Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-10
STRIKES HISTORY.
Began Sunday, January II and
 Ended Sunday August 9.
COSTLY TO CITY AND STATE.


 The Trolley Go Was Also Heavy
 Loser By Not Conceding the Mems
 Demands-The Riot, the Assault and
 the Murder.
 The strike was the severest that ever took place in this city, and it will go into local history as one of the greatest in which all of the labor unions stood manfully together in support of the cause.
 It was declared on Sunday morning, January II, a bleak and extremely cold morning. The city woke up to find every car tied up, and crowds of people walked to church for the first time in years. The following week was severe one for everybody. It was ex- tremely cold and the sidewalks were covered with a layer of ice from two to four inches thicAs that made walking almost an impossibility.
 Following is brief history of the events of the strike.
 January 13-A. M. Young came to town and refused to end the strike All labor unions flock to the strikers as- sistance.
 January 14-Fifty strike breakers ar rive in town amid great excitement The tracks were blocked by teams, and piles of snow and slush and the great est tumult was visible on the streets.
 January 15-Stone throwing at the cars began.
 January 16-Spme of the strike breakers leave town. Excitement on the streets increased and the cars were called in at o'clock. For the ensuing weeks. this state of things prevailed.
 January 31-Great riot extending all over the lines of the trolley company within the city limits. Considerable damage done to the cars and eleven trolleymen hurt.
 February 1.-Two regiments of the state National Guards arrive in town with full equipments and two detach- ments of machine guns. signal corps and hospital corps. Military under the command of Adjutant-General Cole. Remained in town four days. during which there was great excitement and considerable stone throwing in which, 1t was said, the soldiers took a quiet but effective part.
 February 23--A motornan created a disturbance in Waterville. and the wln- dows of his car were broken f conse- Quence.
 February 26-The famous Faber's Merna and William Morrissett, the car crew, were beaten and Merna left almost dead on the tracks.
 March 1-Prosecuting Attorney H. R. Durant was assaulted on West Main street, near the Second Congrega tional church, two shots being fired at him. Alleged proof of the assault, hole in his felt hat No arrests were made in this matter.
 March S-Death of Supernumberary Policeman Paul Mendelsohn by a twen- ty-two calibre bullet, fired at him while on car at the North Main street troll ley terminus. Gar crew examined by the police and released.
 March 1fSuit served upon the la bor unions and their individual off cers for $20,OO0 each; their funds in bank were attached and the strikers were enjoined from interfering with the business of the trolley company.
 March 16-Board of aldermen, the trolley company and the Citizens al- liance offered rewards aggregating
 
 of those implicated in the Faber's switch case and the Mendelssohn mur- der.
 March 3O-Arrest of eight strikers and eleven boys, charged with assault with intent to murder. Startling statements made by the boys rncern- ing the strikers. All were bound over to the superior court under bonds of $2,O00 each. All released on bail.
 May 15-Re-arrest of the eight strikers on bench warrants issued by Judge Ralph Wheeler of the superior court. charging the accused with two additional crimes, conspiracy to mur- der ana conspiracy to injure the busi- ness of the trolley company. :"
 June Especial term of the superior court called for trial of the strikers and the boys. Trial lasted ten days, The boys who were expected to haveI turned states evidence refused to tes- tify. Jury out seven hours; verdict, not guilty, received with great cheer ing in court and on the street.
 July 1S-State board of arbitration visits town and investigates; board made no report.
 August 9-Strike declared off
 The strike cost the state $15,OOO for maintaining the military; $2,00O for the special term of the superior court; $7,00O for maintaining a corps of sheriffs. The strike cost the city $5,- GOO for extra police protection 1t cost the company over $1ooOoo, but what it cost the business people of the city, the greatest loss of all, has never been made known.