New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-13
STRIKERS IN BATTLE
800 MEN FIGHT POLICE.
Fort WHliam, Ont, Under Martial
La1C-ReguIar Troops Ont.

Fort William, Ontario Aug Effort William for
the first time in It's history under martial law.
One thousand dock laborers. principally Greeks.
Hungarians and italians. who have been on a
strike for a week. enraged by the arrival OF
special Canadian Pacific police from Winnipeg.
We're melted to riot. and three hundred of them
engaged in pitched battle with the police at noon
to-day around the Canadian. Pacific freight sheds
McTavish street Two dozen men were In
jured. three at least fatally including Chief Ball.
Of the railway company's local force and two
Greeks.
Five of the wounded are Canadian Pacific
special policemen. three Greeks, one is a re-
porter, George Dickinson Others are Sergeant
Taylor OF the city police force. and John Lane.
a butcher Constable Carpenter OF the Canadian
racine force' had leg shattered. and Chief Ball
was SHOT in the stomach. The s5th Regi-
ment or militia was called this afternoon
after Mayor Peltier had read the riot act
The strikers have twenty-five railway eonstables
pehned up In the Canadian Pacific Railroad bunk
mouse and shots have been heard all afternoon.
Soldiers are guarding the district under the COM
mand Of Colonel Steele who was here al the time
or me riot He is head OF the Canadian permanent
force In Western Canada. resident in Winnipeg.
The permanent force in Winnipeg will arrive by
special train early Tomorrow The city Police De
partment is absolutely unable to cope with the
situation. II was impossible 10 control either the
imported Canadian Pacific constables or the dock
strikers. The strikers intensely aroused, and
they shoot I'm any direction, regardless Of who is
IN the way. Friends and foes look alike.
IL was near noon hour when the first bullet was
fred with evident intent 10 kill Whether the first
shot was fired by the strikers the Canadian po-
lice constabes is not positively known. but it is
believed IT vas fred by one of the imported con-
stables. thirty of whom arrived from Winnipeg
and were sworn in as specials.
II evident that the constables disregarded
orders Of their chief After being sworn in the
men were taken through the. yards 10 the Canadian
Pacific Railway boarding house The sight of them
had the same effect on the strikers that red rag
has on enraged bull In twinkle firearms Of
every description flashed by the strikers.
There were shotguns rifles and scores of revolvers
At the City Hall the Mayor doing what he
could 10 arrange a settlement. Canadian Pacific
Railway officials had agreed to grant the demands
Of the and put them work under in
creased scale. Chief Andrews was selepAon.ng to
HIS men to stay in the boarding house and not to
incte the strikers. pending a confirmation 81 the
report that the company had yielded. when the
FIRST shot rang out. An agreement had Just been
approved at the City Hall when the report was
telephoned that rioting in progress. The ON
Gals promptly notified the Mayor that they would
now fight the strike out 10 the bitter end. No
peace will be considered until hey done with
the Greeks. They were the meters OF the strike.
they said. and would not listen to reason.
The shot which terminated all efforts effect
a settlement marked the inception OF a riot. which
has not yet been terminated. For en- hour this
afternoon volleys and shots followed each other
IN quick succession. The strikers massed and drove
the police back into the bunk house. where they
are now undergoing siege. They fred through
the windows and were preparing storm the
house when Chief Dodds. backed by Sergeant
Taylor and the city police force prevailed on them
10 stay away.
The city police had 10 do this because the railroad
police were backing arguments for peace with bull
let's fired from crevices Of walls and through win
dowS. from positions which the strikers were IN
able 10 locate. All the windows In the hunkhouse
and Of the Canadian Pacific Railway yard building
were smashed with bullets
The strikers. in response 10 the urgIngs OF Chief
Dodds. slowly retreated back 20 MsTsvish street
but further they refused 70 bulge. ahd kept up an
Intermittent fire under the very eyes or the city
police officials.
They loaded their weapons and fred. regardless
~ the fact that they ordered repeatedly in
tho name Of the law 20 disperse. The strikers
threatened tonight 10 burn the Canadian Pacific
grain elevators and the night promises to he full
of danger. although liquor selling places have all
been closed by order Of the Mayor.
Winnipeg, Man, Aug 2-Resuars from Fort
Osborne barracks here were ordered to Fort Will
lam. ontario. 20 repe dock strikers They left 5
o'clock tonight. two hundred strong