The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-12

| Notwithstanding statements by officials
of the company that no attempt would
| be made TO run cars today except for
postal service few passenger cars were
started this morning early on various
lines The result was trouble. almost In
stanter, the first instance reported being
the intimidation and fight OF a non-union
crew on the Cottage Grove avenue line.
The cars were without passengers. That
disturbance plight be expected today was
understood by the wide distribution of a
proclamation by Mayor Carter Harrison.
warning citizens to keep off the streets
along tho lines of the City railway
POLICE RESERVE ON DUTY.
With general orders to remain in re-
serve and take no part In the strike un-
less ordered, and then only to protect
property, details OF police were sent TO
the various car barns. The frst car
at Thirty ninth street AMI Cottage Grove
avenue. 1t was not harmed during It's
entire trip. In all 205 policemen were de-
tailed to- the different car barns.
Following the trip of the mail car ef-
forts were made by the street cal COM
pany TO move passenger cars with non
union crews. Four trains were started on
the Cottage Grove avenue cable line,
bound toward the business district. AT
Fortieth street an obstruction upon the
rails blocked the trains. crowd OF
strikers had assembled anu hbo
jeers greeted the train crews. A shower OF
stones followed and car windows were de-
molished.
to have been injured in the first clash.
MAIL CAR DERAILED.
A mail car following the first passenger
train was also derailed near the scene or
the blockade. Besides the police detailed
for service at the several barns, as many
more were quickly made aVa1iapie 10 re-
spond TO emergency calls
A car on the Wentworth Avenue line
was blocked at Van Buren, street oy
trucks and delivery wagons which gath
cred by the score, locked wheels ana re-
fused to move. Cars of the Union Trao-
ton company also helped 10 make the
blockade complete.
Thousands OF pedestrians on their way
TO work massed in the streets adding TO
the confusion and hampering the police In
their efforts TO clear a way for the stalled
cars.
Another cable car was derailed at nth
street on the Cottage Grove avenue line
by crowd OF strike sympathizers. A
horseshoe was wedged In the cable slot
and brought the car TO standstill. The
gripman was injured by the shock and
was removed to a drugstore. A physician
called to attend him is said to have In
auired II he had a union button. ON re-
ceiving a negative reply. he said: Take
him 10 the barns. They viii attend TO him
there" and refused to examine the grip
mans injuries.
TRYING TO BREAK STRIKE.
II soon bcame apparent that do
termined effort was being made by the
company to break the strike at the In
ception. The passenger cars on the Cot
tase Grove and Wentworth avenue lines
came along qtdcxly as soon as mail cars
were safely out OF sight.
No policemen rode I'm the cars which
were almost invariably empty. Patrons
apparently preferred to walk or make
long detours to steam and elevated lines
rather than risk injury.
The first passenger car on ths .Fent-
worth avenue line carried two women.
Strikers say that the women were put
there by the stret car company TO test
the attitude OF tho union toward pas
sengers This was the car which was
promptly blockaded by teansters.
The strike was ordered at an early
morning mass meeting OF conductors.
motormen and grfpmen which acted with
only four dissenting votes. The strike
is 20 enforce a demand for a wage In
crease Of 25 per cent and recognition OF
the union. About 5000 employees are in
volved and 30 miles OF surface trackage.
part cable and part electric.
Officials OF the Union. fearing inter-
ference with the operation or the United