New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-04
TAXICAB STRIKERS
HURL BRICKS AT CARS
NEW DRIFER HIT ON He'd
And BADLY HURT.
Police Reserves Called to Protect
Men-4ttempt Made to Bl07c
Cp Machine IN Street.

The strike of the chaufeurs Of the New York
Taxicab Company assumed serious proportions
last night, when the strikers and their sym
pathzers stoned cabs. assaulted strike breakers
and in one case set fire to a cab. which was
nearly destroyed before the arrival of the fire
apparatus. The police reserves of the West 47th
street station had their hands full preventing
trouble all along automobile Row" and d num-
Der of men were arrested during the night for
their part in the outbreak,
For several hours yesterday the service OF
the company stopped, but later a number
of cabs were sent out under new men This
seemed TO anger the strikers, and their discon-
tent broke out with violence in the evening
Early in the afternoon a man was hit with
brick at 58th street and Fifth avenue. and from
that time until early this morning there was
more or less disorder. When the first reserves
appeared on the scene they were greeted with
boots and catCalls but the strikers wisely
Trained from throwing any bricks at them.
Strikers We're lined up along Broadway DC
tween 47th and 50th streets shortly after dark
and taxicabs were made the object Of flying
bricks and other missiles as they passed them
Charles Schirmer. of No 3o2 West 129th
street who until the strike was called yester-
day. had been employed in the Taxicab Com
pany's garage. at 62d. street and Broadway. was
to the New York Theatre between 49d and 44th
streets, in Broadway. He passed the line Of
strikers Just below 5Qth street and was almost
through a gantlet Of flying bricks when he was
bowled over by d brick on the left side of the
head.
He was carried unconscious to a drug store
near by and resuscitated A mob formed around
the drug store, and there were many cries of
"Scab.' The police went to the protection Of
the injured man. and he was spirited away
through the crowd.
Patrolnan Kutka. Of the traffic squad who
says he saw two men running shortly after
Schirmer was struck. gave chase, and arrested
them on charges of assault They said they
were Edward Hines, of No. H. West 9Sth street,
and Bernard ]. Keeer, Of No 1872 Madison ave
nue..
The taxicab Schirmer was driving was taken
to the station house and left In front of the
building. Some slipped up and extracted
the cork from the gasolene tank. The fluid
leaked into the gutter and flowing
along the edge Of the curb. Some one threw a
match into II and second later there was a
flame extending along the gutter for half a
block This fame reached the standing auto
mobile and it was ignited An alarm was
turned in and the fire extinguished after
q damage Of about SO had been done.
Many taxicab windows were broken by flying
bricks they passed along the gantIet Of
strikers. and several more chauneura. it is
reported, were injured
One OF the drivers was arrested by Bicycle
Patrolman Murray at 47th street and Fifth
avenue. charged with running his cab at the
rate Of twenty miles hour, and was taken
TO the East 51st street station. Hardly had
he reached there and given the name of Charles
BIassberry. of No. 2O4 West SSth street when
two other automobiles arrived and the lieu
tenant in charge allowed the occupants to see
the prisoner When Blassberry said he had
nothing 10 give security of the men
pulled out his gold watch handed II to Blass-
berry. who in turn handed it to the lieutenant
It was accepted
The strike. coming it did before the taxi
cab officials were wholly prepared, caught them
nawares, and they had much trouble getting
out their cars. The strikers belong 10 Chauf-
felirs' Protective Union No 267 which is or
ganized as a local Of the United Teamsters Of
America. and are supported IN this strike by the
horse cab drivers, who are organized a Local
7OS Of the United Teamsters Of America. Ac-
cording 10 the committee sent to state its
grievances to Henry :. Allen. president Of the
company. it was snubbed. AJr Allen Is In
dignant at the strikers and says that their de-
nands are foolish and that he has all the men
he needs.