The sun., 1908-04-14
RIOTERS FIRE ON TROOPERS
CONSTABLE'S HORSE SHOT UNDER
HIM IN STRIKE WAR.
Mob of Thousands At Chester, Pa, join
strikIng TrolIeymen In Destroylng
PFOpeFty-TOwn OmcerS Refuse AID
and Declare sympathy with the Mob.

CHEsTER. Pa, April is.-A detail Of
twenty men Of the State constabulary sta
toned around the car barn and headquar-
ters Of the Chester Traction Company TO
protect the property because Of strike
declared this morning for recognition Of
the union and higher wages were attacked
by men and women sympathizers OF the
motormen and conductors shortly after Q
O'Clock tonight
Drawn by the cries and pistol shots Of tho
rioters practically the entire population Of
Chester was soon at the scene Of trouble.
Police officials, the Mayor and the Sheriff
declare that no call for the troopers had been
made and that their presence only added TO
tho excitement. To explain their coming
the constabulary showed message which
they asserted came from the Chief Of Police.
Ne denied that he had sent IT,
The police we're called early in the day
when the strike was proclaimed and trolley
car, the only one that appeared all day, was
nobbed. The glass windows we're smashed
and the woodwork demolished, The motor
man and conductor, strike breakers, ran
iown a side street with an angry crowd at
heir heels.
Many pistol shots we're fred during the riot
this evening Clubs and bricks we're hurled
at the State constabulary. Mounted on
horses, the troopers made good targets Six
we're hit by bricks and clubs. The horse Of
one, Private Sullivan. was struck by bullet
and dropped The bullet was evidently in
tended for the trooper, The man who fred
the shot was only dozen feet from Sullivan.
This will Ak youi' the rioter cried; then
no fred. Sullivan pitched headlong to the
street, He was out about the head.
Although they were outnumbered 800 to
/, the troopers pluckily held their ground.
The crowds surrounded and threatened
hem. A dozen revolvers were pointed at
them, but the drab uniformed men. under
The command Of Capt. John G. Groome Of
Philadelphia, did not finch.
They TssTalnsd from making any attempt
10 display their authority until dozen men
attacked a single trooper at one end OF the
line. Then his comrades rallied TO his aid.
The crowd thought they were being at
lacked and again let loose a shower OF
bricks and clubs,
Twice the troopers rode into the crowd.
swinging their clubs, and at each whaok a
man dropped
An alarm Of fire was turned in from
Twelfth and Edgemont streets, the site
oi the oar barn battle. The rioting there
had subsidized, but crowds Of citizens with
scores of the striking trolley employees
we're still oongegated. They lined
Edgemont avenue 'solidly for squares
The overflow settled into adjacent side
streets and the lawns and porches
II houses fronting on Edgemont avenue.
These lawns are about four feet above
be street level and from these elevations
he men in the lead Of the demonstration
leainst the troopers directed the crowds.
A fire company clattered up Edgemont
venue. 1t was a chemical wagon, and
ts house is nearly opposite the car barn.
lang, ciang sounded the gong as the
,agon came out. Fire. yelled the crowd.
The horses we're turned south and the
vsEon, loaded with a dozen men. came
caring up Edgemont avenue.
The troopers, whose horses were standing
n the middle OF the street. turned to one
,ie but instead Of keeping TO the middle
f the street the driver Of the chemical
wagon turned the horses into the formation
If the State troopers. Only by clever
handling Of their horses were the troopers
able TO keep out Of the way Of the wagon
without endangering the throng Of rioters
IN the sidewalk. As they were turning to
The side Of the street another fire company
,ame dashing down the hill upon them
-Hooray, kill the troopers yelled the
crowd.
Fire trucks, engines and chemical wagons
sept dashing up and down and the troop
ers had the most strenuous time OF their
lives dodging the fire apparatus Some
Of the horses were cut. The crowd con-
lnued TO cheer the volunteer fremen
Once the engine stopped and two firemen
took out line Of hose.
-Drench the damned trOopsrs!' the mob
yelled.
III you do we'll shoot!' said Lieut. Foe
renSter. The water was not turned on.
The captain appealed to the Mayor and
The Chief Of Police for help and was refused
pointblank.
Then we'll have to protect ourselves
said the lieutenant The fremen finally
vent back to their houses,
All the Chester policemen had displayed
on hat or clothing big paper badges with
words Of enooura cement for the strikers.
During the racing Of the fire engines the
constabulary arrested three men, charged
with melting a riot. They are Edward
Reilly, Edward Robinson and John McCaf-
ferty. They were taken 10 the car barn,
where a trooper called for the city patrol
wagon. II slowly changed lie way through
me crowd and halted In front Of where the
three troopers held the tho Of prisoners.
Just as the troopers were about 10 load the
men into the wagon q sergeant OF police
came up. you troopers can't use our city
wagon" he said. Then the wagon was
sent back 70 the police headquarters empty,
while the crowd let out cheer that faded
all previous Efforts for lustiness. The men
had a hearing before Aldermen Rhoades
and we're released under 500 bail each.
State Senator William G. Sproul went their
bond.
Lieut.. Foerenster. Sergt. Price and Pri-
vAte Sullivan Of the oonstabulary were
among the most badly injured Of tho
troopers.