Evening journal., 1895-01-15
RI0TIHG IN BROOKLYN.
Mobs of Strikers Prevent the
Running Of Trolley Cars.
A GUARDED MAIL OAR ATTACKED.


including motormen conductors, olectri
cians and others, employed on the various
trolley railroads IN this city. are on strike
today 1t is the first strike the trolley sys-
tenn has experienced and Ia a most thorough |
and complete one.
The only road not tied up IS the Brook
lyn and Coney Island, better known as
the Jay and Smith street line. President
Henry W. Sloonm had the mon demand
under consideration, and when the COM
mittee Of the district assembly called on
him the strike as far as il concerned his
road was amicably settled. An agreement
was signed. and now that road Is the only
ono running in full force,
During the day Mr.. Lewis, president Of
the Brooklyn Heights Railroad company,
made public statement, in which he
said the tieup was without any just cause
He also notified the mayor police commits
sionor, sheriff and fire commissioner Of
the strike and asked for police protection.
He sent a communication TO the railroad |
commissioners at Albany and posted no.
tices Of warning at all the carhouses no
tifying strikers to keep away. There were |
also warnings to keep the peace, but in |
spite Of these numerous cases Of interfer- |
once occurred
There was some delay in the transpors |
tation Of the mails, but the mail cars were
guarded by policemen. At the different
power houses throughout the city every
| thing was quiet. A short distance from
each one the strikers kept their pickets ON
| duty. The railroad depots were deserted,
| but pickets kept watch there also. They
| did not have much to do, but may have
later as it is expected the companies will
| bring men from other cities to take the
strikers places.
Drove Mail Car Back.
A riot occurred at Twenty third street
| and Fifth avenue between a party of 500
strikers and 25 policemen. President Nor
ton Of the Atlantic Avenue road had or
dered out one Of the mail cars to be taken
over the road. 1t was in charge Of Mo
torman Alderman and Conductor Jack
son. A policeman took his stand on the
front platform Of the car. and Sergeant
Powers stepped up beside the conductor
on the platform.
As soon as the car was clear Of the car
house the strikers began pelting it with
stones, and in few minutes the windows
had all been broken and the woodwork
greatly damaged. Sergeant Powers inn
mediately ordered the car back into the
| she'd but tire strikers had been shrewd
enough to intercept It In the face Of such
an opposition Sergeant Powers drew re-
volger. 40 also did Conductor jackson.
/ Then followed perfect fusillade Of
stones against the car, with the result that
jackson was struck in the head and knock
cd down. AT this point 20 reserve police
men appeared on the scene and after con-
> siderable difficulty forced an entrance SO
that the cat could run back into tho shed.
When Conductor jackson was picked up
I from the platform. where he had fallen,
1t was found that he was suffering from q
severe scalp wound.
Superintendent Quinn made another at
+ tempt to force passage shortly afterwaTd-
q A mail car bearing the usual sign, Unit
ed States mail y was sent out its front
+ and rear platforms crowded with police
men The determined attitude Of the otfi
GERS cowed the strikers, who allowed tbs
car to be taken as far as Ninety y-sixth street
+ and Fifth avenue. Some stones were
g thrown, but the only damage sustained
! was few broken windows. The car was
ordered back to the shed by the superin
tendent The strikers and the womer
who gathered with them stood in its pati
b and threw yolley Of stones at the police
g men guarding it, several of whom receives
insignificant wounds. The car was house'
amid a scene of great excitement.
Another Car Turned Back.
Some minutes later Superintendent
Quinn told Police Captain Murphy Of tn
Eighth precinct that he would order an
other cur to be taken over the line. Cap
h tain Murphy protested on the ground tina
such an action would be i'll advised, mas
much as it would lead to another conflict
Superintendent Quinn maintained tba
he had a right to do So and he would
Captain Murphy again demurred and tel
ephoned TO Superintendent Of Polio
Campbell for more help. the result bein
r that the reserve forces Of the neighborin
precincts were ordered to the scene Of tn
az struggle The demeanor Of the striker
n became 20 threatening that Superintend
~ ent Quinn finally consented to abando
his intention.
ld Tho motormen and conductors will, the
ae claim, invoke the law against the con
ol panies. District Attorney Ridgway ha
a. promised, they say, to bring the matter {
20 violating the ten hour law before th
grand jury The men declare they are pr
tn pared to give testimony that win PROV
va the guilt Of the companies.
~ The railroad companies, realizing tha
'es any attempt to run cars would be futile
II closed down their power houses and the
eu car sheds. The strikers dispersed durin
ne the evening to their homes, and at
oO o'clock only few stragglers remained
ne The only acts OF violence during Il
en evening were the throwing Of brio
ost through one of the windows of the pow
ne house at Court street and Hamilton ay
nue. and the breaking Of aome window
in the cars standing in the shed All Il
police still remained on duty at the static
80 houses throughout the night. The on
~ trolley cars running in the city are tho
~ on the Coney Island and Brooklyn road.
What They Are Fighting For.
The employees have made no seer
about their agitation for better wage
shorter hours and fewer trippers The
!. had been talk Of strike for several day
'es' and Master Workman Connolly Of Distri
Assembly No. 10 Knights of Labor wi
o. is practically the strike leader, had giv'
the railroad folks every opportunity tn
IN could desire to prepare for a tieup. As
x. consequence, the strike was no sooner d
o is clared than tho companies began hirii
res men to replace their old employees Scor
of these applicants were in line at {
I.rrHI