New-York tribune., 1909-06-03
PHILADELPHIA POLICE
ALMOST POWERLESS.
Furious Crozcds Resent Importation
of Strike Breakers-Cars Burned
One Policeman Shot.
LRv telegram 70 The rrihun.. I


the few cars running dragging crews from plat
forms and defying the police Two hundred
persons injured
In the numerous ,onslaUghts in various parts
of the city the police were almost powerless. al
though they were massed as rapidly as the Of
cials could hurry them 20 the scenes Of disorder
Fully hundred persons were sent 10 hos
pitfalls. while others not badly hurt were taken
to their homes by friends. So far no fatalities
have been reported.
Many cars were dragged from the tracks, and
in two cases cars were set on fire. The prompt
arrival of fremen. however. prevented their de-
struction. while streams Of water we're turned
upon the rioters to disperse them In all OF the
outbreaks the mobs seemed to fear no risks. and
the police hustled about heIplessly whilo
vainly endeavoring to use their clubs
CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
There had been a tense feeling all day. an
oninous quiet that boge evil for 1t was evidenr
that the strikers had by far the better OF the
situation Traffic conditions and the appearance
Of the strike breakers. few Of whom could be
provided with uniforms. incensed the crowds,
particularly in the densey populated sections
like Kensington and the foreign quarter IN the
southern part of the city
The people have shown such marked sympathy
with the strikers that they have been enCOur-
aged to stand fast. but the riOting of tonight
il is asserted. was due chiefly TO the irresponsi-
bic idlers who are ever ready to show dislike
of restraint
The transit company ever since the strike
began had shut off all traffic after p m, but
with the small army Of strike breakers they
brought in to-day. decided 10 open up tonight
Darkness had hardly fallen when the attacks
began Few passengers risked the ride on the
cars each Of which was accompanied by at
least policeman The officers hao 70 Ni~Io'7
effect upon the mObs.
r, u-as declared that at 10 O'Clock tonight at
least fftv nobs in different parts of the city
we're attacking every car that appeared A
Susouebanna avenue car. bearing no passengers
had no sooner left the barn at 18th street anu
/ susouehanna avenue. with its crew Of strike
/ breakers than il was attacked The policeman
/ was utterly pove-iess- The Two men were
dragged from the platforms and pounded and
/ beaten The car swiftly shunted from the
tracks and set fire
POIICEMNN'S CLUB UNAVAILING-
The policeman tried 10 club his way out of the
lam. but was overpowered. and badly injured
that he was sent to the hospital soon as help
could be obtained. Similar scenes were enacted
in other places. and the Police Department was
put to its wits ends to respond to all the riot
calls
The attitude of Mayor Reyburn in declaring
that the situation not to be arbttrated is
believed TO have aroused the fury Of the people
of those sections most directly affected by the
strike the communities in which the transit
company's men live and where their grievances
are most familiar. 1t is the belief Of these peo-
pe that the crisis could have been avoided il the
transit company had not refused 10 treat with
its employees. Popular feeling had already been
aroused against the company by its withdrawal
Of the strip tickets and the Introduction OF the
strike breakers seems to have been the spark
that kindled the fires OF hatred
Along Kensington avenue. one Of the busiest
of the uptown thoroughfares. teams had been
impressed into service provide missiles and
material for barricades. Thus when the riOtins
began tonight the mObs were provided with
tons of huge stones hurl at the cars while i'm
mense rocks were hauled 70 the tracks to block
the cars There were five big riots during the
evening.
In 21th street. between jefferson and Master.
eight large trucks had been stopped as a barrt-
cade to the tracks. and the police were power
less to move them Along most Of the uptown
streets occupied by tracks the crowds were so
dense and so wild with anger as to give the
scene the appearance OF revolution
POLICEMAN FATALLY SHOT.
Policeman Levy. of the Sth District. was shot
in the back of the head during the Kensington
riots and is said to be dying in the Episcopal
Hospital
One OF the largest riots occurred at Kensing-
ton and Allegheny avenues. where mob Of FIVE
thousand stOrned five cars. burned two and
turned the other three crosswtse on the tracks.
At first the police driven back fighting
furiousIy against the mob. Using their clubs as
well they could. they succeeded in laying out
at least nifty men, But the mob was so strong
that the officers were unable TO prevent the
burning Of the cars.
Two thousand foreigners attacked a car at
Orthodox and Richmond streets. They tore out
the register. and of their number turned the
pole and took 1t back to the barn Before he
could be seized he escaped
Shortly after . O'Clock six cars in a row
turned the corner of Front and Berks streets.
mob of three thousand Immediately began TO
stone them. Five policemen were on each ear.
They sprang off and faced the thrOng Like
whirIwind the crowd advanced from all sides,
driving back the policemen and boarding the
cars
For ten minutes the widest kind of riotfnz
ensued The crowd grabbed the new men. beat
them and threw them into the street They
broke every window in the six cars. knocked
holes in the sides and set fire to one. The oo-
licemen drew their revoIvers and fred over the
heads of the crowd Several men in the mob
fired shots in return. and for a few minutes it
looked like battle.
Amid the yelling. cheering and firing and he
groans Of the injured two platOons of mounted
police arrived They charged the crowd. which
fed back TO the sidewalks and became slightly
more peaceful. but did not disperse When the
smoke of the conflict cleared away it was foun1
that ten policemen had been injured and thai
the strike breakers who had been running the