Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1899 — MOB ATTACKS CAR BARNS. [ARTICLE]

MOB ATTACKS CAR BARNS.

Cleveland Striker* Seek to Destroy Much Valuable Property. Mob rule held sway on the south aide in Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday night for more than an hour. A mob of 5,000 persons attacked the Holmden avenue car barns of the Cleveland Electric Railway Company and rushed through the yard, which contained sixty cars, destroying everything in sight until driven out by the police. The mob succeeded in wrecking ten cars before being compelled to retire. Heavy timbers were driven through windows and woodwork, stones and clubs were used until the cars were completely demolished.

The mob had a double purpose in view; its intention was to injure as much as possible property belonging to the Big Consolidated Company and to do bodily harm to the twenty-five non-union men living at the barns. In the first it was successful, but in the second it was not, owing to the arrival of the police. The first outbreak took place at Wilson avenue and Quincy street. Obstructions had been placed on the track and Motorman Webster left his car to remove them. One hundred men then began to stone him and the conductor of the car, while the passengers rushed out pell-mell. The motorman stood his ground. A rioter ran in front of him and threw a brick, whereupon Webster drew his revolver and fired, but missed his assailant Other attacks were made on him, but after he had fired several shots the crowd retreated. One man received a bullet in his foot. The police then arrived. Mayor Farley issued a proclamation at noon calling for peace and order, and declaring that order would be restored even if he had to resort to desperate methods. The special committee of the City Council appointed to bring about a settlement, if possible, convened in the forenoon. Officials of the Big Consolidated and a committee from the strikers were present, and each side of the case was heard. The strikers presented their demands in writing. They are greatly modified as compared with the original ones, several concessions being made. Four hundred employes of the Cleveland Foundry Company struck in the afternoon because the company refused to discharge a man who had ridden on a Big Consolidated car. The man was a foreman. When it became known that he had ridden on a car the molders went to the officers of the company and demanded his discharge. The officers refused to comply with the demand and all the men walked • out of the works. This is the first strike in the nature of a sympathy demonstration that has taken place.