The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-16

This afternoon President Riggs, of
the traction company received infor-
nation that led him To believe that an
attack was TO he made ON the power
house.
He Immediately sent thirty of the
.trike breakers to the plant with in
structions to attach the fire hose 30
.he steam pipes and use hot water free
ly on the strikers If they attempted to
Damage the companys property.
1t was reported that Il detachment
of militia from Philadelphia would ar
rive in Chester this afternoon, but this
report was denied by Irigadier-General
Bowman, commander of the first brig
ade, who said over the telephone that
he had received no orders from the
Governor TO send national guardsnen
10 the scene of the disturbance.
Mayor johnson bitterly censured the
traction company for attempting to
operate a car without his permission.
He had called a meeting of the police
committee of tho City Council to con-
slider the situation
President Riggs, of the traction COM
pany. declares that if Sheriff Mcclure
does not respond TO his appeal for pro-
lection he will telegraph to Governor
stuart requesting that the National
Guard be called out.
Fighting Began at Dawn.
Skirnlishes between tire strikers aad
traction forces took place throughout
the night, but it was not until just be-
fore dawn that the serious trouble of
the day began
Foreman Greisinger attempted to lead
a detachment of imported men from the
hotel, where they were quartered. TO
the car barns.
This sortie had been anticipated and
q shrill signal assembled the strikers IN
q few seconds Greisinger had hoped
10 reach his destination through back
streets aud II was IN these alleys that
a terrific hand TO hand struSSic began.
shots were lred from every direction
and C.reisiDger himself WIS struck
down by the first bullet. II was only
when the outlanders, fighting desper-
ateIy every inch they were forced to
concede, were finally driven back 10
the protection of the hotel from which
they had come that the battle ended
Then the traction company took the
step which precipitated the second
fight and drew down the criticism of
the Mayor. After this first defeat 1t
was decided to start out a car from the
barns at once. Motorman William
I3orgman was given the controller and
one of the new men put in charge. of
the car as conductor.
The car had not gone block when
angry men swarmed about it from
every direction. In a Lwinkling the
glass was shot from the windows and
the motorman and conductor, dragged
from the car were at the mercy of the
rioters
One of the bullets struck Bergman
in the foot A strong detachment of
the police ran to the rescue of the two
men. They were not saved from the
vengeance of the strikers until the lat
ter had been forced to abandon their
position after desperate fighting. The
two injured men We're hurried to the
car barns.
The police have roped off the streets
adjacent to the barn and are now on
guard about it,
Discussing the situation today Super
satendent Groome, of the tSate police,
said:
More Police i'll Readiness.
"If they are needed / can mobilize
300 police on short notice, but I cannot
send the men to Chester until called
upon by the local authorities. / have
been called on the telephone by Presl-
dent Rigg, of the traction company,
and was told that the situation is se-
rlous, but can do nothing until Mayor
johnson calls upon me for assistance"
In explanation of his refusal to sum
mon a hundred of the State police at
the request of President Rlgg. Mayor
johnson said he feared the presence of