Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-29
WANT THEIR PAY.
Wild Mob Of Rioters About
Rule Canadian 500.
Money Not Forthcoming, They Wreck
Company's Office Building
Troops Added to Police Force to Pre-
serve Order.

Il,
500. which has been the scene of serious
rioting by the discharged employees OF
tho consolidated Lake Superior Co. all
day, is very grave
4 meeting of the employees Of the
company was held in Barnes hall, this
morning, and it's proceedings wer OF the
most heated character. The particular
grievance which seemed to nave IN
famed the men to acts of disorder
was the promises Of pay, today, when
the men who made the promises, the
employees believe, knew they could not
be fulfilled. Immediately after THIS
meeting adjourned, the men went IN d
body to the Office Of the company, de-
termined to get their money. or get
satisfaction" as they put it.
The doors of the Office were locked
and guarded by the police, and all the
men got was bulletin posted upon the
door, which read as follows:
"Officers and Employees of the Console
dated Lake Superior Co: The presl-
dent and directors in New York have
been unable to raise the money to pay
today the wages and salaries now due
the men and officers of the company.
Advices from New York, this morning,
indicate that our president and direc-
tors have plan to raise the money
necessary to not only pay the men, but
to start up the works, that seems to
promise success. The plan has the en-
dorsement and promised support of Sir
Wilfred Laurier, the premier of Canada.
and G. w. Ross, premier of Ontario,
and 1t is expected to produce the neces-
sary money inside of 80 days. While
we regret very much the inability of
the company to pay, today, the fact re-
mains that there is no money to pay
with.
There seems to be only one thing left
for them to do, and that is to accept
offers of work elsewhere, leave their
checks with friends, responsible attorn-
eys or business men to collect for them
whe' = ron!uony pays. Bear in mind
tn yo1, uaGes will have to be paid
ult,.aat.lH rnd onstitute just obliga
tils against tin" company which all the
property ana ulher assets will be liable
for"
excitement of the crowd, which by this
time was estimated to number 1900,
made them furious and. despite the eff
local police force and the company's
private police force, rocks and other
missiles filled the air. directed at the
windows of the office buildings
The assault was successful and
mass of frenZied rioters secured pos
session of the ground floor of the build
ing. destroying everything movable
that came in their path. A crowd of
h. In.
prevented their gaining access to the
upper floors of the building. Every
window and door in the building is
smashed.
Some one then turned in an alarm of
fire with a view of using the fire hose
upon the mob. The firemen turned
several streams on the crowd AID dove
them quite a dietaHcr t:nn t&a ~. =,
ing.
The arrival of the troops on the
grounds armed with ball cartridges
about 2 o'clock, served to restore some
semblance of order. The rioters then
contented themselves with throwing
stones at the building and hurting in
vestives at the soldiers, who establish
ed dead line" and prevented any
approach toward the building by any
of the rioters.
No re-infOrcements of militia have
arrived from outside and the only de-
fence against the mob. which grows
hourly, is a more or less demoralized
police department and small company
of militiamen.
The greater number Of the mob are
ignorant Italians, Firms. Norwegians
and Frenchmen, the latter perhaps the
hardest of all to handle. All have been
drinking more or less, although the
bars, this afternoon, obeyed an order to
close. The mob is one that cannot be
reasoned with and the man they seeem
most anxious to get at is Mr.. Coyne.
the assistant manager, who, in the alb
sence of Mr.. Shields. is in charge of the
works. Mr. Coyne has discreetly kept
out of sight all day.
Late this afternoon, the leaders of the
mob held a conference and demanded
that the company house the men in
their hotel and boarding house and
feed them until the money for their
wages Is forthcoming. In order to APP
pease the crowd this demand was
granted. and the men have taken pos
session of the White house, a large
boarding. house operated by the COM
pany., Provisions are being sent there
to fed them.
TITS estimated that there are 1000
meH in the 500. tonight, and these are
reinforced by all the idle rabble in
town. A train carrying 400 more woods
men is expected to arrive on the Algo-
ma Central, late tonight. The local
police force is being strengthened by
the addition of all the deputies who
can be found. each man being given a
badge and a revolver and orders to use
the latter whenever necessary. Con-
siderable feeling has been aroused over
the shooting of two Frenchmen by the
police during the trouble. this morning.
The mob threatens an attack upon
police her 'ouarters with a view of ef-
fec:n% the rci"ase of all the men who
have been aires ed. Both that building
ard that occupied by the fire depart
n,eut is guarded against attack.
The problem today's developments
have created is beyond the solution of
any of the company officials on the