New-York tribune., 1919-01-10
Near Riots Occur as
CroiCds Rush Boats,
Eager for Passage

~ VlGJdC 4ANCGt 1EUtfISe
Eager for Passage
The first serious effect of the walk
out was felt at the ferry terminals
where the congestion began to assume
troublesome proportions with the ar
rival of the carly morning throngs on
their way to an dfrom Staten Island
and Jersey City
AS the day progressed thousands of
belated travellers. at their wits end
what to do, lined the waterfronts, and
eventually, at late hour, dispersed to
make the most of it wherever they
happened to be. Staten Island is said
to have harbored at least 100000 ma
rooned workers alone.
The faintest measure of relief came
about 6:51 p. M, when the municipal
ferryboat Manhattan, operated by a
crew of the marine division of the
Police Department and few volunteers
under command of Captain James w.
Halleck, made round trip between
Manhattan and Staten Island, with pas
sengers jamming every mock of the
boat.
The Manhattan arrived at South
Ferry from St. George at 7:25 and
made the return trip at 8;15 with about
! 1900 passengers, many of whom had
been waiting in the terminals for three
hours. They had been advised that the
police were making efforts to get them
to their homes across the bay. The
service was continued internationally
for the rest of the night.
Only Three Ferryboats Running
This, with two boats running from
the Lackawanna freight piers at the
foot of Twenty-third Street, were the
only ferries in service during the day.
AZ result tons of perishable food
stuffs bound for New York were tied up
in trucks a.ong the Jersey side. In ad-
dltion hundreds of all manner Of
vehicles crowded at the entrances to
the ferries on the Manhattan side, the
lines OF these wagons in many cases
reaching five blocks, until the true
state of affairs dawned upon the
drivers
At the Lackawanna piers at the foot
of Iwentythird Street the congestion
was particularly bad, despite the fact
that two boats were in service here
all day Matters became worse during
the afternoon, when teamsters made a
rush to this terminal when they
learned that it was the only means
to Hoboken.
The extraordinary crush here gave
rise to rumors that trouble was brew
ing, and large detachments of police
armed with night sticks and revolvers
were sent to the scene. The workers
on these ferries are not affiliated with
the striking boatmen, having an or
ganzation of their own. 1t was feared
that attempts Of the strikers to induce
these men to leave their posts would
cause row.
No Controversy Expected
Captain John NJ. Emery, marine su-
perintendent of the Lackawanne fer
ries, stated that he would do his best
to keep these boats running. "There
has been no trouble so far" he said,
but the union delegates have been
permitted to enter the ferry slips at
the two Hoboken terminals, and al.
though do not expect any contro-
versy, you never can tell what will
happen"
All day and far into the night hun
dreds of trucks gathered along Tenth
Street, West Street and the extensive
plaza in front of this ferry, the drivers
crowding the neighboring restaurants
and saloons, knowing they would prob
ably have to wait for three or four
hours. 1t is expected that the situa-
tion at this point will be aggravated to-
day.
1t was intimated by the marine work
ers' leaders that these tow boats would
be permitted to run in any event, be-
cause of special request having been
made that they be allowed to carry the
mails and wounded soldiers. 1t was
later stated that milk and newspapers
would also be allowed on the vessels
with the full assent of the strike head
quarters.
Never in the history of this port
has the farbor been SO inactive. Apart
frrom few tugs, lighters and launches
OF the army and navy that sped by
occasionally, the upper bay was devoid
of activity. But on short from Har-
lem to the battery, wherever ferries
are operated. there was congestion Of
persons and trucks such as one may
see on foggy morning when the
weather paralyzes traffic.
At least $4,000 persons engaged in
business or labor on Staten Island
were on hand at a. m. to take the
early boats for St. George.
Municipal Employees Gave Warning
Lawrence Hanlon, the superintendent
of municipal ferries, was informed at
1915 a. m. yesterday that the men on
the municipal ferries would quit, and
true to their threat they walked out
at a. m.
When this information reached the
Police Department the police boat Pa
troll was made ready, and at S:45 a. m.
she took aboard ITO city employees at
Pier A and landed them at st. George
Meanwhile, word had been sent to the
ferry houses at St. George that city
employees living on Staten Island would
be taken to the city on the Patrol, and
the police boat returned to the city
| with eighty travellers.