New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-06
'RIOTING MOTHERS
BATTLE FOR MILK
Harlem DelicateSsen Shop
Is Wrecked by Besieg-
ing Women.
STOREKEEPERS ASK
POLICE PROTECTION
Driver Dragged from His
Wagon by Throng That
SeiZeS Fluid.

The shortage Of milk became acute
yesterday, and for the first time since
the deadlock between farmers and dis
tributers arose disorder became wide
spread.
Driven to desperation, hundreds Of
mothers in Harlem's Little Italy"
sought yesterday to obtain by force
the precious fluid which they could not
get by purchase or cntreaty. Sweeping
down in excited, seething throngs on
delicatessens, groceries, milk stations
and milk wagons, they first threatened
the dealers, then tearfully pleaded for
milk to feed their babies.
Twice yesterday morning the police
were called to restrain rioting mobs OF
women. The milk stations of the
Board OF Health, at 225 West 10th
Street and 315 East 112th Street, were
surrounded early in the day by hyster-
ical women, many pressing babies to
their breasts.
Driver Dragged from Wagon.
A mob of angry, determined men and
women stopped milk wagon near
10th Street and Second Avenue short
ly after dawn yesterday. Dragging
the driver from his scat. they threat
ened him with death if he resisted.
While two men held him, another took
charge of the milk in the wagon and
passed II out to the crowd, a quart to
each person.
As each received the milk, he or she
tossed into the wagon a coin in pay
ment-often much in excess Of the
value of the milk. When the wagons
supply was exhausted the driver was
released, with more money than he
would have received had he sold the
milk TO his regular customers.
Another driver was said to have been
slasi,ed on the cheek with a razor when
he refused milk to a similar throng
yesterday morning. It was reported
that many drivers Of the companies
serving the Italian district Of Harlem
had refused to take out their wagons
this morning unless they received po-
lice protection.
900 Rush Delicatessen.
One lone can of milk, in front of
the delcatessen store Of Sam Rogg, at
2l66 Second Avenue, when day broke
Yesterday was a magnet that attract
ed 300 persons, nearly all women. Ac-
cording to Rogg, line stretched for
two blocks when he arrived to open
his store at $3.50 o'clock. No sooner
had he unlocked the door than the
throng dashed forward and in an m
slant the little store was jammed with
a pushing, lighting. screaming mass OF
women, battling desperately for first
place beside the can of milk.
Rogg limited each persons purchase
to one pint. In fifteen minutes his forty
quarts were gone. Disappointed moth
ers pressed forward, screaming offers
TO pay him as much as 20 cents a quart.
The women fought Rogg wildly. Some
wept and pleaded for the milk that ne
did not have. Others cursed and
threatened.
By the time Rogg had cleared the
store he was exhausted and the interior
of the shop wreck. Unable to get
fresh milk the women bought every
can of condensed milk he had: Rogg
declared he would not open his store
this morning until he had obtained po-
lice protection.
Man Threatens to Shoot.
The scene in Rogg's place was re-
peated at other places. When Mrs. A.
Wanger appeared TO open her delica-
lessen store. at 2029 Second Avenue,
early Yesterday morning she found
twenty quarts Of milk had been lett
her. The store was no sooner open than
il was rushed by a mob of waiting men
and women. A large man had
shouldered his way to the front of the
crowd and was the first to demand
milk from Mrs. Wanger. Wishing TO
save her small supply for regular
customers, she refused to sell him any.
The mans hand shot TO his hip pocket
and his lip curled in fierce snarl. =,
"You come across with quart o
milk" he commanded with an oath'
cor ri put a bullet in you.
Trembling with fear, Mrs Wanger
gave the man a quart of milk. She did
not dare refuse any others and IN less
than half an hour. her twenty quarts
we're gone. She said she had received
fifty quarts the day before.
A wailing. pleading crowd OF women
stormed the grocery store or H.
Fleischman, at 2133 Second Avenue,
when il opened yesterday morning, ana
in half an hour his thirty quarts oil
milk were gone.
Leaves Baby and Flees.
Al the milk station of the Board OF
Health at 1854 Webster Avenue, The
Bronx, a mother begged for milk yes
terday and was told there was none.
81 won't let you starve my baby!
she screamed. "l'm going to leave hlm
here and you'll have to feed him"
Before the astonished attendants
could interfere she had placed the
child on the floor and fed. The baby
was taken care of, and an hour later
the mother reappeared and sheepishiy
reclaimed her offspring.
When the nurse in charge OF the
Board Of Health station at 3l5 East
18th Street arrived, shortly before
o'clock. she found the street blocked
with women waiting for the sale OF
milk to begin. As she opened the door
the mob rushed upon her. Forcing the
door shut, she barricaded II with table
while her assistant telephoned a hurry
=. call for the police. The women hurled
themselves in vain against the door.
With the help OF the barrcadc the
nurse was able TO admit the women
one by one, and 100 quarts of milk
were quickly dispensed. The station