New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-15
/, prsH FOR CHEAP BICYCLES
.,,rrp1NG LIKE A RIOT AT THE sIEGEL-
COOPER COMPANY's STORE.

CHAPMAN AND A PATRorMAN ARE
PAINFULLY HURT AND FINALLY
THE BICYCLE DEPARTMENT
HAS TO BE CLOSED.
ruttudc OF people went to the Siegel-Cooper
A,y.s big store at Sixth-ave and Eighteenth
lo,v Yesterday morning and waited for the doors
u snen There were crowds In front OF the store
y, although the doors were not to be opened
'ns m and many persons had been waiting
un % ", one reason for the crush a report
W. ,ha firm would sell to the first customers
"' I'D hcycles at $40 each and there were hun
N" ,~ ~ men and boys waiting 10 make rush for
Ncvcles The throng increased the time
w o,ening the store drew near and after several
sons had tainted or had been injured in the
~ the police reserves were called to keep the
,,vds In check.
g. beat and pushing in the crowds became
s.,,,,,l shortly before that ambulances
re c.l,ed from the New York Hospital 10 remove
80 women who had tainted. The women soon
".vsred one Of them said she Mrs Mahon.
~ IA East e-hundred- and-twenty -eighth-st..
.,o,her said she was Mrs. Caroline York OF
-. 90 west Eighteenth-st The glass panel of one
:, .hs doors Of the store was broken by the crowd
,a,orA the doors were thrown open.
-, the crowds swarmed into the store many
= and bovs made a dash for the bicycle depart
AN, Those who got there first laid hold of BIZ
...,Iee and ClamOreu Tor statesmen 10 take tnelt
n.v The place was soon crowded. and the
rls who were so eager to get cheap bicycles
ttrht over the machines. trying 10 take them
~ from each other until some Of the bicycles
s.-s broken About fifty bicycles were sold before
49, a,sorder became great that II was necessary
- .losa the department for the day. II be-
,,s that several bicycles stolen in the ruse.
r.,,s,n Chapman Of the Tenderlon police, had
.ror SQUAD of patrolmen 20 the store early In the
,--i,c and when he saw that the crowds were
,-sssng he talked with Chief Conln over the
,s,sphone and asked for assistance. The reserves
,,or several precincts sent 10 the store. and
I'M or more policemen who We're placed on tenn
n,-srv duty n the building had all they could do
=. taen order for several hours. Captain Chap
ran had his hand bruised severely in the crush.
.,d hig Policeman Patrick Mckenna was pushed
% violently against iron pillar that three OF his
hs we're broken The policeman sent 10 the
hospital
Acting Inspector Harley was sent 10 take com
IND ~ the police al the store. Later he sent
message TO the Fire Department. requesting that
all the exits OF the store he kept open for the
safety OF the crowds. Chief Conlin sent word 10
The firm that II must have its employees ready
"a handle the crowds to-day. as the police could
M, be used for that purpose. Members OF the hrin
ssid that they had not advertised 10 sell bicycles
al 80 each but few were sold at that price just
sfter the store was opened. because OF the report
which had been in circulation. The sale OF oi-
cye was stopped for the present on account OF the
Ssorder In the department" said one OF the firm
After the bicycle department had been closed the
store remained crowded yesterday and was
sslss nearly all day Only those who were making
purchases were allowed TO stand at the counters