The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-07


Mon out-Demauds OF Dyers' Helpers
-Mobs Marched Through the City At
tsckins Muls-One Owner Ciubbsd.
Paterson. n. J.-Striking dye helpers
stormed the establishments that were
still running. and by force compelled
u complete suspension OF business in
their trade. Nearly $500 men quilted
work. They engaged In q series OF
running tights with the police and
plant managers. and In one OF the sc.
yerest clashes exchanged q volley OF
pistol shots with them.
The radicals among the strikers were
In command. and hostilities ceased only
when there were no more shops to
win over to the cause for which they
were lighting. Many persons on either
side were severely injured during the
rioting. but none dangerously 50.
The disorder began carly In the day.
and was unexpected. A meeting OF
strikers was held ut Rueger's Riverside
Hall. and 1000 men gathered 1T the
place. They demanded that helpers
should get 20 cents IN hour: machine
men, 22 cents: tinishers. "a cents; learn
ers. 20 cents: the schedule to be ID
effect for the next five years. The oid
prices Der hour were as follows: Help
ers. l6h cents: machine men. lSA
cents; finlshers. % cents; learners, l4l2
cents.
While the meeting was In progress
the radicals urged a raid upon the
works still In operation. and when their
suggestion was approved n rush was
headed for the establishment Of James
Simpson & Co. That Hrn. fearing
trouble. dismissed the men and closed
its doors. Robert Gaede's works were
visited next. and after that the bam-
ford mill. where the first serious disor-
der occurred, was surrounded. Win
dows were smashed. chemicals spilled.
and considerable damage done. The
men ut work In the plant quickly
Quilted their places.
While one mob was closing the Bam-
ford mill, another was surging into
the plant Of the American SILK DyeinS
and Finishing Company. Armed with
dye sticks and stones. they charged
through the place. driving the men
from their places. George Arnold. one
Of the members OF the hrm, was
dropped insensitle with blow on the
head from q dye stick.
Almost simultaneously an attack wac
begun on the works Of Emil GeerinS.
and 1t was in the fight for possession
Of II that the shooting occurred. TWO
policemen were guarding the property.
and when the mob came rushing down.
they warned those In the van to Keep
away. Some one In the crowd dis
charged revolver. and the police
quickly returned the fire. Half Il
dozen shots were fired. and one striker.
who escaped unidentified. was shot In
the leg. The mob stoned the police
men. and when one Of the latter ar.
rested one Of the leaders. closed III
around him. The officers swung their
clubs and beat their way out OF the
crowd One OF the patrolmen finally
secured q rife and when he came out
and faced the crowd with 1t. there
was Z general ScatteTiuS.
After lettering around for time the
strikers reformed and marched to
Knipscher Il MASS dye shop in the
Gun mill yard. where seven police.
men were OH duty under Sergeant Hal
stead. To reach the yard the strikers
would have to cross n bridge near the
dye shop, and the police. seeing them
coming. marched up to the bridge and
blocked the passage. The rioters broke
up into small bands, and loltered
around for some time. A rock was
hurled from one Of these groups ut
Sergeant Halsted. 1t struck Il teie-
phone at which the Sergeant was
standing. and In falling 1t hit Arthur
Neale. who was speaking to the Ser
geant.
Five strikers were arrested and ar-
raigned before Recorder Senior. and all
except one went to Jail John Ball
was arrested for melting his compan.
ions to riot ut the Weidmann shop. He
went to jail for ten days. Antonio
Jarat. a French-Canadian. got ten days
In default of the payment OF fine
Of $40 for creating disturbance. Louis
Forano and Ernest Foster went away
for ten days for throwing stones at
Wcidmann's shop. Georold Mestclia
threw a rock ut Sergeant Halstead
and got ten days.
Judge Dixon called the Grand Jury
before him and charged them 10 re.
turn rs many indictments rs possible
against persons guilty Of rioting. The
conservative element Of the strikers
had. in the meantime. disavowed the
violence OF their fellows. and urged Il
return to peaceful means to gain the
eni that was sought.
The strikers met again In Bunker Hill
Hall to receive the reports Of commit
tees appointed TO visit owners OF shops.
Nearly all We're to the effect that own
ers would grant the increase II all
would. Decisive answers were ~.
ceived from Knipschcr & Mas. Gae,ic.
Kearns Brothers and the Paterson
Dyein. Company. all OF whom agreed
Internationally to grant the Increase.
1t was then asked whether the men
employed by these four concerns could
90 to work Immediately. After long
discussion il was decided that no one
could go to work until all the owners
n