Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-22
RIOT At BRIDGEPORT, Conn.
STREET CAR COMPANY TRIED TO
OPEN TRAFFIC.
Fifty Men Injured-Non-union Men
and Cars Were Pelteu With erick
and Stones-Mayor Sided WIN
strikers-4ooo People in the Crowd
Used Fire Hose to Dispense Them.


Bridgeport, Conn, May 19.-The al
tamnt made by the officials of the Con
necticut Railway G. Lighting company
ia run cars with nonunion men result
cd in a riot, in which at least 30 men
we're injured. The sheriff says tha'
another such outbreak Will make the
calling out of the state troops me
yitable. At the preseul time IL Is eA-
pected the county sheriff Will super
sede the police in the control OF the
city.
Six trolley cars were started out on
the Barnum and State street lines.
There we're large crowds around the
car sheds at the time the cars were
manned by ~ of the $50 men brought
to this city by the car company Ihere
was no disturbance fof a couple or
hours. When the first car, however,
aid completed it's third round trip and
was directly in front OF the, Wheeler
& Wilson factory, where a crowd OF
at least 800 persons had gathered,
bombardment of stones began. Deputy
Sheriffs Hendrie and Plumbe, VINO
were riding on the car, plunged into
the crowd to arrest nan whom they
had seen throw a stone. He was
seized, and with much difficulty
dragged SO feet to the car.
The stone thrower WAS big fellow,
and struggled so fercely that police
man standing near by went to the as
sistance of the officers. Immediately
Mayor Dennis Mulvahi'l was seen hur-
rying through the mob. He rushed up
to the policeman and ordered him to
take his hands off the prisoner. He
then told the deputy sheriffs that they
had better let the man so. During the
argument the prisoner dashed away.
In the meantime, stones were flying
in shower, and one struck Mayor
Mulvahill on the head, bruising 1t
badly.
The two deputy sheriffs jumped on
the car and told the motorman to
proceed to the car sheds, quarter
Of mile distant. The bombardment
did not abate, and the crowds on the
streets were so thick mat the motor
man had to go slowly. The stone
throwing soon became so furious that
the officers drew their revolvers and
fired five shots in the air. This caused
the bombardment to cease little and
the car reached the barns and was run
inside. The other five cars kept on the
streets received the same treatment
as they followed the first car into the
barns.
When the last car had passed in the
doors there were 1000 people gathered
In vacant lot opposite. and violence
once more broke loose. Bricks, stones
and everything that could be thrown
was hurled at the barns and anything
that belonged to the company in the
AT this peint Mayor Mulvahill saw
that the sergeant and nine policemen
at the car barns were entirely unable
to cope with the mob, and he sent for
Chief Coffin of the FIRE department.
After short consultation the latter
ordered out an engine company and
a line of hose. superintendent Bling
ham also ordered every man to CO.
operate with the firemen, and finally
the mob fell back before the water
One of the strike breakers was assist
ing the firemen in holding the hose
when well directed brick hit him