The Detroit times., 1912-02-26
Police charge Parade
0Layrence Strikers

LAWRENCE, Mass, Feb. 26.-Riot-
Gus scenes In which one man was
shot, scores injured and so arrests OF
men and women made occurred early
today following shooting affair In
Common.st. In the Italian district. The
police version of the affair is that a
squad of Is special police was passing
when a tenement window was thrown
up and a hand holding a A revolver
was stuck out. A shot was fired and
another window was raised and a
hand thrust forth holding another re-
yolver. A second shot was fired AMI
then the special police began shooting
at the windows. Fifty or more bullets
ratified against windows and doors OF
the tenements.
Carmelo Milan. a striker, WAS shot
I'm the back as he ran from the scene.
Three OF FIVE men, all strikers, who
we're standing in an alley, were ar
rested and charged with murder. All
three had cracked heads when they
were put in cells at police headquar-
tiers. The police say Salvatore Bruno,
one OF the prisoners, had smoking
gun In his hand when taken. Two OF
the crowd got away.
A crowd OF nearly 10000 gathered at
the sound OF the shots. Many persons
had gone to the station early, having
been told another attempt would be
made today TO send children to Phila-
delphia. The crowd was composed OF
men and women strikers.
The excitement in Common-st. hav-
i-,g subsidized, the strikers turned down
the street toward North Station, and
-. h.. axtNa fVaaV hfso Il
ness thoroughfare All were singing.
None was disorderly. They resembled
great crowd turning out for gala
event, except when scores OF police
dashed recklessly in and out OF the
crowd, when they were booed and
Kissed. the jeers being succeeded y
peculiar buzzing as IL from millions
OF bees. - - = I = ~
During all this time the police adj
mittedly fearful OF leaving their seats
In automobiles and big freight drays.
were being urged by officers OF the
militia to 60 in and break EN-
break them up"
Not an armed militiamen was seen
during the entire affair.
The strikers. still singing patriotic
airs, and keeping far enough apart so
as not TO block the pavement and
street totally, reached Jackson-st.
without molestation. Here were stand
ing 75 members OF the Metropolitan
state police, gray uniformed and
swinging wagon spokes. AS the head
OF the advancing singers reached
Jackson-st, and at a signal the Metro
politan police formed flying wedge,
and charged the crowd. As the gray
coats charged, 100 or more bluecoats
who had dashed up In automobiles
Jumped to the street and joined the
attack. about so yards from the cor
ner. From the point where the blue
coats rushed leaders Of the crowd on
Jackson-st., men, women and young
girls were beaten by the united forces
and compelled to turn into Jackson-st.
and turned toward the common. By
this time the paraders had congested
at the corner, and nearly surrounded
the police, who retreated. Climbing
into the machines they rushed to the
next corner.
Here they reformed several flying
wedges, and when the crowd reached
them again they again charged.
As the police charged they could
be plainly heard to yell Get the men
anywhere you can hip 'em. Hit the
women on the hips and arms. we don't
want to break any womens heads"
A woman would be seen to shoot
from the crowd and run toward side
street. Instantly two or three police
men would follow her.
This cnarge into the crowd and
then retreat to the next corner and
then another CHARGE and retraai wa q
carried on for seven blocks along Es.
sex-st. During the entire time the
strikers, men, women and children,
continued singing. After each at.
tack by the police, they would reform
without apparent leadership and as II
they had forgotten completely that
they were the objects of attack, would
calmly and without disorder continue
their march up Essex.st