The New York herald., 1921-09-20
RIOT HALTS PUBLIC
AUCTION OF JOBLESS
Police Battle Afternoon Crowd
Drawn to See LedOuX's
Auction Block.
CROWD In CENTRAL PARK
Reserves Disperse the Night
Throngs-Attempt to Feed
Men Is Thwarted.
CROWD in CENTRAL PARE

Clashes between police and unem-
ployed, in one of which bloodshed and
serious injury seemed certain yester-
day marked one OF the citys. most
tumultuous periods in recent years.
Urbain Ledoux, also known as "Mr.
Zero of the Church of the Unem-
ployed." the storm centre, did not auc-
tion off ex-service men on the steps of
the Public Library last night at IL
o'clock, but his announced intention
brought thousands to the place ana
precipitated what amounted to rio..
| After the police had gained the up
per hand of the footing. bowling mob
employed men poured into Central
Park shortly before midnight. Calls
for reserves to round them up we're
sent out from the Arsenal police sta
ton. Men from the West Forty
seventh and West Sixty-eighth street
police stations were sent to the park
and routed about 1000 men near the
Fffty-ninth street entrance at Fifth
avenue.
! In the night outbreak the police sue
ceeded in restoring order, after some
\ trouble. without the use Of night sticks.
but In the first riot of the day, brought
about by the action OF the police in
prohibiting a meeting OF the jobless in
| Bryant Hall. club swinging reserves
and motorcycle and mounted men swept
| through a crowd of more than 1000 men
! In front of the hall. This short but wild
riot took place when Ledoux appeared
\ shortly before Il 80 p. VI. He was
at the home OF his friend, w. Kirk
patrick Brice. at lis East Fifty-fourth
street. during the night confusion.
| The widely announced auction brought
curiously mixed crowd of about 5000
persons in the evening to the vicinity
OF the library. Men obviously down and
out. with shabby clothes and a none
too well fed appearance. mingled In
Bryant Park seats, along Forty-second
street from Fifth avenue to Sixth ave-
nue. and on Fifth avenue In front Of
| the library, all waiting for something
| to happen. Nothing did occur, except
| the jamming of vehicular traffic at
Fifth avenue and Forty-second street.
Police Reserves There.
| Inspector William Boettier OF the
| Third Inspection District. with 100 police
reserves. in uniform. twenty-five r,ain
| clothes men. and most Of the detectives
| OF the Bomb Squad. seemed to have
! things fairly well In hand. A group
of reporters mounted the library steps.
| They were mistaken for the auctioneer-
| ing party and cheered+ They retired
hastily.
Just at II o'clock. when the tension
was greatest. a band OF between one
| and two hundred men formed in rough
military order at Sixth avenue and
marched along Forty-second street tow
ard the library. Opposite Aeoiian Hall.
at the gate to Bryant Park. this crowd
saw Capt. Joseph "A. Howard OF the
West Thirtieth street police station, the
man who had given the word that sent
the police forces ripping through the
men massed before Bryant Hall in the
afternoon. The marching men stopped
and dsntegrted into a jeering hooting
mob. Policemen around Howard strove
vainly against them. The noise OF their
disapproval. rising louder, brought the
curious 5000 from about the library, and
at least another 5000 from Broadway
and other nearby thoroughfares.
Capt. Howard made no great efforts
TO move the crowd on. The jeering went
on. Two young men climbed into a
horse drawn victoria halted IN the crowd
and led the roaring, waving their hats
The coachman turned and lashed them
with his whip. They Jumped The jeers
Of the mob which WAS the nucleus OF
the greater crowd became more and
more vehement. Word went flashing to
Police Headquarters for more police.
Fifty more reserves were already join
ing their embattled fellows.
Gives Up Attempt.
At i1:fS Howard gave the word TO
move the mob on. The police sprang
forward in a concerted rush. with
voices. and sometimes with fists. they
urged the d.sorderly group toward Sixth
avenue. Gradually they succeeded In
getting the crowd moving. and at Sixth
avenue split II into three parts. The
men, now silent. fled north and south
on the avenue and west on Forty-second
street The work o. restoring order
then was accomplished
mo. 7 shall hold no auction tonight"
r,edoux said last night az the apartment
or Mr.. Bricc. Men and women would
be injured and perhaps killed lf did.
and come here to do good. The
temper OF the unemployed, | know, is
Continued on Sirth Page
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