Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
MANY TRYING EXPERIENCES
Riot Almost Raised Over Payment Of
Ten-Cent Fare.
POLICE FORCED TO TAKE A HAND
Men, Women and Children Forcibly
Elected From Brooklyn r. T.
Cars-Belated Travellers.

| NEW YORK, August 13.-The disturb
ances on the Coney Island surface cars and
elevated trains that Deputy Police Com
| missioner OKeefe and the Brooklyn police
! looked forward to yesterday because Of
| Justice Gaynors statement of Saturday
| that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
did not have a right to demand a double
| fare to the island, took place on schedule
| time. They lasted from early morning
until early today, when the overwrought
| nerves of the people permitted panic fol-
lowing a shooting affray in which four per-
sons were dangerously injured by an un-
known man, who escaped At daylight
belated ones were still making their way
to the city.
More than quarter Of million people
started to Coney Island during the day.
and most of them got there, but only after
they had passed through trying experiences
And while this enormous crowd was fight
ing Its way to the pleasure resort-inci
dentally making the record day of the
summer-cars were stalled in lines that ex-
tended for miles while the Brooklyn Rapid
transit inspectors argued and pleaded with
passengers to pay the second fare, and
hnaily wound up by dragging obstreperous
passengers from the cars and throwing
them into the streets by thousands.
The company did this with the aid of $50
special policemen and corps Of inspectors.
similar number of regular policemen
were on hand to preserve order, but failed
to do so.
Forcibly Elected From Cars.
Men, women and children were forcibly
elected from the cars; from $4,000 to $1,000
were compelled to walk for distances rang
ing from one to three miles; the first steps
were taken in scores of damage suits and
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit representatives
defied Deputy Police Commissioner O'Keefe
of Brooklyn. Lawyers and lawyers clerks
swarmed about the points where passen-
gers were put off and took the names of
witnesses.
As an outcome of the days doings a
committee Of citizens is being formed In
Brooklyn to enforce Justice Gaynor's rul-
ing. Sheriff Flaherty of Kings county was
informed late last night of the purpose Of
the committee and that the committee in
tended to call on him sheriff to protect
them as citizens in upholding their rights.
A continuous riot was in progress along
the main lines Of travel. AS a result of it
two women were injured, one so seriously
that she may die; another woman and child
came very near death, innumerable per-
sons were bruised and several were arrest
ed on charges Of assault.
Among those put off trolley cars was
PRESIDENT Bird s. Coler of the borough Of
IioOhlSHs NOleE went DedceaDlY
enough after the "bouncer" had techni-
cally assaulted his wife by taking hold Of
her arm. Mr.. Coler then addressed the
crowd and told them not to pay a second
started. but what Mr.. Coler had said was
by no means the cause of the disturbance
that followed, for he addressed but a few
people comparatively.
Police Took Hand.
The police took an active hand in the
trouble In the evening by arresting two
Brooklyn Rapid Transit superintendent
and three inspectors and a motorman or
two for not moving the cars. Blocking the
highways was the charge.
At 1910 O'Clock this morning police ac-
tivity took on still more active form when
cars coming from the island on the Culver
route were halted at Avenue and Graves
end avenue and the conductors started in
to collect the second fare. Inspector Donald
Grant, Deputy Police Commissioner
O'Keefe and several Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit inspectors were gathered at this po,nt
Several passengers refused to pay the fare
and the inspectors piled on to the car and
began to drag them off.
Deputy Commissioner O'Keefe gave or
ders to the policemen to throw the inspec-
tors off the car and they did SO in a jiffy.
The car then proceeded after the police had
ordered the motorman to go ahead. He did
not no, go far, however Just $50 yards away
superintendent Dow F. Smith, who had
been arrested early in the evening and was
bailed out, was seated in his automobile at
the side of the tracks. The mOorman
stopped when his car got opposite Superin-
tendent Smith and the inspectors that had
been thrown off by the police hustled up
and tossed women, children and men off in
very lively manner.
Commissioner O'Keefe and the nolice had
been devoting their attention to the second
car ana did not hear what was going on in
the first until the inspectors had it about
emptied. The police ran up but the work
had been completed and the motorman had
started his car toward Brooklyn in a
hurry. The police managed to get all hands
on the second car and kept the inspectors
Gradually the wearied crowds made less
resistance and the more belated ones were
glad to pay the double fare Of 10 cents in
order to get to their homes.
Special Police Permits Revoked.
AS result OF the disturbances, amount
ing in some instances almost to riot. on
Coney Island cars of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company yesterday, Acting Police
Commissioner Waldo today revoked per-
mits granting the company power to en-
ploy sixty special policemen, who assisted
In putting of the cars passengers who re-
fused to pay the double fare. These spe-
Gal policemen wore uniforms almost iden-
ucai with those OF regular policemen. They
were stationed at poi.ltS along the line
where the second fare was collected Those
| who refused to pay and insisted upon con-
tinuing their journey were seized and forci-
bly, elected.
Justice Gaynor of the supreme court ruled
Saturday that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
had no right to demand double fare. Mr..
Waldo said today that the i've cent fare
will be enforced.
'rhe police department, he said, will
arrest every employe or agent of = the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company who as
saults a citizen. The police will deal with
them just as any other violators of the
law would be dealt with. And as many
of the company's employees will be arrested
as seems necessary"
j. F. Calderwood, vice president and gen.
eral manager of The Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company, said today tia. the COM
pany will do business the same as before
the courts ruling was made. The COM
pany will collect the second fare, he de-
clared.