Imperial Valley press., 1934-07-05
STRIKERS AND
POLICE WAGE
BITTER FIGHT
Continued from Page u

NSOIlA1AucQ lAOIIl fake ~
/ These picketS saw fire break out in
/ two box cars some distance way
and seemed to accept the smoke as
signal for action. They surged for
ward. Police rushed to meet them.
Bricks began to fly.
! Police brought up tear gas squad
and for a moment there was the
rattle of exploding gas bombs and
gas guns. Men fell, clawing at their
eyes as the gas burned and tears
streamed. Foot police, clubs flying,
pressed on. Radio patrol cars came
/ screaming.
Police Clear Streets
I The strikers and Sympathizers be-
/ gan to give way. Soon they were
running, with police in pursuit. One
police group drove the pickets up
Harrison street. Another turned to-
wards Rincon Hill which overlooks
that section of the waterfront and
began clearing its base and lower
slopes of strikers, sympathizers and
plain spectators.
Not long after 10 a. m. it appeared
the police were gaining control OF
the situation rapidly.
The city began looking to Sacra-
mento for action. Governor Mer-
riam, in a formal statement last
night. had said that state militia
would be called today if the strik-
ers interfered with operation of the
state owned and operated belt line
railroad. Many believed this out
break would be considered the
overt act" and draw action from
the governor.
At one time during the rioting 500
men, throwing rocks and shouting,
charged towards police down the
slopes of Rincon Hill. Police drove
them back, far up the hillside, using
clubs and gas.
The crowd was pressed back and
back to a line roughly drawn as
Bryant, Beal and Main streets, close
to half a mile from the scene of ac-
tivity around the piers.
1t remained mena11lg. Rioters ap-
parently were attempting to barri-
cade themselves behind piles Of ma
terial-sand, gravel, bricks-beine
used is the construction OF the Sar
Francisco bay bridge.
The Presidents mediation board
appointed more than week ago
went into hurried session with Thos
G. Plant. president of the Water
front EmDloyerS' union,
Archbishop Edward j. Hanna
chairmas of the board, admitted
that the board "fears still worse
trouble"
Later officials of the industrial
association were called to the con-
ference.
The disorders on the waterfront
forced suspension of work on the
new San Francisco bay bridge, a
Joint state, city and federal prof.
ect.
Workmen were driven from the
short workings Of the bridge when
when fighting began on Rincon
Hill. Police gas bombs put them
to flight along with the strikers
and sympathizers.
Governor Merriam directed c. II
Purcell, chief engineer of the bridge
project to suspend work and to con-
fer with Chief of Police Quinn as
to the future course TO be followed
As the rioting subsided, police
were moving up additional equip
ment including fire wagons. Al
several points streams from fire
hoses were turned on the rioters.
Emergency wagons brought up
new supplies OF gas.
The scene during the fighting on
Rincon Hill had been one of great
violence. Strikers charged police
and police returned the charge time
and again. Long night sticks beat
tattoo on heads, shoulders and
ribs. Many police, unable to get
within arms reach of rioters threw
their heavy night clubs. Rioters
pelted police lines with stones and
bricks. There was gun-fire from
both sides but it was not effective
nor was it general.