The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1906-04-13
A NFRAVCISCO RIOT
SOCIALISTS GIVE BATTLE WITH
TIE CITY POLICEMEN.
For Fully an Hour There Was a Fierce
Fight in Principal Streets of the
City-socialists Had Held Meeting
as Expression of Sympathy for
Their officers in Jail in Idaho Towns

San Francisco. April 9.-The tiercest
riot San Francisco has witnessed IN a
generation was a sequel Sunday even
ing to a meeting of socialists held dur
ing the day at Woodward's pavilion as
an expression of sympathy for Presl-
dent Meyer and Secretary Haywood OF
the Western Federation of Miners,
who are imprisoned in Idaho On the
accusation that they were implicated
in the assassination of Ex-Governor
Steunenberg. AT the meeting some
typically violent soCialistic speeches
were made, in which it was declared
that Meyer and Haywood were limo
cent. and that if convicted they would
not be hanged unless the entire United
States army was brought in to assist
in their execution.
At the conclusion of the speech
making a procession was organized
and the participants in the assemblage
marched down Market street, headed
by a band. At the corner of Kearney
and Market streets a halt was made,
and one of the ~paraders, who carried
a red banner. climbed Lotta's fountain
and affixed the emblem to the topmost
lamps. The banner bore the inscrip-
ton: The constitution be damned so
say the corporations 1t was decided
by the leaders to hold an outdoor meet
ing, and A. c. McGinty was selected
to address the crowd.
Police Come; Riot Starts
So great was the throng, however,
that he could not make himself heard,
and George S. Holmes. a metal worker,
with a powerful voice, was substituted
as speaker. He was in the midst of
his talk. when Policemen Jack Stelz-
ner and w. J. Cayanagh and Detective
Thomas Ryan made their way through
the crowd Ryan tore down the red
flag and passed il to Steiner. Ryan
then ordered Holmes to desist, but was
met with a refusal, and the detective
pulled Holmes down TO the pavement.
In a moment a riot was precipitated.
Steiner was seized knocked down
and kicked in a vicious hand to hand
fight, the crowd seeking to recover
the flag. Ryan and Cavanagh came to
his assistance and began beating back
the crowd with clubs. The flag was ,
from S~telner's grasp, and then +,
who had held Holmes all of the ,
time, started to take his prisoner .
through the crowd, beating a path with .
his club. q
An electric car was passing and
halted opportunely for the detective. y
He boarded it and the other officers :,
tried TO keep the crowd back. Near :
the fountain a new building is being
erected and the street was full of build -
ng debris. Almost instantly there .
vas a shower Of scrap iron. bricks :
blocks of wood upon the car. and .
he missiles crashed through the win :
lows, injuring a number of passen-
yers. The motorman was made a tar Al
but he slowly forced his car
through the human blockade and gain :,
ng speed, ultimately reached the hall =
# justice.
In the meantime alarm calls had r.,
'een sent to the n~eighboring police :.
~ a SAudu VI pdlIOlIlen ~,
anne hurrying to the scene. They e.
ound themselves confronted with an ~
ngry crowd, armed with sticks and ~
tones, and for half an hour a lively -
attic was in progress in which the -
ollce were using their clubs with tell =,
lg enect and the crowd was retaIiat. VI :.
lg y~iciously. 81
Policeman Steiner was struck sew. u
raj times by flying bricks and was -
in the neck and head. Policeman -
was also bruised and cut. po. =
ceman Harry Seguine was seriously ~
lTt He was knocked down and uH
lcAed again and again, one of the =,
striking him in a vital spot and -
.-capacitating him.
Seventeen Of the rioters were arros+ We
three being charged with assault
lth a deadly weapon. The rest were
'ohed al the prison for misdemeanors go
Dimes, the orator. was charged Win auI
sturulng the peace. 1t was fully an rna
'ur from the time the trouble started re
HeIsh- me
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