staff officers OF the National Guard OF
Pennsylvania are in their armories, uni
formed and armed in case of need.
The strike itself remains unchanged.
The Traction leaders refuse IT, listen 70
any suggestion from the other side, and,
indeed. no effort is being made in that
direction. The strikers are firm, and de.
termined 30 fight 1t TO the bitter end.
Three mass meetings were held last nighs
in various parts of the city.
The entire road covers about 800 miles.
and over 5000 men are employed. About
1000 OF these are out. There are all sorts
of rumors. One Is that electricians of tho
company will join the ranks of the NAL
contents Another is that armies of rail.
way workers are bound for this city from
Brooklyn, Baltimore, Indianapolis and
other points, either To assist or take tho
places OF the strikers.
Sixth and Vine streets about noon. The
mob reached almost To Market street, two
blocks below. Ii cntronched itself along
the sidewalks and bombarded every car
which attempted to run the gauntlet
Superintendent Linden, with great force
OF police, finally succeeded in dispensing
the crowds after 10 arrests had been made
At Sixth and Market streets veritablc
pandemonium broke loose as the first two
cars reached that point.
In an instant every glass was smashed,
and q fuslade of dinner kettles, flro
buckets and bricks poured from the up
per floors OF tho business blocks on
either side. Conductors and motormen
fed for their lives.
Later in the day another violent scene
was witnessed at Eighth and Market
streets. A West Philadelphia car made
It's appearance. MotUrman, conductor and
the few passengers were ordered TO leave,
and after the fender had been ripped from
its attachments and the general work Of
destruction perpetrated, the car was upset
at the intersection of the two lines OF
track This blockade was not raised for
two hours In one of these riots Police
man A. Keppler was seriously injured by
A shower Of stones. Other injuries TO
citizens aud officers arc reported from diff
fcrent sections.
Women are playing prominent part in
the strike. Ore Of the warmest adherents
OF the strikers is n Mrs. Howard, who has
done much toward organizing the men
and winning over now recruits. The
Women's Health Protective association
adopted resolutions OF sympathy for the