The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-02-26
TOY SOLDIERS IN
PHILADELPHIA
SrREET CAR RIOTERS PLAY WITH
INDEPENDENT MILITARY
COMPANY.
THREE BOYS ARE SHOT
MAY BE NECESSARY TO CALL OUT
ENTIRE FORCE OF STATE
MILITIA.

Philadelphia. Feb. 22-Three boys
were shot and probably fatally in
jured, while several received less Sc
we're wounds today in riots that fol-
lowed the resumption Of service by the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company.
The shooting occurred in attacks on
cars in the northeastern section.
The State Fencibles. an independent
military organization. armed with
loaded muskets. was placed on duty
today. but was played with by the
mob and was withdrawn tonight.
II the police fail to Quell the rioting
tomorrow. the city authorities will ask
for state troops.
President Murphy of the Central La
Dor Union, still regards general
strike OF all trade unions in the city
as inevitable. although Organizer
Pratt is said to oppose this move.
Market street. the principal busi-
city, was the scene OF the disturbances
during the entire day.
Cars were stoned and two policemen
were roughly handled by a mob OF
several thousand persons. A dozen
arrests were made and the prisoners
were placed in trolley car.
This was stormed by the mob and
two of the prisoners escaped.
Preparations were made by the au-
thorities to call upon the entire force
Of the state militia if the police are
81
Members OF the State Fencibles, an
independent military organization,
about 200 strong. were placed on duty
today armed with loaded muskets.
They were detailed in the kensington
mill district in the northeast, which
is hotbed Of union sympathizers.
In their first skirmish they were
badly beaten by mob which paid no
attention to the drawn bayonets and
snatched the muskets from the hands
Of the young militiamen.
Members Of the Fencibles. accord
ing to Mayor Reyburn. acted as II
they were allowing the girls in the
mill district to wear their caps and
cut the brass buttons off their cloth
ing. At one point group of rioters
captured a member OF the Fencibles
and carried him several feet from his
post. where they stripped him of his
coat. hat, cartridge belt and gun. and
threw them into a sewer.
Fifteen policemen quartered in the
barn of the company at Ridge avenue
and York street. narrowly escaped
death tonight. when the entire north
east corner of the building WAS blown
away by dynamite. The explosion oc-
CURED just as c. o. Platt was about to
address meeting of carmen at Ridge
avenue and Dauphin streets. How
the dynamite was placed in the car
barn is mystery.
The State Fencibles, after being ha-
rassed and beaten all day by a mob of
thousands of strike sympathizers.
were withdrawn at nightfall. The mi.
litia had been powerless against the
mob, but a half dozen mounted po-
licemen had ridden up and down driv-
ing the rioters before them during the
afternoon.
According to a statement issued to-
night by the Philadelphia Rapid Tran
pAI SOAAp0Ayp NAC aAAOuuS Va uoMatO
done today and the number of assaults
committed by the mob were greater
than any previous day Of the strike.
although the territory covered by the
cars OF the company was less.
Two hundred and ninety-fiye cars
were wrecked. making a total of $50
cars put out Of service since the
strike began.
Six hundred and sixty-three cars
were run up to nightfall. when all cars
were returned to their barns.
The number OF cars operated to-
morrow, according to the company's
statement. will be regulated wholly by
the extent Of police protection.