The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-13
RIOT AT PAWTUCKET
STREET CAR STRIKE LEADS TO
SERIOUS TROUBLE.
MILITARY PATROL THE TOWN.
RIOT ACT READ AND THE TROOPS
ARE IN CONTROL.


PEELED Calling Out of All Available
TrOOps-MOb Cheered Militia and
Then Threw Rocks at Them-Dep-
uty Sheriffs Seem to BE in Bad
OdOr With Observation-Disclosures
Boy Fatally Wounded by One, Who
Is Now Glad to Stay in Jail.
Pawtucket, B. l., June 12.-For the
first time in the history of the city,
bayonets in the hands of soldiers or
dered out by the Governor of the state
to suppress riotous disturbances,
gli5tened in the streets of Pawtucket
to-day. The astonishing increase in
the number of lawless acts directed
against the United Traction Company.
whose union men have been on strike
since June 2, and the inability of the
limited police force and deputy seriffs
to suppress riotiug, induced Gov. Kim
ball to call out the militia.
Numerous scenes of disorder occurred
during the day and more than a scorce
of persons were injured, one fatally.
In the presence of about 1000 persons
and the militia this evening Adjt. Gen.
Sackett read the riot act.
The city was taken possession of by
the militia. A provisional regiment was
formed composed of companies from
the First and Second Regiments, with
the First battalion of cavalry. The reg
iment responded to an emergency call
promulgated by Gov. Kimball and Brig.
Gen. Herbert S. Tanner assumed COM
mand. In the afternoon orders were is
sued calling out the third division of
the naval reserves and the machine
gun battery.
The first disturbance was at. the city
line. Pursuing the custom followed
during the strike, the United Traction
Company's cars were started from the
Pawtucket avenue car house. near the
line dividing Pawtucket and Providence
and on one car were a number of dep
uty sheriffs. This car was followed at
intervals by three others.
FusiIaded the Deputies.
When the cars reached the junction
of IPawtucket and East avenues
trouble began. The presence of the
deputies on the cars angered the crowd,
which had gathered, and a fusillade of
stones, tin cans and other missiles fol-
lowed. The cars were badly damaged.
!, The mQtornan. of each car saw that
I hts only chance was to start the car
| at full speed and run through the
crowd without stopping. Each car
was assailed and soon all were stalled
at Haymarket Square. Then Chief of
Police Rice informed Gen. Tanner that
the conditions We're such that his force
OF men was unable to handle the mob,
and he sought the aid of the militia.
A company of the First Regiment
was sent out and met the cars a Hay
market. 1t preceded them to East
and Pawtucket avenues, where the mi
litiamen guarded the cars in front and
rear. There was a noisy demonstra-
ton For minute the soldiers We're
cheered and then few rocks were
thrown. One of these struck Deputy
Sheriff Horton, cutting his face.
On a trip from Providence to Paw
tucket, Deputy Sheriff Horton had dis
charged his revolver four times, and,
although no one was hit, this act made
the crowd angry. The cars were run
through to the city line without fur
Their trouble.
More Troops Called Out.
Then the street where the trouble
had occurred was picketed off by Troop
A and the troopers maintained peace
for an hour or more. During this inter-
val cars were not run. In the mean
time High Sheriff White asked that
Pawtucket avenue and this was
done with Maj. Johnson in
command. But before this
order was carried into effect the most
serious trouble of the day occurred.
A car was started from the Paw
tucket avenue car house on which
were a score of deputy sheriffs. At
Pawntucket and East avenue a big
crowd was in waiting and it was pre-
pared to give the deputies a warm re-
ception. Maj Maynard had the First
Battalion of cavalry as a guard to The
cars, the troop being divided by pla-
ICONS, front and rear. The deputy
sheriffs were ordered to keep their re-
volvers in their pockets by Maj. May
nard who said if there was to be
shooting done, the militia would do it.
Chief of Police Rice was present and
advised the people to disperse and a
number of striking conductors and mo-
tormen practically endangered their
own safety by endeavoring to prevail
on the people to leave.
Before the people turned their atten-
ton to the car. they cheered the troop
erse. Immediately afterward, however.
a rain of stones, brickbats and every
conceivable form of missile fell upon
the electric car. The troopers were
hemmed in by the mob and with great
difficulty succeeded in working their
braveIy facing the mob and getting his
car through.
Shots Fired From Car.
But when the turmoil was at it's hight
fully a dozen shots were fired from the
car. through the drawn curtains, all of
which did no damage. save one, which
lodged in the neck of Venner Peter
son. aged u, son of John Peterson of
this city The boy had been carrying
dinner and was returning home and
was attracted to the scene. The shot
struck him when he was standing some
distance from the car. The shooting
made the mob wild. and only the pres
ence of the troops prevented the
demolition of the car and the serious
injury to some of the deputies. Mai |
Sweet. surgeon of the cavalry |
examined the boy and pronounced him |
fatally hurt. The boy was taken to |
the Emergency Hospital. where It was
announced tonight that he would die. |
The woundng of the boy sobered |
the crowd, which. after the car had |
proceeded. became more temperate. |
but many threats were made to kill a |
deputy sheriff in retaliation.
At this time a Providence passenger. |
BENJAMIN p. Bosmoth. becoming |
alarmed at the shower Of stones, |
iiimped from the car. which was being 1
rushed through the mob and sus-
tanned serious injuries by falling. He |
suffered conclusion Of the brain. IL |
is thought he viii recover.
a