The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-09

SIT. LOUIS. May s.-The employees Of
the st. Louis Transit Company, number
ing about $500 men, made good today
their threat to tie UP the street railway
traffic OF tho city. In doing so they not
only paralyzed the business OF the COM
pany, which operates all the electric and
cable roads in the city. with the excep-
ton of those owned by the st. Louis &
Suburban Railway Company, on which
strike has been in progress for two
weeks past, but brought matters to
standstill in half a dozen other lines of
business as well. 1t was the most CON-
pete tie-up ever seen In st. Louis.
Riots From the Start.
Riotous proceedings began almost i'm
mediately. When the company tried TO
take cars out from the various barns of
the system, the nonunion men who had
undertaken the task were Immediately
surrounded and urged not to make the
attempt. II they persisted the cars were
surrounded by a bowling mob. and as IL
by magic sticks and stones filled the air.
forcing the men in charge to desert their
posts. During the fusiIlade windows in
the cars were broken. while their sides
would be Scared and dented by the mis-
siles. At first the storm centers were
confined TO these remote points. BY and
by few cars managed TO slip away
from the crowds around the power houses
and car barns and made their way down
town. Then the theater of activity was
transferred to Washington avenue. Locust
street and other downtown thoroughfares.
The same tactics were resorted to down
town that had proved so efficacious about
the barns.
Voiieys of Bricks and stones.
A crowd would surround each car and
while the boys and young men would
shout 'scab' and cheap screw" at the
motorman and conductor from further
back in the throng would come a volley
of rocks and bricks. smashing the win
dows and Tightening the men in charge
from their posts. The most serious per-
sonal injuries sustained up to nightfall
were received in riots OF this character
which took place on Washington avenue
from Sixth to Eighth streets.
Several shooting scrapes.
In one of them n boy was shot by
nonunion conductor, who was trying TO
push his car through the crowd. In the
fraoas further down a motorman was se-
riously injured by brick thrown by
some one in the crowd.
A man was shot at Grand and Franklin
avenues tonight, and still another man
was shot at . o'clock tonight near the
crossing Of the Suburban tracks on Tsy-
lor avenue.
As Suburban car was crossing Tay-
lor avenue a big crowd gathered. Some
one in II pulled the trolley from the
wire and this action enraged a pas
aenger. at present unknown. that no drew
a revolver and fired three shots into the
crowd. Hurt Gilbert, barkeeper. an on
locker. received ono Of the bullets in the
arm and another In the lung. lie was
taken 10 the city hospital. where HIS
wounds were pronounced mortal.
Police Are PowerIcs..
The police were poweFIess today in the
face Of the mob. which was augmented at
noon by thousands OF clerks from business
houses and workmen from the factories.
Many women also gathered with the
crowds Boys and young men. most %
whom had no connection with the strikers
whatever. furnished most OF the noise and
did A large amount Of the mischief down
town. There we're comparatively few of
the strikers IN the mob. and many Of
those who appeared most jealous were
animated by no more feroClous foellng
than the love Of excitement.
The Union y. Satisfied.
Vehicles Of all sorts we're pressed into
service today by the citizens o. the town
In getting 20 and from business
Chairman Samuel W. Lee. os the ma
,ionai executive hoard. the man who IS
conducting the strike. said today that the
union was satisfied with the results of the
strike
We struck to tie up the system" he
the differences between Us and the com
pauy has precipitAted the crisis by the!r
re.esa! 20 treat with us. VIC are ready az
any time 70 do our part toward settling
the differences between Us and the com
pany,"
Mr.. Lee said that he did not know what
the strikers would do II the company
should hire new men. The union claims
hat about Z. 80 men are out, and that they
represent about % per cent. Of the transit
companies employees.
Demands of the Men.
The salient features of the mems de-
nnands we're: 'All conductors. rnotormen.
Sripmen and all men employed in sheds
shall be compelled 10 be members Of the