Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-28
IN
RUSH FOR WORK
VAST THR0NG SURGES ABOUT
HAMBURGER BLOCK
Advertisement for Employees Draws
Position Seekers to New Depart
ment Store Building on
Broadway

The advertisement for men, women
and children to work in the new Ham
burger department store at Eighth and
Broadway called forth a seething mass
of humanity yesterday morning in quest
of employment.
AT o'clock in the morning fully 500
people had gathered in front of the big
mercantile establishment in answer to
the advertisement, and by o'clock
there were at least 1000 in the crowd,
pressing eagerly against the many
doors of the establishment in their in
dividual efforts to be first to reach w.
N. Bailie, who has charge of the en-
ployment of the tremendous force for
the new store.
Police reinforcements were called to
keep the crowd back, and the squad of
officers on guard at each of the several
entrances had their hands full check
ing the mob.
BY o'clock there were fully 1000
men, women and boys, of all ages and
nationalities, pressing against the plate
glass entrances. At one time 1t looked
as though there would be stampede.
Women Faint
Mr.. Bailie did not get down to the
new store until $3.50, and by that time
many in the mob were almost overcome
by the oppressive heat, and several had
tainted and been carried out of the
assemblage, one or two of them being
taken to the receiving hospital.
Others, who had held their positions
nearest to the doors from almost day
break, showed visible signs of collap-
sing before the big doors opened.
Some of them, who had donned their
best clothes to make an impression
when they applied for positions, were
badly bedraggled, their white collars
being completely wilted and everything
about them almost soaking with per-
SEPARATION.
AS late as $3.50 in the afternoon, when
Mr.. Bailie was still employing drivers,
clerks, wrappers, elevator boys, de-
liverynen, etc, from the long file of
applicants there were still several hun
bred persons damned against the en-
frances waiting for their turn to enter
and apply for positions.
A number of boys, 1t was stated, had
watched the entrances to the building
all night long, fearing to go to their
homes lest they should be unable to
obtain points of vantage In the great
mob of applicants. The prophecy of an
immense throng proved true, for had
these youngsters not been in their
places all night many OF them would
have been crowded out by the merci-
less stampede OF work hunters.
At $3.50, when Mr.. Bailie took his seat
at his desk to begin the strenuous task
of selecting men, women and children,
there was a small-sized riot in front of
the great building.
A veritable babel Of many tongues
ensued, mingled with shouts of protest,
as one after another crowded wildly
against those in front of them, and as
hundreds of job seekers, each with his
credentials and references, jammed to-
ward the big doors in mad rush to
get to the building
One woman, whose dress was torn
almost off her, ran wildly about the
outskirts of the crowd, holding up
pieces of her torn garment, till clerk,
noticing her embarrassment, furnished
her with a roll of wrapping paper,
which she folded about her person.
In the terrific rush that followed the
opening of the doors, women and chill
dren were crushed till they were forced
to leave the line, or were carried almost
exhausted to the street Even the
doorkeeper, it is said succumbed and
was forced to leave his post after al
most fainting. The efforts Of the police.
to keep the line in order were almost
futile.
1t was announced that in addition to
the 800 employees in the old Hamburger
store, at Spring at Franklin streets,
about 1900 new clerks, wrappers, cash
boys and girls, ETC., will be employed
in the new store, making 1000 in all.
About 175 of those employed yester-
day will be used as cashiers. About
500 others will report for duty within
the next week,