The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-04-16
RIOTS Ar CHESTER
Striking Trolley Employees
Clash With Police.
STRIKE-BREAKERS ON SCENE
Crowd Charged State Police and Shot
Horse From Under Omeer-Several
Persons Hurt. None Dangerously.
More Trouble Expected.


Chester. Pa. April l4.-The striking
OF the conductors. motormsn and other
employees OF the Chester Traction com
pam followed by the importation OF
about $50 striSe-breakers and the
summoning of detachment OF the
state constabulary to assist the local
police IN preventing any violence pre-
cipitated a series OF clashes between
the strikers and the state police here
that threatened to end seriously. The
state police whom the strikers say
We're not needed on the scene. We're
stoned and mobbei by the strikers.
and several officers and civilians were
hurt. though none dangerously. The
events OF the day have aroused the en-
tire populace. and the town is practi-
cally under martial law. with all the
saloons closed and the street car barns
and other property OF the Traction
company under guard
The trouble started when the strik.
ers. with lot OF sympathizers. pre-
pared 10 stop the running OF any cars
by strikcbrcakers The first car out
Of the barn wos stoned by the strikers
and every window iu IL WIS broken.
This absolutely tied mp every line OF
cars IN Chester. including the South
western trolley line 20 Philadelphia
The strikers conrrcgatcd near the
trolley barns on Edgemont avenue. de.
termined not 20 let the strike-breakers
who they say were sheltered IN the
barns. operate any cars While the
| strikers held themselves in rcadin, SIS
TO prevent the operation OF cars de
tachment Of twenty state lice. in
/ command OF Captain Groomc. came
upon tho scene. Their appearance
reused the ire OF the strikers and the
officers were stoned and rushed by the
mob. Lieutenant Charles Fcurstein
was struck on the back Of the head
by stone and rendered unconscious
but he was not dangerously hurt. His
co-workcrs came TO his rescue and the
strikers and their friends were driven
back
The strikers declared there was no
necessity for calling out the constabu-
larry. and that the local police. II was
said. could cope with the situation.
Several times during the day the
mounted men were compelled 20
charge the crowds 10 drive them back.
and there were incipient riots but the
worst disturbance came at nightfall.
when the strikers. augmented by sew.
eral thousand men and women. charg-
ed the mounted state police. 4 number
OF shots were fired and a horse be-
longing TO Private Sullivan was shot
from under him and killed Louis
Dunn. a civilian, was ridden down by
enc OF the troopers and seriously in
jured To add to the excitement. some
one turned in an alarm OF fire. and
the engines came changing through the
crowded streets. driving the people
right and left. The crowd hooted the
constabulary and declared that they
would drive them out of town. The
mounted men drove their horses into
the throng and arrested half a dozen
men. The fremen were instructed TO
turn the water on the strikers. and
they we're finally subdued.
The strike was precipitated by the
Traction company announcing a 10
per cent reduction In wages. but for
some time the trolley men say they
have been subject to a lot of petty
orders affecting them in their work.
and they have the sympathy of many
people.