Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-23
WERE SHOCKED.
Motorman and Passengers On East Main Street Car.
BIG STONE ON THE TRACKS.
Car Bumped Against It Before 1t Could Be Stopped-Strikers Issue Their Daily Statement on the Seventy Second Day of the Strike.


 Second Day of the Strike
 The motorman and few passengers on an East Main street car got quite shock yesterday afternoon and for a time they acted as if they didn't know whether to take to their heels or stand their ground. Some distance beyond the watering trough large stone got onto the track in some mysterious way and the motorman failed to notice the obstruction until the car bumped against it and rebounded with such force that it came near Jumping off the track. The collision almost took the breath out of the man at the switch and the fellow on the rear platform came near turning a somersault into the street while those inside were knocked about like straws before a high wind. After they saw the cause of the trouble all calmed down and looked as if they felt like laughing at the idea of getting scared. The mo- torman rolled the stone to one side and then all the excitement was over.
 The heavy rainstorm of to-day drove new patrons to the cars at noon hour. but business was about the same dur ing the rest of the day as it has been since the strike. Things were quiet yesterday and to-day, so much so that many are beginning to forget that the strike is on. There Is a slight increase in the number riding during the day time, but the patrons appear to be growing tried of keeping up the good work during the night and in conse- quence the cars do little or nothing on some of the lines after dark. It was stated to-day than an organized effort is under foot for pleasure parties during the evenings as soon as the weather gets a little warmer. The open cars are ready for use, but the weather does not warrant their use just yet. They are in much better shape than the vestibule cars, some of which were subjected to pretty hard usage in the early days of the trouble.
 The following statement was issued by the strikers executive committee this afternoon:
 "In accordance with our we'll defined custom. we once more issue our daily statement to the public, this being the seventy second day of the strike as we'll as the seventy-second statement.
 Committeeman Dilworth returned from Boston Saturday evening and has been in touch with us since then We have heard nothing authentic from President Mahon since our last state ment and this leads us to believe that there must be something important go ing on between the company's high officials and himself. We expect President Mahon to drop in on us at any time now, and there is possibility of President Gompers accompanying him.
 We are happy to announce that the in1owing of donations keeps steadily on. This morning we found number awaiting our order, and one donation of two dollars from an old lady friend of our cause was the source of great enthusiasm. Despite the tying up of our money in the banks, through the suit and injunction, all of our men were made happy yesterday by receiving their weekly wages.
 We received a letter from a New Haven friend this morning stating that Rev pr Irvine of New Haven would be in town to-day and would speak to the men at our meeting place He will probably arrive about o'clock. Dr Irvine is prominent in labor matters and came into considerable prominence by writing several articles relative to the recent coal strike. Through his | efforts the renowned John Mitchell will appear in New Haven on April 14th. The boys intend to give Dr Irvine | royal reception when he arrives.
 "We thank our friends for the ex- ce1lent behavior shown recently and as- sure them that their law-abiding dis position does more to help our cause than anything hey could possibly do. We hope and feel sure that they will keep the good work up indefinitely.