The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-04-22
A WELL-PLANNED,
DETERMINED ATTACK
Made on Conductor and Motorman Of
a Pensacola Street Car, and the
Former Severely Wounded
Chimes Union.)


Pensacola, April 21-The first open
attack to be made. upon the street cars
OF the Stone & Webster Syndicate
since they, imported strike breakers.
occurred this afternoon, when a car
On the Park line was attacked, the
conductor, A. Hoffman, Of Brooklyn,
being perhaps mortally wounded, and
the car riddied With bullets.
The motornan escaped without in
jury. A still more serious occurrence
Of the afternoon was an hour later,
when w. L., Witch, Jr.. a stenograph-
er in a ship brokers' office, was fired
upon as he was going from his. hom..
in the northeastern portion of the city
to the car line, to board a car. 1t is
presumed that Witch had made en-
emies by reason of the fact that he
was among the first to ride on the
cars when they were started.
Well Planned Attack
The attack on the Park line car had
evidently been well planned. The
motorman and conductor had noticed
on previous trip several men walk
<ing toward the park, which is three
made it's trip to the city and return
ed. The end of the line had been
reached, the trolley turned. and the
car started back on it's trip to the
city. 1t had just reached the top of a
steep grade when man stepped out
from a heavy growth of shrubs and
small trees and signalled the motor
man to stop. The motorman partly
turned on all power.
Caught Trolley Rope
AS the car shot by the man, the
latter made a zap and caught the
trolley rope, throwing the trolley. He
partly fell when he did this, but arose
and drawing a revolver, began firing.
Immediately las he did this fully
twenty-five men appeared from the
underbrush and opened fire on the car.
Three of the bullets struck the con-
ductor. two taking effect in the neck
and the third in the right arm.
The car was going down the steep
incline. and although the trolley was
off it went at fast rate, running
partly up another incline, followed by
shots. There it was stopped, the
motorman replaced the trolley and
continued to the city.
Troops Were Notified
Immediately after the car reached
armory hall, where a company Of
provisional troops, are held in readi-
ness. Within two minutes about
twenty mounted troopers were in the
saddle, and without hats or coats go
ing on dead run for the scene of the
They reached there within
five minutes. but, the attacking parties
had fed though empty shells, foot
prints and broken boughs marked the
place where they were secreted.
Remained in Saddle
For the remainder of the afternoon
and tonight the troops remained in
the saddle. with the machine gun de-
tachment in their seats on the gun,
and the horses ready to start almost
in. an instants' notice. 1t is believed
that the attack on the car is due to a
letter received in the forenoon by a
of business men from the
Pensacola Electric Company, which
had arbitration under con-
This Letter stated that the
declined to arbitrate or treat
in any manner with it's old employees.
Adj. Gen. Clifford r. Foster tonight
appealed to the labor leaders to pre-
vent violence and disorder. and it is |
hoped their influence will prevent
further trouble.
Appealed to the Federal Court
Pensacola, April 21.-The federal
court today took hand in the strike |
and rioting tonight, when upon petit
ton of the Pensacola Electric Com |
pany. a corporation of Maine, an in
junction was issued against the men, |
bers Of the Amalgamated Association
Of Railway Employees, as well as all
others who may endeavOr or attempt |
to prevent the operation of cars, COM
NIT acts of violence, or in any way
interfere with the company in carry |
ing on its business, both in operation
of cars and in furnishing light and
power to citizens. The order was !
issued tonight at o'clock by Judge |
Sheppard.