The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-09
STRIKERS SHOT
DOWN IN ST. LOUIS
Police POwerless in the Face Of
a Mob Of Thousands.
TROLLEY TRAFFIC STOPPED
Old Question Of Union and NOn-UnIon al the
Bottom Of the TrOubIe--Mea Dragged
From Cars and Beatsn-A Passsn-
ger Shoots IniO the Mob.

ST. LOUIS. May s.-Bloodshed has
resulted from the strike Of the employees
of the ST. Louis Transit Company.
A boy was shot today by a non-un-
ion conductor who was trying to push
his car through the crowd In fra
cas- further down the street the motor
man was seriously injured BY brick
thrown by some one in the crowd
A man was shot at Grand and
Franklin avenues tonight and another
near the crossing Of the suburban
tracks on Taylor avenue.
As a suburban car was crossing Tay-
Tor avenue. a big crowd gathered.
Some one in It pulled the troIIy from
the wire and this action so enraged
a passenger. at present unknown, that
he drew his revolver and fired three
shots into the crowd.
He hurt a man named Gilbert,
keeper, who received bullet in
his lung. His wound is pronounced
mortal.
The police were powerless today in
the face Of the mob.
About $500 men are out and street
car traffic is completely paralyzed.
ST. LOUIS. May s.-one Of the great
est strikes in the history Of st. Louis
was inaugurated today. when about
$500 employees Of the st. Louis Transit
Company went out to compel the ac-
ceptance Of their demands formulate
ed several days ago. The salient fea-
lures Of the mems demands were:
THAT all conductors, mototmen. grip
men and all men employed in the sheds
shall be compelled to be members OF
the union.
That officers Of the union, together
with officers Of the company. shall
have full power to adjust all differ
ences that may arise and that in event
Of their failing to agree, shall, if mu-
tually agreed to, place the case be-
fore three arbitrators.
THAT any member suspended by the
union will be suspended by the COM
pany without pay until such time as
the union requests bis reinstatement.
THAT any man elected to an Office in
the union requiring his absence for not
more than a year. shall, upon his re-
tirement from such office, have his old
place with the company"
Practically every car in St. Louis
is tied up. A number of cars were run
out on the Lindell lines. This led to
frequent riots. John Ketching. a To-
year-old boy in crowd on Park ave-
nue.. was shot and seriously wounded
by Conductor George Mcclellan, in
charge OF car on the Park-avenue
division. On each tne of the lines
converging in Washington avenue, cars
were run out. Four cars got out down
town as far as Sixth street, but only
one went around the loop. All were
attacked by a mob on Washington
street, who threw stones.
A riot call was turned in from Broad
way and Washington and a wagon load
Of police turned out but their efforts
were in vain. At this point a motor
man was hit on the head with a club.
which cut cash in his scalp. A
brickbat struck him in the mouth, lac
Grating his Lip and his nose was
mashed by a stone. He ran into a sa-
loon for protection. One passenger,
man about so years of age, was struck
! in the head by stone that crashed
through the window and was badly
injured Finally the motorman return
ed. and in shower of stones and mud
succeeded in getting his car away
from the crowd.
On the Olive-street line at Compton
avenue a crowd took the gripman and
conductor Off the cars and ran the cars
back into the sheds. Six United States
postal cars were tied up today. Each
makes seven trips daily and covers Is
miles. They bring the mails from all
sections of the city. Forty substations
receive delivery. Postmaster Baumhoff
said:
81 see no need for acting hastily. but
the mails will be delivered on time o.
some one will hear from u.s."
The day and night forces are now on
duty.