Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1892 — GIVEN OVER TO MOBS. [ARTICLE]

GIVEN OVER TO MOBS.

INDIANAPOLIS RULED BY A BAND OF STRIKERS. Policemen In able to Restrain the Men— Cars Prevented from Running—Drivers and Conductors Brutally Beaten and Many Officers Injured. Culmination of the Strike. The culmination of the street .car strike was a disgraceful day in the mstory of Indianapolis. Mobs at several times had substantial possession of the streets. Men and women encouraged scenes and acts of violence, and a woman displayed amid the crowd a brickred flag, flaunting it about her head, and then hastily concealing it in the drapery about her breast. The street car strike began a week before because of a refusal by the president of the oompany to advance the wages of employes. Several mornings attempts were made to start the cars, but the strikers interfered, and the cars were pushed back into the barns. The Mayor took the position that ho would not afford police protection until he was assured that the company had men to properly run the cars. He received such assurances and the police appeared to aid the company. No attempt was made to run the electric cars. All efforts were concentrated on the horse cars. One hundred strikers met one ear at the Grand Opera House. Here a desperate encounter occurred with the police, and when it reached Washington street, the main thoroughfare, the mob had increased in numbers to 1,000. Slowly it made its way a few squares farther, where at ieast 6,000 people! Bad gathered. Prominent among its numbers was a burly negro, who was foremost in trying to stop the car. The officers laid hold of him to place him under arrest. With a maddening yell the crowd sprang upon the officers, and the negro was wrenched from their grasp. Police Superintendent Colbert headed a detail for his recapture. They waded into the crowd, mowing right and left with their clubs. Crash! and a big, heavy board, wielded by one of the crowd, descended upon tjie Superintendent’s head. Another crash, and Capt. Dawson was nearly felled to the ground by a brick, which struck him on the head, being thrown from an up-stairs window. Such actions as these precluded all possibility of further leniency. Superintendent Colbert pulled a revolver from each pocket and pointod their muzzles into the faces of the surging mass of people. Slowly the mob parted, and the negro was recaptured. No sooner was this accomplished than the crowd made a rush for the man who was attempting to drive the car. “Hang the sffeb!” “Over with the car!” “Knock out of him!" and similar, expressions filled the air. In an instant he was pulled over the dashboard, while several men belabored him over the head. The police charged, and again the bricks began to fly. One brick struck Capt. paweon in the middle of the back, doubling him up with pain, while a striker’s fist landed beside his nose. Another missile struck Patrolman Settle beside the head, cutting his helmet and clear through to the skin. But Patrolman Smith fared worst of all. A big stone struck him just under his helmet on the back of the head, ripping open the scalp and hair and laying bare the bone. After severe fighting the crowd was dispersed and quieted. Smith was carried away by an ambulance. -

Not over five minntes after the crowd had quieted down some one yelled “There goes one on Meridian street,” and away went the crowd. There were two cars there guarded by a handful of police. The crowd swooped down upon them like birds of prey on their victims. It was of no use that the officers clubbed and pounded. The men’s heads seemed made of iron. In- a trice they had the mules unhitched, and -with yells they pushed the cars into the gutter. A large crowd of men and boys were standing upon an improvised scaffolding of boards. Into this the car was pushed, and the structure came down with its load of humanity, and the air was filled with cribs of fear. Luckily no one was hurt beyond a few bruises. The other car was backed west on Maryland street until it stuck in the mud, and there it stood. Both had their windows smashed, and more than one striker and policeman will wear knots on their heads for the next few days. In another part of the city two women boarded a car, rushed to the driver, threw their arms around his neck, and then gave him a terrible beating. An officer rescued him, but the women got away! In one case the mules were unhitched, and then were stampeded, while the car was derailed. Many arrests were made, but bonds were promptly furnished in all cases. Finally all attempts to run the cars were abandoned. The Mayor stands firm by his latest decision, and will again afford all the profiection to the company within his power. He said: “This is a very sad business, and all we have to do is to unite for peace. There is not a word of truth in tho statement that there was any pressure brought to bear on me to order out the police as soon as Mr. Frcnzel had men enough to operate his cars. When the strikers’ advisory committed called on me the other day I told Ahem the same thing. They asked me to say nothing about it, and I did not. This morning the time was ripe. I was informed that plenty of men were in readiness to start the cars, and upon advice from the Board of Public Safety we dedided to call out the police. My every effort will be to quell the riot, and if I am to be censured, let it not be done till, peace is restored. My mind has never changed on what ought to be done, but it did not seem to bo the proper thing until this morning. ” The Board of Public Safety decided to swear in 250 special officers and Mayor Sullivan issued a proclamation closing all saloons until the strike is over.