The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-13

An attempt was made last night to
| run street cars through Minooka for
the hrst time after nightfall since the
strike began and the result was dis
| astrous.
Two cars were deraied and burned
by mob and the crews of both were
Obliged to flee before a fusilade of
stones.
Cars have been run through Minooka
Tor some time during the daylight
hours and one of them was obliged
to lay up in Moosic a few days ago
because of water washed across the
track from a blocked culvert near But
ler's mines.
This car had been stalled there until
yesterday afternoon when gang of
laborers was sent down to clean out
the culvert and drain the water off
the track.
Inc wreck car was sent down to
bring in the stalled car, which was
unable to proceed under it's own head
way because of damage done to it by,
mischief makers. The wreck car also
became disabled and was obliged to
come back to this city. Last night
shortly before o'clock an old passen-
ger car manned by a wrecking crew of
barn men was started down to bring
in the stalled car.
The temporary wrecking car got
through Mlnooka safely enough on it's
trip down, but there was trouble ahead
for the wrecking crew on the return
trip. I
BEGUN AT THE LINE.
1t began at the line dividing Moosic
borough from Lackawauna township
Here gang of men had gathered and
the throwing of stones began. The cars
were obliged to proceed slowly and
the crowd followed, gaining in num-
bers every minute. The stones flew
faster and crashed through the VIM
dows of both cars. Cries of "scab."
'scab!" were heard on all sides.
The barn man who was acting as
motorman, put on full power but not
sufficient speed could be worked up to
pull the cars out of harm's way. BY
the time the central part of Minooka
had been reached the crowd numbered
several hundred persons. In front of |
+. c. Connelly's store, near the old |
postoffice, a number of big stones had |
been placed on the rails and the head |
car running full tilt into these was
thrown off the track.
The crew decided at this point that |
discretion was the better part of valor |
and started on a dead run for Scran- |
ton and didn't stop until they reached |
the William Connell Hose house on |
Pittston avenue.
The cars We're surrounded in the |
by the mob and in a few
minutes flames burst up from the front |
one. 1t was soon all ablaZe and in
short time the second car also had
caught. Before the flames died out
crowd of over 1000 persons had gath
cred from the surrounding country to
watch the sight.
OFFICERS HURRIED TO SCENE.
A car load of company employees
and special officers was sent down as
soon as word reached this city that the
,ars We're burning. This car was stop
ped within a short distance of the
cars and after it's occupants
lad sized up the situation and realized
he impossibility of their discovering
he ringleaders of the mob it was
urned around and brought back to
his city
1t was stated at Minooka late last
hight that the front car caught on
ire itself, the blaze being caused by
he power which had not been turned
,ff The company officials ridiculed
his statement and insist that the cars
we're deliberately set on fire. The car
,eing off the track, they say, prevented
connection and rendered it absolute
v impossible for the car to have
aught on fire itself.