The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-24
Fierce Fighting Marks the OpGE- ing ct the State Street
 Cable Line
CONFERENCES PRODUCE
 ND DEFINITE RESULTS
It Is Rumored That an Agreement Has Been Reached, But Information Is Lacking-The Rioting
 Continues All Day.

Chicago November 23.-Fierce fighting in which the police used their clubs freely and twice their revolver, marked the opening of the State street cable line by the Chicago city railway today.
 As far as can be ascertaiRed nobody was seriously injured. although there were many broken heads among the rioters who came in contact with the clubs of the police. If any members of the mob were injured by the bullets of the police and non-union men on the cars, they were car ried off by their friends before the fact was known to the others. While the fighting was going on in the streets. the usual conferences were in progress.
 Late in the afternoon it was said by Mayor Harrison, President Mahon of the street car men, and the attorneys for both sides, that an agreement had been reach ed but little definite was known concern ing it's nature.
 Conferences Resumed.
 Late tonight the street car men locked themselves in a room on the eleventh floor of the Ashland block and the companys officers were in room on the ninth floor and the conferences were again in full blast. It was predicted that the strike would be declared off by tomorrow morn ing, but nothing was given out from either meeting to make such an assertion cer- tain
 The heaviest fighting of the day took place at Fortyfirst and State streets, where mob hiding behind fence stoned the cars which were guarded by officers. The police were over the fence at once and fired several shots over the heads of the fleeing strikers.
 Many of mob who were slow of foot wre overtaken by the police and soundly rapped with clubs. Few arrests were made, the officers contenting themselves with scattering the crowds.
 Conductor Draws Revolver.
 Conductor J. P. Prenty drew a revolver and fired until his cartridges were ex- hausted. The cars were attacked at the same point on the return trip and a num- Der of shots were fired, the mob scatter ing like a flock of chickens.
 All day long on State street the com pany was hampered by the work of the mob. which piled obstructons upon the tracks, drove pegs and spikes into the cable slot and cut trolley wires in many places. The Archer avenue line was bad ly damaged early in the day and requir- ed several hours work by strong force of repair men.
 During the thick of the fight at Forty first street Mrs. Charles Lett, a passen. ger on the first car, jumped from the car and, braving the revolver shots and all sorts of missels, ran thoroughly fright ened to a place of safety. Windows had been broken near where she sat and her face was cut by glass.
 At the conference held tonight between the officers and board of directors of the road and representatives of the strikers, no settlement was reached and it is un- certain when the trouble will be adjust ed. Neither side to the controversy will give out any information, but it is said the latest hitch in the negotiations is the refusal of the company to agree to re- instate all the union men who went on strike
 When the board of directors adjourned tonight E. R Bliss, counsel for the com pany. said the negotiations were at standstil, but an effort would be made tomorrow to bring about peaceable ad- justment of the struggle.