The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-07-18
STATE GUARD
CALLED TO 0QUELL
WOMEN STRIKERS
Officers Pelted With Eggs in
Easthampton Riot.
POLICE SWING CLUBS
POLICE SWING CLUB
Women Taken to Jail Sang Patriotic
songs--Made Light Of Their Pre-
dicament.

Easthampton, Mass, July 1S-A bay
onet charge by the state guard, po-
lice officers and mill workers slightly
cut by dangerous missiles and liberal
ly bespattered with paint. eggs, ink,
mustard, red pepper and garbage and
81 women in Jail were features OF the
first rioting in connection with the
strike at the West Boylston mills yes
terday. All the rioters were women,
and the names of those arrested in
dicate that all were Poles. The prln-
cipal demonstrations were made when
the workers were about TO enter the
mill in the morning and were leav-
ing IL at noon. Upon the arrival at
ear AT the mills in the morning at
6. 30. bringing workers from Mt. Tom,
Nashawannuck and the Center, wo-
men strikers and strike sympathizers
surrounded the car and began pelt-
ing the workers as they alighted.
The only officers then on duty at
this point were Frank Brothers and
C. g. Buterileld. For time they
we're alone in their efforts to G>
perse the women, who numbered about
200. but were soon assisted by five
men. who came from the mills. The
officers and these assistants rounded
up 80 OF the women and marched them
to the town hall, where they were put
In Jail Some of the workers received
trifiing injuries in the fray, and OH
Ger Brothers received cut on the
left check, which bled profusely, and
slight cut on the back of the head,
and the uniforms OF both officers were
sorry looking sight from a combina'
ton OF mustard, ink, eggs and pepper,
( The officers, however. were able to
take q large group of the women into
custody. without clubbing them or
taking other rough measures While
this battle was in progress at the
front of the mill similar disturbances
were in progress in New City
across the pond, where the workers
were walking In the direction OF the
mill, but these were less concentrated
and catised less serious annoyance
Chief G.. b. Cook OF the police
force and the sclectmen, after the
morning demonstration felt It adyis'
able 60 call out the state guard, in
order to have men enough TO protect
\ the workers. Before the mills were
shut down for the noon hour guards
had been posted at all points, where
il seemed likely the workers would
come into collision with the strikers.
The selectmen made it known that
they proposed to give full protection
TO the mill workers by both police and
military force, so long as this should
be necessary. and said that II the
trouble should continue the saloons
would be closed
The rioting of the noon hour. also
participated In by women alone, sug
gested some OF the battles Of the war
In that il occurred at bridge head
The workers, when they crossed the
pond on their way home to dinner
were met at the Everett-street end OF
the bridge by q mob of 200 women
At this time. as in the morning. most
of the missiles thrown were more un
pleasant than dangerous, but the at
tackers were persistent, and both the
police and state guardsmen restored
to some degree Of force. Some of the
women were lightly clubbed, but moi
; severely enough to injure them, ant
not forcefully enough 20 stop them
They kept up the attack, and tn,
state guard were ordered to advance
with fixed bayonets. The women were
the engagement ended with no more
than slight injuries to any one. Minor
| gone before the bayonets arrived, ant
4 demonstration of similar kind were
Q made when the workers returned t
D the mill after dinner.
0 The women who we're taken to iai
S made light of their predicament, an,
e whled away the time in singing pa
A triotic songs in English and Polish
$ and in making arrangements for bail
!. which many of them secured The,
4 will he arraigned this morning il
:. the district court