The Mankato free press., 1902-06-06
RIOTING IN CHICAGO
STRIKING TRANSFERS AND SYM
PATHIZERS CLASH WITH
THE POLICE
FIERCE FIGHTING RESULTS

aiost Serious Trouble Of the Day oc-
ours In the District Known as "Llt-
SIe He'll" Where Men and Even
Women Attack a Squad of Fifty Of
Heers Who Were Escortlng Num-
Der of Meat Wagons.
Chicago, June 3.-Riot and blood
shed marked the progress of the team
eters' strike during the day. There
we're numerous fights between the po-
ace and the strikers and their sympa-
tAizers. Street car traffic was stopped
while the fighting went on. the po-
Nee and employees Of the packing COM
Sanies were stoned. and at one place.
when surrounded by dense crowd of
men and women, the police, fifty
strong, under the command of Lieuten-
ant Collins, maddened by the numer-
Gus stones with which they had been
Delted, drew their revolvers and
charged full into the crowd, which
showed no disposition to retreat. Fists,
stones and clubs were brought into
sequisition by the strikers and the po-
lice useds their batons and the butt
end of revolvers freely. When this
fight was over there were a number
Of strikers needing surgical attend
ance. None were dangerously injured
as far as known, however, and the
wounded strikers were carried off by
their friends. The fighting began on
'Ghe West Side shortly after noon and
En different parts of the city contin-
ued practically all of the afternoon.
The most serious trouble of the day
occurred in Crosby street, In the dis
trict which is known in police circles
rs Little He'll" A little detachment
Of policemen under the command of
lieutenant Collins was escorting a
number of wagons loaded with meat
TO the distributing stations down town.
A large crowd followed the wagons,
shouting and jeering, and now and
then sending stone over the heads
Of the officers in the direction of the
men on the meat wagons. The line of
wagons escorted by the police was
frequently stopped by other teamsters
who would manage to pull across the
street just in the proper place to pre-
vent the meat wagons from making
any progress. The police would order
the men away and in few minutes
the performance would be repeated,
much to the delight of the immense
crowd that was following on. Finally
one teamster refused to pull his team
out of the way of the meat wagons
and the police placed him under ar
rest. Then the fight commenced. In
an instant
Shower of Stones, Mud and Sticks
fell around and upon the officers.
bruising some of them badly. Lieuten-
ant Collins ordered the march of the
meat wagons to be stopped, AMI at
once charged the crowd. The sight of
the policemen on the aggressive is
nothing new to the inhabitants of
Little He'll" and the crowd refused
10 bulge when the police came on. A
large number of women came up to
the aid of the strikers and were the
fercest fighters in the lot. One Off
Ger was knocked down with a brick
and his companions then drew their
clubs and made war with such energy
that in a few minutes the street was
rdlled with men with bleeding heads.
The mob was led by a large man
who came from the gas house near
Crosby street, and who continually
called to his followers to "kill the
'coppers first and hang the scabs aft
srward." Finally big policeman got
to the man from the gas house and
when 1t was over the leader was car
ried off by his friends with his head
and face covered with blood. The po-
lice made no attempt to arrest him,
for they had their hands full with
hundreds of men and women who
crowded around them and fought vi
ciously with anything they could lay
their hands upon. The crowd increased
so rapidly that Lieutenant Collins
soon saw that his men would be over
powered unless he took vigorous ac-
tion at once. He ordered the men to
fall back slowly toward the wagons
and the crowd, seeing in this action a
token of victory, pressed in with
shouts and the volleys of stones came
more thickly.
The police fell back until they had
formed compact mass close to the
wagons and then, at Collins order,
they drew their revolvers and charged
the crowd once more. This time the
fight was more desperate than before,
and it was over in much less time.
The police
Struck Down Numbers of Men
and used their clubs and revolver
butts with energy, and in three min
utes the crowd was broken and in full
flight. Forming his men around the
wagons once more, Collins started on
his march. AS soon as the police
started away, the mob formed again,
and although at a respectful distance,
they kept after the wagons until they
had reached the barns at Halsted and
Division streets. In this fight about
a dozen of the officers were badly
bruised and nearly all of them had
torn clothing. Many more of the mob
were badly used up, but as they were
all taken off by their friends, it is
impossible to guess at the number.
By the time the barns were reached
the anger of the crowd had grown to
eVer heat. An attempt was made to
cross Halsted street, but In less than
minute blockade had been formed
which it took two hours to release.
The trouble at this point began when
Halsted street electric car stopped
directly on the crossing. The car was
filled with passengers on their way
home from work 1t was a peculiar
coincidence that just as the packing
house wagons approached the crossing
the current was cut off. It was said
that the trolley wire had been cut.
A police sergeant approached the car
Iand ordered the motorman to pro
coed.
The motorman informed the police
sergeant that the current was turned
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