The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-18
Bridgeport, Conn.,, Fire Depart
ment Checks Riot
By Turning the Hose on Crowd
Of 1900.
WE'RE STONING BARN
Where Strike Breaking Trolley
men Had Sought Shelter.
Fifty Men We're Hurt During
the Disturbance.

Bridgeport. Conn. May 1s.-The at
tempt made by the officials OF the Con-
necticut Railway and Lighting COM
pany to run their cars with non-union
men resulted in a riot in which at least
fifty men were injured. The sheriff says
that another such outbreak will make
the calling out of the state troops in
evftable. At the present time it is sup
posed that the county sheriff will SUI
persede the Holice in the control OF the
citS.
Sunday morning six trolley cars wera
started out on the Barnum and Stats
street lines There were large crowds
around the car sheds at the time the
cars were manned by twelve of the 1Su
non-union men brought to this city by
the trolley company. There was no dis
turbance of any kind for two hours.
When the first car, however. had COM
pleted its third round trip and was di-
rectly in front of the Wheeler & Wilson
factory. where a crowd of at least 13O
persons had gathered. a bombardment
of stones began. Deputy Sheriffs Hem
dru and Plumb. who were riding on the
car. plunged into the crowd to arrest
man whom they had seen throwing
a stone. He was seized. and with con-
siderab BILE difficulty dragged fifty feet to
the car. The stone thrower was big
fellow and struggled so hercely that 3
policeman who was standing near by
went to the assistance of the sheriffs.
/ Immediately Mayor MulVihill was seen
hurrying through the mob He rushed
up to the policeman and ordered him to
! take his hands off the prisoner. He
4 then told the deputy sheriffs that they
1 had better let the man go. During the
argument the prisoner dashed away.
In the meantime stones were flying in
a shower and one struck Mayor Mulvi-
hill on the head. bruising it badly. The
two shefiffS jumped on the car and or
dered the motornan to proceed to the
car sheds a quarter of a mile distant.
The bonbardment did not abate, ana
the crowds on the streets were so dense
| that the motorman had to go slowly
| The stone throwing soon became SO
furious that the sheriffs drew their re-
wolves and fired five shots in the air.
This caused the bombardment to let up
a little and the car reached the barns
and was run inside The other five
cars received exactly the same treat
ment as they followed the first car into
/ the barns.
When the last car had passed in the
( door there was 1000 people gathered IN
q vacant lot opposite and violence once
more broke loose Bricks. stones and
| everything that could be thrown was
( hurled at the barns and anything thar
! belonged to the company in the vicinity
At this point Mayor Muvihiu saw that
the sergeant and nine policemen who
were stationed at the car barns were
entirely unable to cope with the mob.
and he sent for Chief Coffin of the fire
department After a short consultation
the latter ordered out engine company
No. and line of hose SuDerintend-
ent Bingham also ordered every man to
/ operate with the f1remen and finally the
mob slowly fell back before the water.
/ One Of the strike breakers was assist
/ ing the firemen in holding the hose when
a we'll directed brick struck him on the
/ head and knocked him to the ground
senseless- When the mob had dispersed
] the hremen and extra policemen were
ordered back to their quarters and the
regular detailed force guarded the
barns.
Officials of the trolley company viii not
reveal the names of the men injured. It is
positively known, however, that not man
of the twelve who were the six cars
/ escaped injury of some kind Everyone of
tnem, as they stood on the platform Of
tnelr cars, while going into the barns, was
head and face In addition to the trolley
men injured, Roadmaster Davis of the
trolley company was severely injured by a
stone which struck him on the head Sher-
! ifs Hendric and Plumb were apparently
magnets for the mob as well as the strike
breakers, Tor each OF them was struck in
different parts of the body at least dozen
times.
have further interference on the part of
Mayor Mulvihill ! will have 100 special
men here and viii do my best to preserve
peace. and if the mayor or anybody else
attempts to interfere. he viii be stopped:
If necessary. ! will supersede Mayor Null
NO ATTEMPT TO RUN CARS.
Bridgeport Conn, May 18.-In view
of yesterdays serious riOting, the off,
cials of the Connecticut Railway ard
Lighting company made no effort to
start cars on their lines in this city to-
day, preferring to wait until the ques-
tion OF police protection was guaran-
teed. In connection with this matter n
meeting was held this morning. Mayor
Mulvihill's alleged interference with two
deputy sheriffs who were trying to
arrest a stone thrower was denounced
7 by Sheriff Hawley. who informed the
police commissioners that unless the po-
I lice were able to cope with the situation
he would take the reins Of authority to-
I day and summon state aid without fur
ther marley All was quiet about the
4 city early this morning.