The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-18

crowd Immediately proceeded to take
hand in the destruction and in less time
than it takes to think of it, almost every
light in the car was broken. The stall.
ing of this car banked up behind it as
far as Thirteenth street, thirteen other
cars. The mob swept up the street and
with bricks, stones and clubs attacked
these cars and drove their conductors
and motormen from the platforms and
wrecked the cars.
The Police pOwcrlcss.
A single instance of the powerlessness
of the police will suffice. Just above
Ninth street policeman was standing
beside one of the wrecked cars, hemmed
in by the crowd. A boy about II years
of age, jumped on the car and taking
the heavy iroh switch rod, proceeded
to deliberately to make wreck of the
interior with this weapon. After the
young hoodlum had finished his work
by smashing the cash register, he
jumped off the car and disappeared
At Twelfth street, officer Joseph Hip
pier attempted to stem the crowd and
he may pay his life for so doing. The
mob set upon him and wrestling his
club from his hand, they beat him to
the pavement, and passing on leaving
him unconscious on the sidewalk. The
policeman was picked up and taken to
the hospital and tonight it is feared he
is dying from coAcussion of the brain.
As the hooting. bowling crowd rushed
up the street and the crash of break
ing glass was plainly heard above the
shouts, hundreds of terrified women
sought refuge in stores. Shopkeepers
hastily put up their shutters before
their bulk windows as no one knew
where the spirit of lawlessness would
end. After wrecking every one of the
cars the crowd dispersed itself among
the onlookers on the pavements. Word
of the work of the mob had been sent
to police headquarter sand soon hurry
ing patrol wagons brought big squads
of policemen from other sections of the
city and the blue coats soon brought
about order.
Mail Cars Attacked.
Not content with the attack upon the
ordinary cars. some boys this afternoon
made an attack upon a United States
mail car at Broad and Chestnut streets.
Some of them sprang upon the front
platform and attempted to drag the mot
orman from his post and others jumped
upon the rear platform and cut the
trolley rope. The police were on hand
and got one half grown boy, who later
in the day was held in $4,000 bail to
answer before the United States COM
missioner.
This evening, Mr.. Welsh, president of
/ the Union Traction company. sent a
| letter to Mayor Warwick notifying
him of the destruction of the company
/ property, and that the city of Philadel-
! phia will be held responsible for all
damage done.
General Manager Beetem, Of the
Union Traction company. claims that
if had been afforded police protection
rs per cent. of the employees of the com.
pany would have continued at work
He claims to have more men than he
wants to operate the cars. and say.
that he has refused applications of 15O(
men from other cities. mainly New Yori
and Baltimore. The company will come
to no compromise with the strikers.
Affairs Were quiet around the strik.
ers' headquarters today.
Preside cnt Mahon's statement.
President Mahon claims that 5000 u
the 6,10O employees of the company an
swered the strike call. Mr.. Mahon ant
the strike committee deprecate the acts
| OF violence that were committed today
and assert that the strikers themselves
We're not concerned in them but die
everything in their power to prevent
it. 1t is rumored tonight that the cleo.
tricians and power-house men of the
company will strike in sympathy to.
morrow
The tie up of every railway i'm tn,
city compelled thousands of people tt
walk long distances to their homes from
then work this evening. The sympath,
of the mass of the people. however. is
strongly with the strikers. and of the
thousands who We're inconvenienced the
greater number trudged nome cheer.
fully enough. The result Of the com.
pany's attempt to run cars tomorrow
IS awaited with great anxiety by tn,
law abiding people of the city.