The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-06-01
THE ST. LOUIS RIOTS.
Inc Most Serious Day OF the Strike.
Many Persons Wounded. Three Fatal
ly Several Fights.


today's developments were the worst
experienced since the strike on the
lines Of the ST. Louis Transit Company
was inaugurated, over three weeks
ago. The rioting was confined entirely
to three places in the southern section
Of the city and by nightfall the police
records showed that fully a dozen per-
sons had either received bullet wounds
or been hurt by flying missiles. Three
OF those hit by bullets received what
are presumably mortal wounds, and
that no one was killed outright seems
miraculous, considering the number OF
shots exchanged by the employees OF
the company, the strike sympathizers
and the strikers themselves.
Ihe worst Of the rioters disturb
ances occurred near the intersection
or California avenue and Keokuk
street. In this affray, a non-union mo-
tor1nan and another employee on a car
OF the Transit Company were prob
ably fatally shot. The battle was fierce
ana probably 200 shots were fired. OBJ
structions had been piled high on the
tracks, which Motorman r. H. Stilson.
a man imported from Cleveland, Ohio,
and Emergency Policeman Lotion,
served. A big crowd began to hoot and
Jeer and TO apply epithets to the crew
or the car, daring any one to get off
the car TO remove the Instructions.
AS Stiison started to step from the
car his action was the signal for firing
to begin from the crowd. Almost at
the first hot Stilson threw up his hands
and fell to the front platform with a
bullet through his body. In the fusil-
ade that followed John T. Rice, a road
agent, who was on the car, was shot
down as he got from his seat inside,
receiving ball through the chest.
The police body guard on the car
opened f-e on the mob, which scat
tered.
Another affair took place at the in
tersectton Of Graves avenue and Vic
tor street, and during it's progress
Martin Burke. a striker. was shot in
the left hip. Elmer Simmons was act
ing as guard on a Cherokee line car
and as it was passing the corner
Burke began calling those upon it vile
names. Leaving the car, Simmons
drew his revolver and advanced on
Burke. Burke grappled with him. and
in the struggle for possession of the
weapon, two shots We're fired. A crowd
OF strike sympathiZerS beat Simmons
numerically, but he was rescued by
the police
When the first car out this morning
reached Broadway and Miller streets
the crew had to remove distractions
from the track and a big crowd jeered
them. Almost Immediately shooting
commenced from the car. First a single
shot rang out and then a perfect fusil-
ade. The crowd broke amid the greatest
confusion. school girl named Dollie
Mitchell was wounded slightly. Will
law Grannemann, who was standing
some distance from the scene, was Sc
riously wounded in the knee. James
McCalley, also some distance away,
received a ball in the left leg. Both
Grannemann and McCalley's injuries
may necessitate amputation.
The second riot occurred at Broad
way and PestaloZzi street. A large
crowd Oelted a car with rocks and
other /, issiles. Then firing began. In
all, t. enty-five or thirty shots were
fired. The crowd broke. Herman
Peschke, a boy employed in a brewery,
was the first victim. A bullet entered
his back, causing total paralysis be-
Frank Yeager We're also shot in this
affray, but neither wound is serious.
George LaCosten, man employed at
the brewery, and Albert WackwitZ. a
painter, fell to the ground wounded.
Physicians believe that neither man is
seriously injured. twenty-five police
men responded to the riot call. Edward
j. Bresner, the conductor on the car,
was arrested and locked up charged
with shooting Peschke. Bresner stated
that he had shot when the others in
the car commenced firing, after being
attacked. He said he did not know
whether he had hit any one or not.
The three wounded men denied par
ticipation in the attack.