River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-04-12
FIERCE RIOT IN FRISCO
SOCIALISTS AND POLICE HAVE
DESPERATE FIGHT.
Latter Tear Down Red Flags, Precipi
tating the Trouble-Several
Arrests Made.

San Francisco, April 10-The
fercest riot San Francisco has wit
messed in generation was a sequel
to a meeting of socialists held at
Woodward's pavilion as an expression
of sympathy for President Meyer and
Secretary Haywood of the Western
Federation of Miners, who are impris-
oned in Idaho on the accusation that
they were implicated in the assassina-
ton of former Gov. Steunenberg.
At the meeting some typically vio-
lent socialistic speeches were made,
in which it was declared that Meyer
and Haywood were innocent and that
if convicted they would not be hanged
unless the entire United States army
was brought in to assist in their ex-
ecution.
At the conclusion of the speech
making procession was organized
and marched down Market street,
headed by a band At Kearny and
Market streets a halt was made and
one of the paraders who carried red
banner climbed Lotta's fountain and
affixed the emblem to the topmost
lamps. The banner bore the inscrip-
ton: "The Constitution be D.;
So Say the Corporations.
1t was decided by the leaders to
hold an outdoor meeting, and A. c.
McGinty was selected to address the
crowd. So great was the throng.
however, that he could not make him.
self 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 Steiner and w.
J. Cavanagh and Detective Thomas
Ryan made their way through the
crowd. Ryan tore down the red flag
and passed it to Steiner. Ryan then
ordered Holmes to desist, but was met
with refusal, and the detective
pulled Holmes down to the pavement.
In moment riot was precipitated.
Steiner was 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 torn
from Stelzners grasp and then Ryan,
who had held Holmes all of the time,
started to take his prisoner through
the crowd, beating path with his
club. An electric car was passing and
halted OPPORTUNITY for the detective.
He boarded it and the other officers
tried to keep the crowd back.
Near the fountain new building
is being erected and the street was
full Of building debris. Almost in
stantly there was a shower of scrap
the car and the missiles crashed
through the windows, injuring a num-
Der of passengers. The motorman
was made target, but he slowly
forced his car through the human
blockade and, gaining speed, ultimate
ly reached the hall of justice.
In the meantime alarm calls had
been sent to neighboring police sta
lions and patrolmen came hurrying to
the scene. They found themselves
confronted by maddened crowd
armed with sticks and stones and for
half an hour lively battle was in
progress, the police using their clubs
with telling effect, and the crowd re-
taliating viciously. Policeman Stelz-
ner was struck several times by flying
bricks and was cut in the neck and
head. Policeman Doran was also
bruised and cut Policeman Harry
Seguine was seriously hurt. He was
knocked down and kicked again and
again, one of the blows striking him
in a vital spot and incapacitating him.
Seventeen Of the rioters were ar
rested, three being charged with as
sault with deadly weapon. The rest
UQro h0oInd FOR froicdor1o yor@