New-York tribune., 1921-02-10
Volleys Aimed at Men
ON Roofs Who HurI
Stones Upon Crowds
in Street; Few Arrests
State Police Hold
Back Angry Mobs
Score Injured by Police;
Disorders Also at Troy,
Where Traffic Is Halted

ALBANY, Feb. 9.-State troop
ers, who went on duty here to-day.
twice fired on crowds which attacked
strike breakers working for the
United Traction Company this after
noon in connection with the strike
Of 1900 employees, which has tied
up the system in Albany, Troy and
surrounding cities. None of the at
tackers was injured, but a half
dozen of the strike breakers suffered
injuries from flying stones.
Later a score of persons who tried
TO rush the police lines to reach the
company's barns were slightly in
jured when the police used their
sticks to drive back the crowd.
In Troy there was an Improvement
over yesterdays conditions A car was
stoned and Chief of Police Goerold
gave orders to his men to shoot to
kill in order to move car, and several
shots were fred. One policeman was
injured.
No attempt was made in this city to
operate cars and but one was sent out
from the barns at Troy.
Trolley Wires Torn Down
The disturbances here were the most
serious of any that have occurred in
che present strike and for a while late
Y ha Of h.
disorders would get beyond control Of
the state and city police.
All trolley wires within several
blocks of the traction, company's barns
were torn down yesterday and last
night, and efforts to-day centered in
replacing these so that the cars could
be operated. The situation was quiet
until 8 o'clock this afternoon, wher
repair wagon filled with strike
breakers who had been working close
to the North Albany barns, attempted
to return to the barns.
AS it passed through stone was
thrown from roof, hitting one of the
strike-breakers in the face. He fell
unconscious and Immediately there was
shower of stones and bricks from
the roofs on both sides of the streets
Nearly all the men in the wagon
were struck, but none of them was in
jured seriously except the man first
struck. He was taken to a hospital
later and his condition was pronounced
serious.
1t was after this shower of stones
that the state p,,ice sent a yolley o.
shots in the direction of the roofs.
Later q search was made in the
vicinity and it was definitely ascer-
tanned that no one had been hit by
the fire.
Crowds Rush Police
This incident angered the crowds,
which gathered in the vicinity of the
lines the police had established sew
eral blocks from the car barns. No
one was permitted - pass unless he
had business in the vicinity of the
barn, but crowds of men gathered at
the various lines and continued push
ing closer and closer. Finally there
were rushes toward the police, who
stood firm, and then the rushes grew
more violent, The police then resorted
to the use of their clubs and drove the
crowds back in all directions.
Later there was another attack on
a repair wagon which was returning
to the barns and more bricks and
stones were thrown from housetops
The state troopers rushed into an open
field back of the houses on one side
of the street and again opened fire or
the roofs. Others went into the
hnnGes %Ia
reached the roofs they found no one.
Three men were arrested in the
houses.
When the last wagon load Of strike
breakers had reached the safety of the
barns the crowds in the vicinity dis
persed and there was no more disor-
der.
Although the situation here is con-
sldered serious, city authorities assert
they are confident that the city police,
assisted by the state troopers, who
went on duty at the request of the
Mayor, will be able to preserve order.
No request will be made to have the
National Guard called OUTFIT was said.
Harry b. Weatherwax, vice president
of the United Traction Company. is
sued statement to-day in which he
denied that he had said it had become
necessary to withdraw cars from the
Albany lines yesterday through lack of
proper police protection.
mo such statement was authorized
by me. In fact. the Albany police force
did splendid work in so far as it was
WITHIN their power to do So" said Mr..
Weatherwax's statement.
One Car Out in Troy
The car sent out at Troy did not
complete its round trip o. account OF
the wires being torn down 70 stop its
progress. When the car was sent out
Chief Goerold ordered the city police
men 10 shoot to kill if necessary to
move the car. 1t was sent out under
guard at noon, but had difficulty in
making headway.
Crowds stood in the street and
watched while the guards removed
debris from the tracks and from the
wires, After going TO the end of it's
line the car began the re4a.r,s trim. bnt
had proceeded but short ws-s r-SeD
It was found that the wire hGa b.
torn down, As the car came 10 a stop
shower of bricks