The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-17
WRECK A THEATER
Two Thousand University. of
Michigan Students
Smash a Piano and Moving Pic
ture Machine.
OFFICERS POWERLESS.
Ran Off With Hose When Fire.
men We're Called Out.
Later 81 of the Rioters We're
Placed in Jail.
OFFICERS POWERLESS

- ooi, nicH, March IL
twenty-five University of Michigan
students spent last night in Jail and
the star nickel theater was thorough
~ wrecked as the result of riot of
STUDENTS last evening, which lasted
until nearly 1 o'clock this morning.
Inc moving picture machine and the
tneafer piano were broken to pieces
trouble started Saturday night in a
dispute between forestry student
named Kamm from Kentucky and r.
reynolds, proprietor of the theater.
Some one whistled while the perform
Ance was In progress and Kamm was
ordered to leave the play house. He
got up at once to leave, but it is said,
at the door he slapped Manager
Reynolds in the face. At this point
special Policeman Schlimmer, in the
employ of the theater, took REYNOLDS
part and is said to have Indicted q
scalp wound on the student by a blow
with his billy.
News of the affair circulated among
the students Sunday and yesterday
Win the result that some of the
boIder spirits among the students
Planned to make reprisads against the
tneater manager. Last night a pro-
cession was formed that went through
the district of the student rooming
houses shouting "All out for the Star
theater."
College men poured out to Join the
marchers at every block and when
the procession reached the theater
ruliy 1000 men were in line.
Crashing glass announced the OPEN
ing OF the attack and one of the col
iegians hurled brick through a front
window Of the theater. Windows. not
only of the Star theater. but of adjoin-
ing buildings were shattered by
fusillades of rocks and the students
finally attacked the building in rush"
formation and practically tore out the
front. The police were powerless ass
the students jeering at the officers
and stealing their helmets for
souvenirs. and when the fire DEPART
ment was summoned to drench the
crowd with water. the boys ran away
with 100 feet of hose. When the hose
was recovered Chairman Milard of
the board of fire commissioners or
dered the fremen to return to their
station declaring no one had any right
TO call out the firemen for such duty.
PRESIDENT Angel, the venerable head
OF the university, vainly pleaded with
the young men and asked them to dis
perSe,- but his words could not be
heard 20. feet away in the turmoil.
"A bugle call sounded at the local
armory indicating that the state
Gained the rfoting students at last and
about midnight the mob began to dis
I
perse. 1t was not until 1 O'Clock
however, that quiet was restored.
Some of the police and several stu
dents were slightly hurt but luckily
no serious injuries resulted It was
reported however that the police
averted a tragedy by overpowering
one Of the theater employees Just as
he was on the point of discharging a
revolver point blank into the crowd
of students.
Early this morning the police said
that they had not taken any names of
the students under arrest
Fifteen Dismissed.
Ann Arbor. Mich. March lift
teen students in the University of
Michigan arrested during last night s
student outbreak, were arraigned this
afternoon charged with rioting The
faculty. it is reported dismissed them
from the university. The city Off
Gals will seek to have a Jail SEN
tence imposed.
The police today made public the
list Of names of students in Jail. The
only student from west of the Missis-
sippi river in the list is Alfred c.
Smith. Civ Of Maxico