The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-05-21
STRIKE R|OT|NG
IS MORE SERIOUS
CONDITIONS IN CLEVELAND ARE
BECOMING WORSE.
FOUR PERSONS ARE SHOT
Car Burned by Strikers After Lively
Battle with euards-eIrI's Death
Due to Traction
Trouble.

Cleveland, o., May 20.--Rioting be-
came more general and serious in the
street railway strike late Tuesday.
The first death, while not part of
the strike, but incident to it, occurred
when Yetta Wolkinski, four years of
age, was run over by car operated
by an inexperienced motorman. A
crowd quickly gathered and would
have lynched the motorman had he
not turned on full speed and escaped.
In Lakewood car was stopped and
the crew fired upon. -Four persons
were shot and seriously injured and
the car was burned TO the trucks.
The first disturbance In the down
town section took place after dark,
when a Woodland car was held up on
Ontario street and the motormsn and
conductor attacked. The police dis
persed the rioters.
Rioters Burn Car.
The burning of Clifton boulevard
car in Lakewood was the most serious
riot OF the strike. The car was going
toward the western terminal when 1t
was stopped by a log being thrown
across the track. II was the first ef-
fort to operate car in Lakewood and
the car carried no passengers, as
trouble was expected when an attempt
should be made to open the line. AS
soon as the car stopped it was sur
rounded by crowd Of rioters, who
were hidden behind railway bridge.
Immediately the crowd began shooting
at the members Of the crew and
guards. The latter, W. J. James and
John Swanto, returned the fire. All
told over 80 shots we're exchanged.
While the shooting was in progress
the crowd grew to nearly TO 1000
Another car arrived and its crew and
guards Joined in the free-for-all fight
Gasoline was poured upon the second
car and 1t burned to the trucks.
Motorman P. c. Elsholz was shot in
the leg, John Gray and George Alex
ander, guards on the second car, were
shot in the chest. Mace Burlingame.
who was in the crowd which made the
attack, was shot in the hand.
Death Of Yetta WoIklnson.
Yetta wolkinson was killed by
Woodland avenue car while attempt
dag to eSass the. street : Her death
was said TO be due to the inexperi-
enced motorman being unable to con-
troll the car. As soon as he realized
what had occurred, he speeded the
car several blocks ahead. where the
police were notified. The conductor
had left the car and sought refuge in
a nearby drug store The crowd at
tempted TO reach him, while others at
tempted to catch the fleeing car and
assault the motorman. The police ar
rived just in time to save the con-
ductor. and while the mob was yell
ing: Lynch him, lynch him!"
The state arbitrators took up their
task of endeavoring to effect a recon
ciliation between the strikers and the
Municipal Traction company early
Tuesday night and remained in SEES
sion several hours.
No Signs of Early Settlement.
While the car service was slightly
improved, the general situation ap-
peared SO serious that possibilities Of
a speedy settlement now are regard
ed as somewhat remote.
The members Of the car mems union
began series of meetings for the pur-
pose of arousing sympathy and to
appeal to the public to refrain from
using the cars until the strike finally
is settled.
At these meetings the proposition
also Of petitioning the city council to
order public vote as to whether the
franchise recently granted and under
which the Municipal Traction com
pany is operating shall become effec-
tive This proposal is based upon the
new initiative and referendum law.
enacted by the state legislature few
weeks ago.