The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-14
Shoots Waiter in Back at
Coney Island and Then
Fires Into Crowd.
PANIC FOLLOWED AFFAIR
TROUBLE ON THE SURFACE
TRACTION LINES TO THE IS
LAND PROMISES TO BRING
FORTH MANY LAW SUITS.
Publishers Press1

New York, Aug. l3.-While Oceanic
walk in the Bowery at Coney island
was crowded. an unidentified man
pulled revolver. fred two shots into
the back OF a waiter at restaurant.
and then turned the weapon into the
crowd and fired four times as quickly
as he could pull the trigger. Four
persons were injured. three of whom
may die. The injured: Thomas Fitz-
patrick. Brooklyn. may die. Thomas
Mcdonald, Newark. \. j.. may die;
Annie Smith, Williamsburg. serious;
George White. Coney island, may die.
A panic followed the shooting. Wo.
men were thrown to the walk as men
ran over them in an effort 10 reach u
place Of safety The man who did the
shooting dened any one to follow him.
He jumped over the railing and van
ished IN the direction of the ocean.
The disturbances on the Coney is
land surface cars and elevated trains
that Deputy Police Commissioner
O'Keefe and the Brooklyn police look
ed forward to Sunday because of JUS
tice Gaynors statement that the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit company did
not have a right to demand a double
fare to the island. took place on sched-
ule time. They lasted from early Sun
day morning until Monday. At day
light Monday belated ones were still
making their way to the city.
More than a quarter OF a 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 it's way to.the pleasure resort cars
were stalled in lines that extended for
miles. while the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit inspectors argued and plead
ed with passengers to pay the second
fare, and finally wound up by dragging
obstreper0us passengers from the
ears and throwing them into the
streets by the thousands. The COM
pany did this with the aid of $50 spe-
cial policemen and corps of inspec.
tors A similar number Of regular po-
licemen were on hand to preserve or
der, but failed to do SO.
Men, wome and children were
forcibly ejecteI from the cars. From
$4,000 to $4,000 were compelled to
walk for distances Of from one to
three miles. The first steps were taxi
en- in scores of damage suits and the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit representa-
tives defled Deputy Police Commits
sioner O'Keefe Of Brooklyn. Lawyers
and their clerks swarmed about the
points where passengers were put off
and took the names of witnesses. AS
an outcome of the days doings, a COM
mittee of citizens is being formed in
Brooklyn to enforce Justice Gaynor's
ruling.
Police Commissioner Wild revoked
permits granting the company power
TO employ 60 special policemen, who
| assisted in putting off the passengers
who refused to pay the double fare.
These special policemen wore uni
| forms almost identical with. those Of
regular policemen. Mr.. Wild says that
| the scent fare ruling will be enforced.
The police department. he said,
will arrest every employe or agent Of
| the Brooklyn Rapid Transit company
| who assaults a citizen
The Amt Lion.
The pitfall, much used in AFRICA
| and South America as a means Of
catching large game, is an Imitation
of the device employed by the ant
lion to entrap his prey. This curious
insect digs Il comical hole in the sand
and lies In wait at the bottom. WheS
an incautious ant approaches too near
the top the sand gives way and he