Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-31
Crowd of 5000 Force
Back IS Policemen
and $50 Firemen -
Trucks Driven into
Mass, Hose Turned
on, Tear Gas Bombs
Explo d e d, Blu t
Throng Presses on
Klansmen Forced to
Flee from Building

Perth Amboy, n. j., Aug. 3o.-A
.,owd of 5000 persons broke up a
meeting Of the Ku Klux Khan in Odd
Fellows hall tonight, rs policemen
and $50 iremen drove trucks into the
mass of people, but to no avail. A
hurry call was sent for state police
in Trenton.
Patrolmen fired shots in the air.
threw gas bombs, and swung their
night sticks while the firemen turned
streams of water on the fighting
throng.
The leaders of the mob were
Knocked down by patrolmen when
thew first started to advance toward
the hall, but after they had been
carried away another attack was
started. This time stones were
thrown and all windows in Odd Fell
lows hall, as we'll as many others
in nearby buildings were broken.
Police Chief Tonneson then order
ed his men to throw tear gas bombs.
and 10 of these. the towns entire
supply were exploded. The crowd
fell back, but advanced again, hurting
more stones. 1t was then that riot
call was sounded and $50 f1remen
dashed to the scene.
After the firemen had run their
apparatus directly at the surging
mass of humanity and had failed to
di@erse, they attached hoselinesan
a
hoselines to every available hydrant
and drenched the rioters with several
streams of water. Daunted for a few
seconds, the crowd fell back. Sew
eral of the more sturdy, however,
braved the water and cut the hose
lines with axes and knives, while
those in the crowd threw stones at
the fremen.
Chief Tonneson, in the meantime,
had ordered the Klansmen to leave
the building. Clambering out of
windows, down fire escapes and
through every available exit they
were met by their assailants and
many hand to hand fights ensued.
As one man darted from the crowd
someone shouted:
THAT man has a gum"
patrolman grabbed him, showed
him into an automobile and rushed
him to the police station. Other cars,
loaded with men, followed, but the
prisoner was rushed through the sta
ton and locked in a stable at the rear.
After searching the station those who
had followed returned to the scene of
the fight.
As some of the klansmen broke away
from the fighting mass they shouted:
We're coming bacll-ten thousand
strong"
All right" came the answer
Well be waiting for you-twenty
thousand strong"
The khan meeting had been widely
advertised. notices having been posted
in Perth Amboy and vicinity for the
past few days that it would be held.
Chief Tonneson took special precau-
lions against possible trouble as the
result Of a somewhat lesser disturb
ahce that occurred at a khan meeting
several months ago. He stationed uni
formed parchment and plain clothes
men on the inside and outside of the
nail and at several points in the vicin-
ity.
Inc klansmen gathered soon after
O'CLOCK, donned their robes and began
,neir ceremonies. Soon little groups
uesan to form in front of the building,
.ne number being augmented until it
was estimated that at least. 5000 per-
suns were in the crowd. Men in the
'front.' ranks demanded admittance to
~. .ie nall and when they were refused
Inc fight began.
Ihief Tonneson declared, after quiet
,au oeen restored, that he knew the
;asusators of the trouble and prom
ecu Ecu the arrest of several prominent
local men.
p. Dy the time a squad of state police
Ssr,Ved Chief Tonneson and his men
nau ,egalned control of the crowd. A
. Jumper OF the klansmen were still in
Se building. however, and thosewho
o oss come to drive them out announ-
, Nv lneir intention of staying until
Mey had done so. AS Corporal. Mi
saaei Kelly rode down the street on a
nn.uvtorcycle ordering the crowd to dis
a se!se' ne was set upon by the crowd
aau removed from the machine. He
was unframed.
finally Chief Tonneson called a. pa
~ MO! wagon, backed it up to the door
y. me hall, and formed a double line
", patrolmen through which the
'G1 se passed to the wagon. As