The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-07-28
Had A HOT FIGHT.
POLICE AND POLLACKS CAME TO
BLOWS SUNDAY NIGHT.
CELEBRATING A CHRISTENING
Chief of Police Barber and Several other
Citizens are Wounded in the Worst
Free for All Fight Which Occurred
in Kenosha in Some Time.

Sunday was great day among the
Pollacks of the city; in fact, so great a
day that many citizens will have occa-
sion to remember it for several days at
least.
Mike WhatkoWsky is a Pollack and
lives on Congress street, near Pearl.
Now Mike had little baby who reach
ed the 18th day of its existence Sunday
and he decided that it should be
christened according to the true Polish
style. A priest was summoned from
Milwaukee and brewery agent was
ordered to land six kegs and four cases
of beer at the house and all was in
readiness for the christening, which
was solemnized at an early hour Sun
day.
After the infant had it's bath of holy
water and the sacred religious rites
had been said the priest departed and
the celebration of the event began.
The beer kegs we're tapped and the
thirsty Pollacks gathered round to
drink the health of the newly christen-
ed infant. In the afternoon the mer-
riment continued and an improvised
orchestra came into practice for a
dance in the evening. About this time
the neighbors began to take notice of
the affair, as the noise about the house
became serious disturbance to them
who were getting ready for their
Sunday afternoon siesta. But threats
and complaints were all in vain and an
other key was tapped and another case
of bottled beer put on draught. The
number present was increased until
the party numbered eight women and
twelve men and according to all stories
all were partaking freely of the amber
liquid.
After supper the dance began and a
large crowd was attracted around the
house by the noise. The chief of police,
to whom tie neighbors had complained,
came up about s o'clock and told the
crowd that they must make less noise,
as there was a sick lady living next
door. This seemed to quiet the dancers
for a while, but about 10 o'clock the
noise became intolerable and the police
decided to stop it. Obtaining num-
Der of deputies Chief Barber went to
the house and demanded a accession of
the sport.
The appearance of the chief at once
melted a riot, and one Of the women at
once made for him but she was re-
lieved of the trouble by little POllack
who jumped out from the crowd and
struck the chief full in the face, and
then the fight began. Clubs, bricks
and even beer bottles were called into
assistance, and it seemed that the
small body of police would never leave
the house alive. A crowd of over 200
people gathered round the house, and
one ran for Sheriff Abel to come to the
assistance of the city officials. The
sheriff arrived, and two of the POllacks
Mike Whatkowsky and Paul Krebs,
were landed behind the bars. In the
melee several citizens were badly in
iured. Chief of Police Barber was
struck on the left arm with brick and
as result the arm is in a sling today.
Charles Dickhaut was struck on the
head by one of the Pollacks and is
badly bruised.
Rouse Harrison, the mail carrier,
was attacked by several women and he
also, was badly bruised. Nearly all
the Pollacks, both men and women,
were injured, but none seriously.
During the turmoil the infant, which
was the innocent cause of the trouble,
fell from it's mothers arms, and before
it could be rescued it's face was horribly
cut with pieces of broken glass. The
two men were seen at the Jail this
morning, and said that the chief of
police had threatened to strike some of
the women, and the boys had defended
them.
The Pollacks will employ lawyer
and fight the case.