The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-06
FIGHTING BETWEEN CHICAGO
POLICE AND STRIKERS
MORE TROUBLE EXPECTED
An Immense Mob Attack n Squad Of
Police Escorting n Train of wag-
ons Delivering Neat from the
S~tockyards Many Wounded ON
Both Sides-POlice Use Their Clubs
FreeIy-Rioters Fight With stones
and Sticks-Segroes to be Put In
Palces I'm the Stockyards

Chicago, June 2.-Riots and bloodshed
marked the progress Of the teamsters'
strike today. There were numerous
fights between the police and the strik-
Iers and their sympatnizers. Street car
traffic was stopped while the fighting
went on; the police and employees of
the packing companies were stoned, and
at one place when surrounded by a
dense crowd Of men and women. the
lpolice, fifty strong, under command of
Lieutenant Collins, maddened by the
numerous stones with which they had
been pelted, drew their revolvers and
charged full into The crowd. which
showed no disposition to retreat. Fists,
stones and clubs were brought into re-
lquisition by the strikers and the police
used batons and the butt ends of their
revolvers freely. When this light was
lover there were a number of strikers
needing surgical attendance. None
were dangerously injured as far as
known, however, and the wounded
strikers were carried off by their
friends. The fighting began on the
west side shortly after noon and in diff
ferent parts of the city continued prac-
tically all the afternoon.
The most serious trouble of the day
~occcurred in Crosby in the district
which is known in police circles as
Little He'll" A detachment Of police
under the command OF Lieutenant Col
lins was escorting a number of wagon
loaded with meat TO the distributing
stations down town. a large crowd fol-
flowed the wagons, shouting and jeer-
ing and now and then sending a stone
over the heads of the officers in the
direction Oh the men on the meat
wagons. The line of wagons escorted
by the police was frequently stopped
by other teamsters who would manage
Ito pull across the street just in the
proper place to prevent the meat wag-
Ions from making any progress.
Finally, one teamster refused to pull
his team out of the way of the meat
wagons, and the police placed him I'M
der arrect. Then the fight commenced.
In an instant a shower Of stones, mud
and sticks fell around and upon the Of
Ulcers, bruiSing some Ct them badly.
Lieutenant Collins ordered the march
lof the meat wagons 70 be stopped, and
lat once charged the crowd. A large
number OF women came no 10 nc the
lstrikers and were the fierceSt fighters
Iof the lot. One officer was knocked
down with a brick and his companions
then drew their clubs and made war
with UGH energy that I'm a few minutes
the street was filled with men with
bleeding heads
The mob was led by d large mar who
Icame from the gas house near Crosby
street, and who continually called to
his followers to kill the coppers first
land hang the scabs afterwards. Finally
"a big policeman got the man from the
Icrowd and when 1t was over the leader
was carried off by his friends with his
head and face covered with blood. The
crowd increased so rapidly that Lieu
tenant Collins soon saw that his men
would oon be overpowered unless he
took vigorous action at once. He or
dered the men to fall back slowly to-
ward the wagons and the crowd seeing
I'm this action a token of victory pressed
on with shouts and the volleyS of stones
came more thickly. The police fell back
until they had formed a compact a
close to the wagons and then at Collins
order they drew their reviewers 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 num-
beers of men and used their clubs and re-
~volver butts with energy and in three
minutes the crowd was broken and in
full flight
Forming his men aroun the wagons
lonce 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 Halstead and Division streets.
In this fight about 4 dozen of the Of
Ulcers were badly bruised and neadly
all Of them had torn clothing.
1t is said that the packing companies
have brought to Chicago several car
loads of colored men and they will be
placed at work tomorl ow. If this is
done it is thought that there may be an
loutbreak in the stockyard and the
police are preparing to handle any
trouble hat may result
During the fighting thirty-eisht pris-
oners were taken by h police and lock-
led up.