The Dickinson press., 1895-12-21
IN A MOB'S HANDS
RATHER LIVELY TINES IN THE
STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA,
Synpathisers OF the Street Car
Strikers Defy the Police and
Wreck Cars - Many People In.
Jured BY Flying Missiles - The
Mayor Of Philadelphia Threatens
to Ask the Governor to Call Out
the Militia.

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The police were IN 6tluitAelt ur1sbtS &
control the mob's violence to-dKy.i
From early morning, as each branch
line made desperate efforts to start,
howling mObs surrounded each car,
stoned and hOoted the motcrman and
conductor, smashed the windows, cut
the trolley ropes and wreaked all DOS
sible destruction. Then the attempt
was abandoned. The strikers took lit
tie, II any part in the work of de-
struction. This was in the hands of
the inevitable rowdy element Many
persons were injured by flying mis-
siles, and there is fear that when COM
plete reports have been received they
will include fatalities. and thousands
of dollars worth of property was de.
strOyed.
Five hundred extra policemen were
sworn in by Mayor Warwick, and
these, with the regular force of 2,lOO,
will make an attempt to quell the
rioters tomorrow. They have orders
from Mayor Warwick to carry their
batons unsheatllcd. Should this fail,
the government will be appealed to to
order out the militia. The city's ex-
ecutive declares that the strike is no
longer a contest between a railway
company and its employees. but a bat
tie between the city and violence, and
the city will win, If it takes the United
States army.
The situation ia the gravest the CITY
has ever been called upon to encoun-
ter. The staff officers of the national
guard are in their armorics, uniformed
and armed in case Of need. Three
proclamati0ns were issued by Mayor
Warwick this afternoon. First, he ap-
pcalcd to all good citizens to assist the
authorities in maintaining order, and
to that end, to refrain from gathering
In crowds on the streets; second, he
ordered the summary closing Of all
liquor saloons. and third, he asked all
women and children to stay at home.
The war itself remains unchanged.
The Traction leaders refuse to listen
to any suggestion from the other side,
and, indeed, no effort is being made
In that direction. Three mass meet
ings Of the strikers were held in vari-
GUS parts of the city. They have al
most universal sympathy, not only
from conservative citizens, who, while
deprecating violence, declare that the
strikers have right OH their side, but
from labor unions throughout the
country.
A Fierce Riot.
The liercest riot Of the day occurred
at Sixth and Vine streets. The mob
reached almost to Market street, two
blocks below. 1t entrenched itself
along the sidewalks and bombarded
every car which attempted to run the
gauntlet. Supt. Linden, with Il great
force Of police finally succeeded in
dispensing the crowds after sixteen
arrests had been made. At Sixth and
Market streets veritable pande-
mOnium broke loose as the first two
cars reached that point In an in
slant every window was smashed and
fusiladc of dinner kettles, fire buck
cts, blocks Of wood poured from the
upper floors Of business houses on
either side Motorlncn and conductors
fled for their lives. Later in the day
another violent scene was witnessed
ut Eighth and Market streets. A
West Philadelphia car made its ap-
pearance. Motorman, conductor and
the few passengers inside We're Or
dered to leave, and after the fender
had been ripped from its attachments
and the same general work of destruc-
tiOn perpetrnted the car was upset at
the intersection of two lines of track.
This blockade was not raised for two
hours. Similar scenes occurred on the
northwestern section, and all through
the city less destructive attempts
were made to prevent the running Of
the cars.
Women are playing a prominent part
in the strike. One OF the warmest ad-
herents of the strikers is Mrs. How
ard. who has done much toward Or
ganiZing the men and winning over
new recruits. The Women's Health
Protective association adopted resolu-
tions of sympathy for the men. Apart
from these facts, women congregated
in large groups about many Of the
car stations and did not for a moment
allow the agitation to slumbcr. All
over the town many women succeeded
in inducing motormen to leave their
cars in the streets. In fact, many of
the women were far more bitter
against those who remained at work
than were the strikers themselves.