Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-05-10
RIOTS AT ST. LOUIS.
STREET CAR STRIKE MARKED BY
VIOLENT DISORDERS.
One of the Onlookers Fatally Wounded.
Many Persons More Less Injured by
Flying Sticks and Stones-Polfce Aru
Powerless to Protect Workmen.

Flying Sticks and stones-Police Aro
Powerless to Protect Workmen.
ST. LOUIS, May 9.-In accordance
with the decision reached by the St.
Louis Transit company's employees, a
general strike was inaugurated on the
system yesterday. No cars were in
operation save few on the Park avenue
division. The first car on this division
left the sheds at o'clock. The strikers
at the sheds did not attempt to prevent
the crew from taking the cars out. The
crews were allowed to run the cars un-
molested until noon, when car No. of
the Park avenue division was badly
wrecked on Washington avenue, be-
tween Sixth and Seventh streets, by a
volley of stones thrown by crowd of
men and boys.
The Suburban line, many of the en-
ployes of which had been on strike for
several days, was also tied up after the
early morning hours.
Cars were run as far east as Thir-
teenth street, but when efforts were
made to bring them down town crowds
of strikers and sympathizers interfered
with the crews and in several cases
dragged them off the cars.
From time to time during the after
noon and night attempts were made to
operate the cars, but in nearly every
case resulted in attacks on the crews by
crowds along the streets, practically
stopping traffic. A Park avenue car
was considerably damaged at Eighteenth
and Washington avenue. A large
crowd Of men and boys were congre-
gated there and as soon as the car was
within distance they bombarded it with
stones, regardless of the fact that sew
eral women were inside of it. The
crew stuck to their posts, although the
stones flew thick around them. The
company, when it found that the cars
could not be operated, ordered them
back to the sheds. Numerous cars were
stoned and the men operating them at
tackled by crowds along the streets. The
strikers declare that they have had no
active part in these demonstrations.
Vehicles of all sorts were pressed into
service by the citizens of the town in
getting to and from business.
Chairman Samuel w. Lee of the ma.
tional executive board, the man who is
conducting the strike, said that the
union was satisfied with the results of
the strike
1--WE struck to tie up the system, y
said he, "and we have succeeded The
company has precipitated this crisis by
its refusal to treat with us. We are
ready at any time to do our part toward
settling the differences between us and
the company
Mr.. Lee said he did not know what
the strikers would do if the company
employs new men. The union claims
that about 3,400 men are out and that
they represent about 80 per cent of the
Transit company's employees.
The most serious personal injuries
sustained Were received in riots which
took place on Washington avenue, from
Sixth to Eighth streets. In one of
them a boy was shot by nonunion
conductor who was trying to push his
car through the crowd. In the fracas
further down motorman was seriously
injured by brick thrown by some one
in the crowd. A man was shot at
Grand and Franklin avenues. AS
Suburban car was crossing Taylor ave-
nue. big crowd gathered around it.
Some one pulled the trolley from the
wire and this action so enraged pas.
senger that he drew revolver and fred
three shots into the crowd. Hurd Gill
berth, barkeeper, an onlooker, re-
ceived one of the bullets in the arm and
another in the lung. He was taken to
the city hospital where his wounds
were pronounced mortal.