The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-04-22
Fierce RIOT Marks
chester CAR STRIKE
TWO EMPLOYEES OF COMPANY
ARE SHOT DOWN DURING
A DISTURBANCE.
SYMPATHIZERS ROUT
IMPORTED WORKMEN
Effort to Lead New Conductors and
Motorroen to Barns Results In Fra
cas- on Streets Of Pennsylvania
City-Request for State Police.

Chester, Pa, Apr. 1.-THE most
serious disturbance which has marked
the strike of the motormen and con-
ductors OF the Chester Traction COM
pany occurred Thursday during which
two employees of the company were
shot but not seriously injured. The
company attempted to operate car
and William Bergman, who acted as
motorman, was shot in the foot during
an attack on the trolley by a large
crowd of strike sympathizers. Earlier
in the day William Griesemer claim
agent Of the company, was shot in the
leg while leading squad of 40 men,
who had been imported to take the
places of the strikers, to the car barn.
Disorder was spasmodic during the
night, but the serious outbreak began
with the attack on the imported men.
Strlke-Breakers Are Routed.
An attempt to lead the men from the
hotel at which they were quartered
to the car barn by way of back streets
was discovered by the strikers and
their sympathizers, and in hand-to-
hand fight the imported workers were
routed and driven to shelter in the
barn. Griesemer, who was in charge,
was struck by bullet and he was
helped into the barn. The company at
once decided to start out a car, and
at five o'clock it ran from the barn with
Bergman as motorman and another
imported man as conductor. The car
had not gone far when 1t was attacked.
Men swarmed aboard from all sides.
The trolley pole was pulled from the
wire, the controller was taken from
Borgmann and the crowd began to
beat him and the conductor Bricks,
pieces of lead pipe and other missiles
were thrown and every window in the
car was broken. A number OF re.
volver shots were fired and one bullet
struck Bergman in the foot. A strong
detachment of police rushed up, and
after considerable effort succeeded in
driving the crowd back.
Police Placed on Guard.
The car was left standing on the
tracks and Bergman and the conduc'
tor were hustled into the barn. The
police roped off the streets adjacent
to the barn and are now on guard
about the building. Mayor Johnson
came to the scene and strongly con-
demned the traction company for at
tempting to resume service without
his permission. The mayor then called
a meeting of the police committee OF
the city council to consider the situa.
ton. The strike began on Monday
owing to the refusal of the employees
to accept a reduction in wages. The
company also operates lines between
Philadelphia and Chester and Chester
and Wilmington Del. Traffic on these
roads is also suspended.
Road Wants state Police.
President Rigg of the Chester Trac'
ton Company requested Mayor John.
son to ask that a detail of 100 state
policemen be sent here. Mayor John.
son refused, because he said he feared
the presence of the state police might
cause another outbreak. Thereupon
Mr.. Rigg telephoned to Gov. Stuart at
Harrisburg and requested that regi'
ment of the state National Guard be
ordered out. The result of the tele.
phone talk is not known. Attorneys
representing the company had an in
terview with Mayor Johnson, and at
it's conclusion reported to Mr.. Rigg, Sc
the officials of the company say, that
the mayor had admitted his inability
to cope with the situation, but that he
hesitated to call upon the state police