Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-05

Chicago, June "a riot and blood
shed marked the progress of the team
sters' strike yesterday. There were
numerous fights .etween the police
and strikers and their sympathiz4rs.
Street car traffic was stopped while
the fighting went on; police and en-
ployes Of the packing companies
stoned and at one place when sur
rounded by dense crowd of men and
women the police, maddened by
number of stones with which they had
been pelted, drew their revolvers and
charged full into lne crowd which
showed no disposition to retreat.
Fists, stones and clubs were brought
into requisition by the strikers and the
police used their batons and the suit
ends of their revolvers freely, When
this fight was over there were a num-
Der of strikers needing surgical attend
ance though none were dangerously IN
jured so far as is known.
The most serious trouble was in the
quarter known as Little He'll" The
police were escorting a line of meat
wagons and teamsters in sym
pathy with the strikers nan
aged frequently to blockade
the street and when the police
arrested one teamster who refu sed
to move out of the way the crowd I'M
mediately opened an attack with
stones, bricks and sticks. The polio.
maintained their position but the
crowd grew to such proportions that
they retreated a short distance and
then made stand and finally charge
the crowd with drawn revolvers. Many
OF the mob were struck down and
eventually the police drove them away.
The police returning to the WACO IS,
the mob again formed, but lAd not e.
new the assault In this fight about
dozen officers were badly brui ed
and nearly all had torn clothing.
Many more of the mob were badly used
up, but as they were all taken off by
friends it is impossible to guess the
number.
By the time the barns were reached
the anger of the crowd had grown
to cross Halsted street but in less
than minute a blockade was formed
which it took two hours to release.
The crowd jeered the police when they
attempted to raise the blockade and
when the officers displayed force the
crowd again became angry. Stones
were thrown at the police and riot
RI hn
Finally the police succeeded in bring
ing the wagons to the barns.
Another fight took place last night
Two retail firms were hauling meat
from packing houses under police es-
cort The wagons had gone some dis
lance but the crowd grew so large
and became so threatening that it
was deemed best to turn back. The
mob had grown so dense that wagons
could not be driven through and the
police thought to brighten the crowd
by a display of revOlyers While
this was going on the nuts were re-
moved from the axes and the traces
were cut The strikers climbed into
the wagon and threw the meat into
the street. The police re-inforcements
arrived and fought back the crowds
Six rioters were arrested. including a
negro who had just made vicious at
tack and seriously injured a sergeant
Under heavy guard, the meat was
picked up from the street and placed
in the wagon again and taken to the
markets. An immense crowd surround
ed the patrol wagon containing the
prisoners The horses were I'M
hitched and the prisoners released,
but after hard fight were loaded
again, the horses attached and the
police get to the station. A large force
of extra police was sent to guard the
packing plants last night 1t is said
packers have brought to Chicago
several car loads of negroes to be
put at work today. If this be true
there will be a riot in the stock yard
and the police are preparing for it.