Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-24
Clashes Between Police and
Mobs at Patterson.
Shots Fired and Several Persons
Badly Injured by Missiles.
Workmcn in Some Factories Drive n
Out by the Mob.

sion of business in their trade They
engaged in a series of running fights
with the police and plant managers
and in one Of the ScVereSt clashes eX-
changed a volley of pistol shots with
them. The radicals among the strikers
were in command and hostilities ceased
only when there were no more shops
to win over to the cause for which they
were fighting. Many persons on either
side were severely injured during the
rioting. but none dangerously so.
1t was believed for n time that it
would be necessary TO ask the state for
troops to restore order and insure pro-
lection to life and property, but the
police experienced confidence in their
ability to handle the situation and no
request for outside aid was made.
Judge Dixon called the grand jury be-
fore him and charged them to indict
the persons guilty Of rioting.
The conservative element among the
strikers had in the meantime disavowed
the violence of their fellows and urged
| > return to peaceful means to gain the
| end that was sought.
A written demand upon the employ
ers for pay was formulated and COM
mittees opened negotiations for its con-
sideratiOn.
A large number or the strikers were
/ in sullen spirit and ii was predicted
| tonight, that any attempt on the part
| Of the employers to resume business
without dealing with them would be
desperately resisted.
When the strikers completed their
~,
| ton IS firms were closed down ana $3.50
men were out.
The disorder began early in the Gay
and was unexpected. A meeting OF
strikers was held at o'clock. attended
by 2000 men. The meeting was orderly,
declared for peace and the men were
urged to keep away from the shops.
| Tho meeting of committees prepared
and adopted the demands stating the
| kind Of work desired and the amount
! of pay each class of workers should re-
cei.e.
While the meeting was in progress
hundreds Of strikers stood outside the
hall angrily discussing their griey-
| ances. The radicals urged raid upon
the works still in operation and when
their suggestion was approved. visited
three shops and induced the operatives
| to quit.
At the Bamford mill the first serious
disorder occurred@ The property is
walled in, but the strikers gained the
yard before the gates were shut. Win
dows were smashed, chemicals spilled
and considerable damage done. The
men at work in the plant quickly quit
ted their places.
While one mob was closing the Bam-
ford mill another was surging into the
plant of the American Silk Dyeing ana
Finishing Co. Armed with dye sticks
and stone, they charged through the
place. driving the men from their
places. George Arnold, one of the mem
bers Of the firm, was dropped inscnsiblo
with a blow on the head from a dye
stick.
Almost simultaneously an attack was
begun on the works of Emil Geerins
and it was in the fight for possession
of il that the shooting occurred. Some |
one in the crowd discharged revolver |
and the police quickly returned the fire |
Half a dozen shots We're fired and one |
striker. who escaped unidentified, was
shot in the leg.
and when the latter arrested one of the |
leaders, closed in around him. The |
officers swung their clubs and beat |
their way out of the crowd. A striker |
engaged Mr.. Geering but was beaten |
off. One of the patrolmen finally Sc
cured rifle and. when he came out
and faced the crowd with it there was
q general scattering.
The police checked a raid on the |
property of Kripscher & Mas. A strik-
err hurled a rock at the police and was
placed under arrest. The crowd in
effectually tried TO rescue him.
At some of the plants raided the
strikers familiar with machinery turned
the steam on at full force and it was
an effective weapon in driving the
worIlmen out.
At 2.30 o'clock, Judge Dixon called
the members of the grand jury before
him and said that each rioter was sub
ject to indictment and ordered them to
do their duty. He explained the stu
alton carefully and said the prosecutor
would place the evidence before the
jury.
The strikers met at O'Clock to re-
ceive the reports of the several shop
committees. Nearly every one of the
latter reported that their particular
shop would agree to the wage conces-
sions demanded if all the other shops
would. The conservative leaders
strongly advised the strikers to avoid
violence and disavowed the attacks
made on the mills during the morning.
The owners of the dye plants said
that they would be unable to pay the
wage scale submitted by the men. They
also said that many of their men were
satisfied with their pay and only went
out when driven from their places by
the mob.
The owners blame the radical foreign
element for the trouble.
Four strikers who We're arrested,
yesterday, for taking a prominent part :
in the disorders at the mills were ar
raigned in court, today. They were
sentenced to pay fine of SO each and
as they were unable to do so were COM
mitted to jail for 80 days.
CLOSING THE MILLS.