The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-23
Eighteen Thousand Men Now Idle and
Many More Ready to Quit Work
When Summons Is Issued.
SITUATION Is VERY GRAVE
TALK OF REVOLUTION FRIGHTENING
THE INHABITANTS.
state of Siege May he Proclaimed
To-Day, i'm Order to End the
sPresent Reign of Terror,

MARSEILLES, March 22-The men en-
ployed on the street car line in this city
struck to-day. few cars are running un-
der the protection of policemen. The strik-
ers are very much excited They attacked
one car and cut the electric wires. A fight
ensued and a detachment of mounted gen.
darmes charged and dispersed the rioters.
During the scrimmage a soda water syphon
was thrown at the head of a lieutenant of
gendarmes and knocked him unconscious
from his horse. The gendarmes in seeking
to carry off the lieutenant were assailed by
volley of stones and bottles and were
obliged to fire their revolvers in the air.
The gendarmes then charged again and
cleared the streets.
The Cannebiere and other leading
thoroughfares are patrolled by cavalry.
The storekeepers are anxious and a ma
jority of the stores are closed. The street
cars have now ceased running. Reinforce
ments of dragons and infantry arrived
here this morning from neighboring towns.
The prefect has conferred with the mill
tary commander regarding the measures to
adopt in view of the serious outlook. 1t
is estimated that there are now $1,000 men
out on strike or thrown out of work on
account of the strike. The strikers have
stopped the street cars in the outlying
quarters Of Marseilles and have smashed
the essential parts of their mechanism.
About 200 free laborers are working on the
docks. They are strongly protected by
troops.
Late this afternoon the strikers attacked
and wrecked two street cars on the Came
biere. The engineer and conductor were
,rl<1 hov 1nI Loft arhr oanf Of
darmes and hussars succeeded in rescuing
the engineer and conductor amid the hoot
ing and stone throwing of the crowd
Yesterday a decision of the council of the
labor union and the labor exchange in favor
of a general strike and their issuance of
an invitation to all unions to cease work
has increased the gravity of the situation.
The cabinet workers. the locksmiths. the
engineers the caukers', the oil workers.
the millers' and the bakers unions have
either struck already will do so shortly.
corps of military bakers from the neigh
boring garrisons is being organized to re-
place the bakers on strike.
The mayor of Marseilles has convoked
meeting of deputies, general councillors and
municipal councillors in the Marseilles Town
Hall tomorrow to consider the situation.
1t appears that during the AFTERNOON
rioting the gendarmes fired not only in the
air, but into the crowd. A child was
wounded in the shoulder and number of
rioters were also wounded. The disorders
were due. principally. to bands of roughs
having nothing in common with the strik-
ers and these were responsible for the
stoning and pillaging of shops.
Bodies of turner's and filters proceeded
to number of engineering works and per-
suaded the employees to abandon their du-
ties Three establishments were forced to
close.
The Society for the Defense of Com
mercial Interests has appealed to the pre-
mier, M Waldeck-Rousseau, and the min
lister of commerce, M. Mllerand, to use
their personal and official influence to bring
to an end 1.-The present reign of terror"