The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-05-08
CHAPTER Nv

The big, heavy iron sewer pipes
which lay in preparation for repair
work in the PankstraSse we're rolled
up. Beams and boards fell noisily to
the ground.
Lock out. comradesl'
Crash,-the heavy builders wagon
lay on its side at the entrance OF the
alley like a huge, lazy animal, its
wheels stretched helplessly in the air.
With a splintering Of glass street
lamps fell into the street. Hundreds
of hard hands helped. Pickaxes tore
up the hard asphalt. Sand flew from
the shovels and was piled up in ir-
regular heaps which were stamped
into shape by the women. From
distant street shots were heard. The
sound only fastened the work.
Slowly the barbados grew up in
the shape of an irregular triangle
outside the Red Nightingale" They
blocked the Weddingstrasse the alley
and the entrance from the Pank-
Irasse
For days an old, torn mattress had
been lying in backyard. Two women
now carried it along and threw 1t on
10 the barricades, Out of the houses
came the iron dust bins-useful OBJ
stacles! The workers scrambled be-
tween the heaps of sand and the
beams. Women helped to pile up
stones torn from the pavements.
Everyone laughed when they saw
two young workers run down the
street with large gate which they
had lifted from its hinges,
"Jupp, won't you bring along beds
as well?' 8 young woman called out
after them.
You bet your life. If We take your
bed, the bugs would carry away the
whole barricade."
Don't say that. My bed is first
class. It's stood many bump though
not from the police!"
They laughed and shouted over
their work. Packing cases, old baskets,
sticks. boards, everything they could
lay hands on was rushed to the spot.
An old woman went with bent back
along the street and gathered up
stones in her apron. The window of
her little flat looked out on the street
Immediately in front Of the barricade
SHOOTING
NEARER
The shooting came nearer. Thomas
sent off a group Of young workers
with instructions to keep the police
away from the alley as long as pos
sible. nc was no longer as calm as at
first. He had had to take a gun from
the pockets Of more than one of the
men. There was no time now TO ex-
plain to them that the barricades
we're designed merely to keep out the
police lorriss Against the present
weapons OF the police, barricades
were no longer a special means OF
protection. particularly in regular
street fight. Much less we're they a
base for an offensive.
Halo Thomas"
Where is Thomas2"
He turned round The workers
standing on the ba1Ticade were call
ing for him, He fastened across to
them. A courier with a bicycle was
standing on the other side, When he
saw Thomas he dropped the cycle
and ran towards him. His young face
was covered with sweat.
Thomas he said in low
voice when he was standing in front
of him two cars with q ma
chine-gun mounted on the first are
on the way from Wedding Station!'
Thomas scarcely waited for him to
finish. He turned round to the work
ers. "Comrades-back into the houses
at once. Lock the doors The special
detachment into the back room of the
Red Nightingale No one is to snoot.
~, cfr to 20
main empty" A few young workers
ran along the alley: "All into the
houses. Lock the doorsl"
The loud penetrating signal of the
police cars was now heard from the
Nettelbeckplatz. The bright faces
turn grey The danger had suddenly
returned like the dark shadow Of a
great revolver pointing towards the
alley.
A young woman with smooth
blonde hair tore up two little children
who were playing in puddle before
the fountain.
Anna had fetched all the children
living in number and had taken
them to the relatively safe room of a
worker who lived facing the Panke
In the second yard. She was now
running about the street gathering
all the other children she could find,
Come here at once, you young
rogue!" she shouted after Hermann's
twelve year-old boy. who had been in
the thick of it al day long.
mo, Mrs. Zimmerman, the back
enc is no place for me" the boy
shouted back laughingly and slapped
his pocket, which was crsmned full
Of stones, with his dirty little fist.
He ran into the Red Nightingale"
with the men.
THE BARRICADE!
The doors had not all been closed
yet when the first police car took
the corner of the Pankstrasse at full
speed The brakes scheeched as they
tore the heavy lorry back Scarcely a
yard from the car there lay, a silent
menace,-the barricade! The alley
beyond was deserted. Only from the
windows the red flags were again fly
ing, they moved gently, almost play
fully in the wind.
There was deathly silence. The mo-
tor continued to hum and sing in
the same indifferent and monotonous
way. From their hiding places and
corners the workers saw in front of
hem the faces of the police, which
looked like white spots on the cars.
The other lorry came along and
stopped just behind the first. Wait
ing, puzzled, undecided, terrified
Through the glasspane in front of
the drivers seat the eyes Of Major