The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-06-25
THE RICHMOND STRIKE.
CIVIL AUTHORITIES UNABLE TO
CONTROL STRIKERS.
Militia Called Out 20 Preserve Order
fredericksburg Guards on
the Scene

practically under military control to-
night When the Mayor and chief OF pO-
lice returned today from the riOting at
the car baros they recognized that police
power was impotent To control the mis-
chief.making crowds Consultation with
other city officials resulted in n request
To Governor Montague for military pro
lection.
The Governor. in conference with the
Adiutant General Rt once formulated an
order To the military companies at Alex
andria. Lynchburg. Roanoke, Danyile
Charlottesville. stanton. Farmvile and
fredericksburg 10 report for duty In
Richmond AT the earliest possible mo
ment. Five companies OF the First I;"gi-
ment Of This citv. two companies uf The
Blues and the iIOwitzer- ARE also included
in the order. making l5u or more compan-
les in all.
IL WAS evident to the citizens all day
that serious bloodshed would follow to-
DAYS neutrality-suspicious., and "a sigh
of relief went up tonight when the first
military arrived here from Alexandria
and Fredericksburg The order WAS not
made public. aud the arrival Of the sol
diers Was the first intimatiOn to many
citizens that the outside military had
been ordered to Richmond
The Opinion. the labor paper edited 10y
". II. Mullen. made IL first appearance
today. and was very largely sold. lt-
articles were particularly struag IN incit-
ing the strikers against the men imported
here by the street.car company The
Richmond troops are quartered IN their
armies. rendy for instant response 10 call
IL il hoped that the presence oi .'Op
troops will ohyiate the necessity oi de-
claring martial law.
NOTING ALONG THE LINES.
Riotous conduct has prevailed along
the lines of the street railways IN kich-
mond today. and dangerous disorder iol.
lou ed Immediately upon the attempt oil
the COMPANY o. enlarge lis operations
this morning large force OF men was
sent out at day light 10 clear the tracks
Of distractions placed on them during
the night in both the east and west ends
of the city. and the lines were again IN
operation 10y o'clock.
Trouble quick ly came when 20 men
under guards were sent 20 the ear barns.
AZ Twenty and L streets, 10 man
the cars on the Clay street line A. each
car passed out OF the barns il wa- Ar
sauted with missiles. including bricks,
and small obstructions were piled 90 the
track. including stones covered with
paper bags To conceal them.
MAYOR ADDRESSES NOS
Notormen. conductors and the police
guarding the rarr were frequently struck
and some Of them injured. Mayor X. VI.
TAYLOR went 20 the scene and addressed
the crowd. but without effect. lie has
been the workingmen candidate and
idol Term after term they have elected
him. but he has been the object OF much
abuse because he did not declare Tor the
siriker- To-day he told the men that
unless they behaved themselves better be
would have to do what he had hoped
would be avoided-call out the militia.
This they received in silerce. but when
the MAYOR resorted 10 bis old campaign
methods and shouted Boys, / am
with You. You SOC | am walking and
will continue to walk until this trIte Is
over" the crowd was wildly enthu-ias
nc. and the further words Of warning
were drowned in the yell- OF bic old-time
admirers.
sTRrCK WITH 4 BRicK.
Chief Howard. who had hurried re-
serves 10 the scene also addressed the
crowd. but almost under his nose the
rioters continued 10 attack the car men
Again the Mayor aud the Chief be- ged
the crowd TO be orderly TO avoid thecall-
ing out of the militia which would GER
tainly be done if the disorder continued
The mob around the car barns piled
rocks. stones and reuse INTO every cai
that came that WAY. The Mayor was
himself the direc' cause OF one OF the men
getting hurt ear attempting TO run
the blockade OF strikers and theirsympa-
thizars was urougnO To -tandstlll by
the mob while Mayor Taylor and the
Chief were using their efforts 10 persnaue
the rioters To be more orderly. Mayor
Taylor rushed forward and ordered the
motOrmen 10 90 ahead.
II am the Mayor of thiscity, he shout
ed. and tell you to go light ahead.
The man tried. but il war useless, and
he WAS forced 10 back the ca toward the
barn. A. he did 80 he was slruck on the
head win a brick and the blood flowed
freely from the wound The mad reach.
ed behind him and drew hisrevolver, and
, the guards and employees OF the company
who were on the car at the time did the
same thing The mOtOrmen was arrest
cd and carried TO the first police station
followed by the jeers OF the mob.
A little later Conductor llamlin had a
/ Ia " IA sfr uPk In nc
, face with a large stone and was very
badly hurt. lie was taken TO the Nir
. ginia Hospital for treatment. The mot
J increased and became more aud more IN
, ruly. until at last the word came thai
the attempt to open the line should b'
4 abandoned.
ALL THE MEN ARMED.
; Fourteen OF the cars were at this tint
J. inside the harms. and all were armed, tn
? motormen and conductors having pls
d tolls. the guards shotguns. howiini
mob made the air hideous with epithet
= outside. but the men seemed uncOncerned
p Most OF them are professional strike
= breakers. and some bear the scars oil sim
E liar affairs.
!, Later n car. carrying n strong guar
of special men with shotguns ecros
their laps. took the men on board an
q returned TO the headquarters at IN
. r servoir barns, on the other SHE OF tn
. city. IL was strange sight to zee
h car armed a. il for war passing throug
80 the street,. The company is arming a
- it's men. They have a large number
= guns and pistol at the car barns, and al
h. securing more.
- While these scenes were being enacte
- in the East End similar ones were goin
~ on 10 the West End, on the Laurel stree
- line. also Just startei up for the first tin
since the strike The cars were stone'
!, Several streetcar men were struck an
- Policeman Harris. a veteran OF the lore
ho was disabled by rock that came hur
-, ing through the car window. Tweni
ba men are. or have been, ia the hospital I
day on account OF injuries Some, vii
stitches In fresh made wounds. ore ri
ring cars.
PLENTY or GRIT.
1. The foreman OF the strik' breakers sa.
q, they are the kind that have plenty
u e,it and will stick with f'm TO the go
w. they showed their pistols today Wit
~ attacked. but no firing occuiIed. II
he mob spirit is rampant, and on Laur
street. a section in full sympathy WI
the strife. mothers stood on the porch
.b.fr ohfldran N nut a