The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-01
BY THE OUT EASTER

you on the night of January 31
 1903? And where were you on the night of March of the same year if you were around, and lived in Waterbury.
 This is Waterbury history
 On the night of Jan. 3l, 1903
 Waterbury mad its first riot, due to the trolley strike which started on Jan. II of the same year. And in the following March Paul Men delSohn, supernumerary police man. on duty on a trolley car manned by strike breakers, was shot to death as he went to the assist ance of one of the strike breakers attacked just as the trolley reached the terminus of the North End line. Forest Park, as 1t was known i'll those days. And the very same night over in Jackson street at $40 o'clock, Antonio Cimenero, also, was shot to death by Vincenzo San zerero, arrested later by two of the best young police officers of the day. Joe Mclean and Jack Bergin.
 The Old Town was lively spot, then, don't forget that.
 And here is what we once wrote about the affair:
 The Beginning of the Trouble
 On Sunday morning, Jan II. 1903, Waterbury's first trolley strike was inaugurated and from that time until the next Thursday no at tempt was made to run cars on any of the lines. In that interval much excitement was caused by the ar rival of non union trolley men, and the introduction by the strikers of vehicles of all kinds and description for the conveyance of the people.
 On Jan. Is, the Waterville and Oakville lines were opened from 10 a. m. to D. m. and the next day Bank street and North Main street was opened from the depot to Waterville.
 "On Jan. 19, South Main street was opened from the Center to Mill street, and on Jan. P, cars ran casterly to Wolcott street. No cars were run after 5:30 D. m., until Jan. 26, and from that time to Jan. 30 they were running even to Nau- gatuck. But they wouldn't send the cars into Brooklyn or Out East beyond Wolcott street.
 "On Saturday. Jan. 3l, the cars were running as usual with the ex- ception as noted. and all in charge of strike breakers. There was no indication of trouble until about g D. m. Exchange Place was filled with the usual Saturday night crowd. but the number seemed to increase every minute. At 10 D. m. cars arriving in the center had many broken windows, which sight. the police claimed. added greatly to the joy of the onlookerS. At 10:30 p. m. the theater people joined the crowd in the heart of the city, so that by this time there was such mob the police could do little in their efforts to send them on their way. And from that time until 1 a m stones and bricks were thrown from the ruins of the old Scovill House. It was night of terror and good old Chief George M Egan appeared downhearted and crest fallen at what had happened. The military, both Company A and G were called out, and also the en- tire First Regiment, and four con- panies of the 2nd Regiment besides the local contingent, two machine guns, accompanied the first regiment as 1t pulled up Grand Street on Sun day night, Feb. l. The military stayed here for four days or until Thurs day when they were dismissed. County deputy sheriffs were here. some old and some young. but they didn't do great deal. The state police was in existence, but 1t only had five uniformed men. with su- perintendent and the assistant Su- perintendent. The state police re- ceived four dollars per day.
 Tn the middle of February line- men. lamp trimmers and inspectors of the lighting system joined the strikers; wires were cut. lamps broken, and the Connecticut Rail way and Lighting Co. didn't seem to know just what to do.
 The extra police and military and sheriffs cost $27. .00O."
 For our own part, we were right In the heart of the city at Bauby's corner, observing the long line of busseS brought into operation by the strikers in their effort to convey the people back and fort. from all parts of the city. It was sort of care free arrangement. no head or tail. with horse drawn busses leaving only when a load was on board. Several buses stood in front of the old Brown bldg. The crowd there was large. and suddenly when a trolley ear appeared the entire aSSemblage shouted in unison. and one or two stones went in the direction of the trolley. With the breaking of glass Tn the windows, the crowd seemed to increase It's courage. and soon the standing trolley was besleged with rocks Of all description and bricks clrted from the ruins of the nearby scovnl tNuse. Gangs left the nearby saloons. and joined their fellow tow nSmen. A few police were around