New Britain herald., 1926-08-30
Deputy Sheriffs Stand
by While Infatuated
Mob Takes Officials
Gun From Him and
Administers Beating
Arson Attempt Accom-
panies Bombardment Of
Buildings With Rocks
Following Arrival of
Strikebreakers.

Manville, R. l., Aug. 80 Ps-An
attempt to fire the cotton mill of
the Manville-Jenckes company here
today climaXed a series of disorders
prompted by the arrival of strike
breakers in armored cars yesterday.
Hooting and jeering, a crowd of
1000 striking operatives and sym
pathizers gathered outside the mill
last night after the strikebreakers
had been brought in with beds and
stoves and quartered in the mill.
Arson Attempt Fails
The appearance of several men in
the windows resulted in an avail
anche of stones and the destruction
of scores of panes before state and
local police restored order. The
crowd reassembled 500 strong sever
al hours later and soon after mid
night flaming kerosene-soaked rags
were hurled through the shattered
designing room windows. Police
Chief Michael Finn of Cumberland
stamped out the fire and made an
unsuccessful attempt to find those
responsible.
Another Bombardment
Threats to break down the mill
gates and go after their tools were
hurled by strikers as the chief made
his way through the crowd and at
2 o'clock another stone throwing
barrage of men and boys showered
the opposite -.Ie of the plant with
missiles. Chief Finn estimated that
scores of windows were browen and
that damage to mill and office fur
nishings would run to several hun
bred dollars. He ordered a strong
police guard maintained for the rest
of the night.
The Arson attempt was denounced
by striker, speaking to group of
idle operatives, as "a crazy stunt"
why burn the mill down" he
shouted. THE Nanville- Jenckes
company won't build new one If
you do. They'll move down south"
The disorders marked the second
instance of violence of the strike,
which was call~d August 10 when
most of the 100 operatives of the
mill walked out in Protest against
the employment of non union loom
f1xers and q reported lengthening of
working hours. The first day of the
walkout q mill overseer was beaten
by women strikers when he attempt
cd TO escort two girls through a mob
of 1900 employees and an operative
who attempted to go to work was
chased into the village before friends
rescue dhim.
Agreement on all points except
that of the non-union labor was
reached at a meeting with federal
conciliator last week and the strike
spread to the Manville plant in
Woonsocket. where 1000 employees
declared a sympathy strike. In the
past few days efforts have been made
to further extend the strike to the
Georgiaville and Globe (Woonsock- |
et)miils of the company.
Is Badly Beaten
Trouble broke out again when A. |
Sweet production manager of the /
Mill appeared at the gatest at 5 |
o'clock this morning and was mob !
bed by half hundred pickets. He |
faced the crowd with drawn revolv- !
or. but was overwhelmed and badly |
beaten.
His revolver was taken away and |
turned over to a Lincoln patrolman |
before the strikers began to man
handle him. He was finally allowed
to enter the mill. The police guard
Il three |
deputy shcriffs made no attempt to
interfere.
Woonsocket Affected.
Woonsocket, r. l., Aug. 80 Up
While no sanctioned strike exists at
the Globe mills of the Manville-
Jenckes Company here some of the
men were out today as a sequel to
strikers at the Manville plant of the
company and at the Social mills here
Union agents were said to be talking
strike to other workers at the Globe
mill which employs 500 hands
Some of the workers walked out
shortly after the mill opened today.
Workers entering the plant after the
noon hour admitted that some en-
ployes were out and that union
agents were talking to others, Or
ganizer Rivicre of the United Textile .
Workers of America said that there
was no legally called strike. Workers
the opinion that no gener-
al walkout would take place until
from the union was asked
and received