The evening times., 1900-05-30
STRIKERS USE DYNAMITE
Street Car Tracks in 81. Louis
Wrecked By Explosives.
An Effort Made to Blow Up the
Power HOuse-Men Growing Des-
spOnd 10 Urgency CaIIs-Fears That
the Trouble VIII Result In Riots.

ST LOUIS, May 90.-This, the twenty
thirG aay of the street-ear strike, opened
with an attempt to dynamite the tracks Of
the Transit Company. which was partially
successful. AT 1 a.. m. terrific explosion
occurred near Fifteenth and Chambers
Streets shattering windows in houses for
several blocks. The noise Of the detonation
was heard as far as Washington Avenue
fifteen blocks south.
Police were hurried to the scene. when
investigation showed that the switch on
Fifteenth Street. just north of Chambers,
had been demolished, a hole two feet
square and one foot deep having been
blown into the hard roadbed.
The damage TO the track will probably
prevent the operation OF the line today
Quarrymen in the north end of the city
reported to the police that fifty pounds of
dynamite had been stolen from them re-
Gently. and il is believed that a stick OF
this was employed this morning.
About the same hour a bomb was ex-
ploded on the tracks in front OF the power
house at Spring Avenue and North Market
Street. but by whom the police were IN
able to discover
The men are evidently growing desper-
ate The shooting in different parts Of
South ST. Louis yesterday has evidently
inaamed them to the danger pOint. Police
are kept in stations or at the temporary
barracks at the old Central Hall, ready TO
respond TO riot call at any time, day or
night. as il is believed this week will cul-
inmate in a series of bloody lots, beside
which those of yesterday viii appear 10
have been Insignificant
Twelve persons were shot, three fatally.
in three serious riots which occurred along
the lines Of the Transit Company yester-
day. Among the victims of the armed
guards placed on the cars are two boys and
a girl, ten and eleven years old, respec-
lively They assert that they we're simply
watching the disturbance
On the side Of the company, two Of its
non-union employees were shot two special
policemen were wounded with bullets.
while the remaining eight we're citizens
who were shot down while in the crowd
Of rioters.
The ST. Louis Transit Company and the
strikers are as far apart as ever today
and no movement looking toward a settle
ment is on The State labor authorities
local committees. and citizens in general
are making Oyertures. but the company has
aIet all these attempts with the reply that
there is nothing to arbitrate.
There is increasing lawlessness. espe-
clally IN the northern and southern sec
tions Of the city where wires are being
cut as fast as they are repaired by tran
sit linemen. The operations OF the mob
are now directed toward intimidating pas
sengers and women are subjected to gross
insults while in many cases men are badly
beaten.
The company issues daily bulletins as 10
the number lines operated and cars run,
and insists that, with proper police pro
lection. it could accommodate all its regu-
lar patronage But IL is a fact that most
cars on the transit lines cease running aft
er nightfall that the owl car service IS
practically abandoned, and that for three
weeks the entire transportation system OF
the city. with the exception OF the east
and west suburban lines. has been com
pletely disorganiZed.
Chief Of Police Campbell has increased
the police force in South St. Louis on ac-
count Of the strike riots. Non-uniformed
special officers have been replaced on the
cars by uniformed men Of experience. None
OF the persons shot Tuesday had died up TO
noon today.