Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-10
RIOT IN WAUKESHA
CITIZENS HAVE FIERCE BATTLE
WITH STREET CAR EMPLOYEES.
TROUBLE OVER A TRACK
Fire Bells Bring People Out of Bed
Hose Turned on Employees of Street
Car Company, Finally Compelling
Them to Desist From Laying New
Track-Populace Greatly Excited.

Waukesha, Wis, July Presidents
of the down town district were rudely
awakened at an early hour Saturday
morning by the noisy and incessant
changing of the fire bells, which rang
for fully half an hour and brought
many of the excited citizens out upon
the thoroughfares attired in pajamas
and all manner of deshabille, looking
for the cause of the connection. Pan
demonium reigned when it was dis
covered that in the early morning
hours a gang of men in the employ of
the street railway company had ar
rived in the city and were laying the
rails of the double track so strenuously
objected to by the city authorities. So
soon as the citizens had awakened suf-
f1ciently to realize what was going on,
the fire company was called out and
the hose turned on the workmen, with
the result that they were compelled to
desist from laying tracks for the time
being.
They were ordered back soon after
and again attempted to lay the rails,
but several more streams were turned
on them and they were literally
drowned out. Fully $500 had gathered
on Broadway by this time, and the
excitement was intense. The motor
men on the construction cars endeav-
ored to run back and forth on the
track until compelled to withdraw by
virtue of the power behind the Wauke-
sha hydrants. Between and O'Clock
the crowd became more demonstrative,
and in order to avoid any strategic
move on the part Of the company, tore
the ties from the street and piled them
along the curb.
Dan Bowes, one of the foremen,
grabbed a tie and started for some of
the crowd. He was knocked down, but
arose and attempted to make a stand.
Then the crowd started for him. The
hose was turned on him and the ex-
cited multitude chased him up South
street and down East avenue as far as
the Congregational church. The crowd
and the ties were taken out of the road
and piled up on the sides.
An injunction restraining the city
officials from doing anything to pre-
vent the men from working was grant
ed by Judge Dick Friday and the pa
pers were served on the mayor, comp
troller, city attorney, city engineer, al
dermen, chief of police and Robert
White, the driver of the fire depart
ment, between 3 and o'clock Saturday
morning. The citizens are determined
that the track shall not be laid and are
in readiness to Illustrate any plans Of
the road.
The electric railway people finally
got out temporary injunction re-
straining the water works people from
throwing any more water. This, how
ever, did not put a stop to the drench-
ing, as a fireman was placed at each
water plug in the city, with a wrench
in his hand, ready to turn on the water
if further work was attempted by the
street car employees.
George Knoeppel, Albert Schroeder
and Charles Downie, fremen, were ar
Bowes, charging them with assault and
battery.
At 1880 the men were again put to
work at laying rails. This time in
front of the Putnam block. The fire
bells were again rung and the depart
ment turned out. A stream was again
turned on the Workmen and they again
took fight. During the rush to get
the department out, Charles Fuller,
the driver of transfer wagon, got into
a fight with some other men, and he
was badly hurt After the department.
forced the men away, they got into a
car and were taken to Milwaukee.