The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-12

labored through the night. Six, in
GLIDING three women, were In crit
ical conditions. The women were
Mrs. Stella Thompson, struck ir
the mouth by a tear gas bomb. and
Mrs. Hilda Peterson and Francis
Olson. who were shot.
At least 20 others-some of them
from the crowd of 1900 that
watched the fighting but did not
participate-were less seriously in
jured. largely by stones and bricks
hurled by pickets.
Names of the Dead
The dead were Melvin Bjork-
lund, 81, shot through the chest by
a police revolver bullet, and
Eugene Casper, IS, who received a
charge from a police shotgun In
the chest.
AS a pitched battle, the rioting
four streets surrounding the block
square plant where workers have
been on strike for two months. But
for hours after the first shots. the
pickets threw bricks and stone,
from roof-tops and doorways anC
police fired at anyone they saw. A
striker standing beside a United
Press correspondent covering the
story, suddenly crumpled from {
bullet. His wound was not critical
For three hours 1t was impossi
BILE to approach within two blocks o.
! the plant in the open without at
tracing police fire.
Women and girls fought in thu
ranks of the pickets, undaunted BY
tear gas and gunfire. Children
were among them in the beginning
| but retired when the fighting
sta ted.
The battle was sequel to SINH
lar but less serious outbreak Tues
day night when thousands of dem
constructors were dispersed by police
Anticipating another crisis. rio
squads were dispatched to the iror
plant early last night. Policemen
surrounded the plant, a few fee
apart. AT each Of four corners
armored cars were stationed. TIVE
others were in reserve.
| Shortly before midnight, lin
VI DiShItoJ tit &C aDl CdoI anu Ca
tending u full block, appeared. TIL
pickets were singing and shouting
curses at strike breakers inside tn
plant. Suddenly rafting o
stones crashed against the plan
roof. Instantly an armored ca
sped down the street, it's crew hurl
ing tear gas combs among tn
strikers. Screams and cries o
agony rang out. In an instan
hand to hand fighting broke out.
police captain waved his hand ant
police charged. Night-sticks rattle'
against heads. Stones. bricks ant
other missiles filled the air.
| Shot From Somewhere
A shot rang out. No one knew
from which side 1t came but imme
diately scores of bullets whine'
blindly into the darkness. TIL
strikers scurricd to cover. Eacl
time pickets appeared police fired
Stones and bricks splattered con
tinuously against windows.
When tho first ambulances ar
rived, there were more injure,
than they could care for. Nor
ambulances were summoned. Wo
men and children suffered from tn
low-hanging gas and OCCASIONAL.
one dropped. Slowly the striker
left their hiding places and dis
persed. Police lines were main
tanned throughout the night ant
were expected to be kept through
out the day.
Reports that national guardsmel
would be called were heard blu
were not authenticated.
Two months ago nine orna
mental iron companies were pre-
scented with demands for a close
shop and union recognition by tn
ornamental Ironworkers union.
Included In the demands wer
minor wage readjustments and OBJ
eervaLce of seniority rights. TIL
firms agreed to consider all de
mands except those for closed shol
land union recognition.