Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-03
MOB ATTACKSLAKE
SUPERIOR WORKS
Discharged Employees Start Rioting
at Canadian 500.
THE TROOPS RESTORE ORDER

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, Sept. %
The situation in the Canadian 500.
which has been the scene of serious
rioting by the discharged employees of
the Consolidated Lake Superior Com
pany, who were put off with promises
after they demanded their wages, is
very grave. No reinforcements of mill
tia have arrived from outside, and the
only defense against the mob, which
grows hourly, is more or less demon
allied police department and a small
company of militiamen. An assault
upon the Office of the building by the
mob before the arrival on the ground
OF the troops 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
the office staff with drawn revolvers
prevented their gaining access to the
upper floors of the building. Every
window and door in the building is
smashed in. The arrival of the troops
on the grounds armed with ball cart
ridges served to restore some sem
blance of order. The rioters then con-
tented themselves with throwing stones
at the building and hurting invectivos
at the soldiers, who established a dead
line" and prevented any approach
toward the building by any of the riot
ers. The greatest number of the mob
are of ignorant Italians, Films, Norwe-
gians and Frenchmep, the latter per-
haps the hardest of all to handle All
had been drinking more or less, al
though the bars finally obeyed the or
der to close up. The mob is one that
cannot be reasoned with, and the man
they seem most anxious to get at is
Mr. Coyne, the assistant manager, who
in the absence of Mr.. Shields is in
charge of the works. Mr.. Coyne has
discreetly kept out Of sight.
The leaders of the mob held a con-
ference and demanded that the com
pany feed the men until the money for
their wages is forthcoming. In order
to appease the crowd. this demand was
granted. and the men have taken pos
session of the White House. q large
boarding house operated by the COM
pany. Provisions are being sent there
to feed them. AS their leaders are
making the most inflammatory sort of
speeches, grave fears, are entertained
for the outcome.
II is estimated that there are 20GO
men in the 500. and these are rein
forced by all the idle rabble in town.
A train carrying 400 more woodsmen
is expected to arrive on the Algona
Central
The local police force is being
strengthened by the addition of all ;be
deputies who can be found, each man
being given a badge and a revolver
and ordered TO use the latter whenever
| necessary. Considerable feeling has
been aroused over the shooting OF two
Frenchmen by the police during the
trouble. The mob threatens an attack
upon police headquarters with a view
| of effecting the release of all the men
| who have been arrested. Both this
building and that occupied by the fire
| department is guarded against attack
These developments have created q
| problem which appears TO be beyond
] the solution of any of the company
officials on the ground. Apparently
their only hope is that the anger of the
| mob will spend itself and that the men
will get out of town by degrees.