Police had to guard diggers, article (Niagara Sun, 1908-05-19).pdf
Dublin Core
Title
Police had to guard diggers, article (Niagara Sun, 1908-05-19).pdf
Description
Ironton men unhappy about Gillespie bringing in workers from out of town to dig Lockport line.
AI Transcription:
Tuesday, May 19, 1908
POLICE HAD TO GUARD DIGGERS
All Kinds of Trouble and Riot on the Lockport Pipeline
NORTH TONAWANDA: ITALIANS ATTACK THOSE EMPLOYED BY GILLESPIE CO., DEMANDING THAT THEY GIVE WORK
North Tonawanda, May 18.—A riot that was threatened yesterday morning when the T. A. Gillespie Co. imported about 100 Italians to begin the construction of Lockport’s main supply pipe through East Avenue and Wheatfield streets occurred yesterday afternoon. It was not the city authorities, as had been expected, but about 100 foreign laborers, brought from points near Buffalo, through which the main line is being constructed. The Poles and Hungarians employed by the Gillespie company claimed that they should be employed instead of the Italians imported on the job. They demanded this from the local representatives of the company, who emphatically refused to countenance the demand, and the Poles and Hungarians left the work in disgust.
Shortly after 3 o’clock the 200 foreign laborers refused to work, assembled and demanded that the Gillespie foreman, John E. Ryan and the Gillespie company pay house-rent for their families through the summer. The contractors thoroughly angered the foreigners that it was only with the utmost difficulty that Gillespie men were able to control them. The end of labor troubles was not in sight, when more demonstrations of violence threatened to break out.
Mayor Eugene de Kleist being out of town when it became known that the contractors were about to start operations in North Tonawanda early yesterday, Chief Ryan consulted with City Attorney Norman D. Fish on the rights of the local authorities to interrupt the operations of the Gillespie company. Attorney Fish stated that he did not believe the city could legally stop the work in local territory, even with no work started in the streets.
While the police sent to guard the Italians was absent at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon, the Hungarians and Poles swooped down on the imported laborers with stones and clubs and drove them from the trench in Wheatfield street, near Ironton street. The Italians, being greatly outnumbered, decided wisely not to try to return the attack, but took to their heels. They ran through adjoining lots and lumber yards, followed by a fusillade of stones and clubs. Their assailants made no attempts to pursue them, being satisfied with having driven them from the street.
Word was received at police headquarters of the riot, and Patrolmen Kinzly, Kent, Hoefert, Smith, Sequin, Sullivan, Tunis and Thompkins were soon on the scene. At the sight of the officers hostilities ceased. Under the protection of the officers the Italians returned to work. The officers will remain on duty guarding the Italians. If the trouble assumes more serious proportions, the State militia may be called out to preserve order. Several of the Italians were cut and bruised by the missiles but none was injured sufficiently to require the services of a physician. It was stated during the afternoon that several arrests would likely result from the riot yesterday.
AI Transcription:
Tuesday, May 19, 1908
POLICE HAD TO GUARD DIGGERS
All Kinds of Trouble and Riot on the Lockport Pipeline
NORTH TONAWANDA: ITALIANS ATTACK THOSE EMPLOYED BY GILLESPIE CO., DEMANDING THAT THEY GIVE WORK
North Tonawanda, May 18.—A riot that was threatened yesterday morning when the T. A. Gillespie Co. imported about 100 Italians to begin the construction of Lockport’s main supply pipe through East Avenue and Wheatfield streets occurred yesterday afternoon. It was not the city authorities, as had been expected, but about 100 foreign laborers, brought from points near Buffalo, through which the main line is being constructed. The Poles and Hungarians employed by the Gillespie company claimed that they should be employed instead of the Italians imported on the job. They demanded this from the local representatives of the company, who emphatically refused to countenance the demand, and the Poles and Hungarians left the work in disgust.
Shortly after 3 o’clock the 200 foreign laborers refused to work, assembled and demanded that the Gillespie foreman, John E. Ryan and the Gillespie company pay house-rent for their families through the summer. The contractors thoroughly angered the foreigners that it was only with the utmost difficulty that Gillespie men were able to control them. The end of labor troubles was not in sight, when more demonstrations of violence threatened to break out.
Mayor Eugene de Kleist being out of town when it became known that the contractors were about to start operations in North Tonawanda early yesterday, Chief Ryan consulted with City Attorney Norman D. Fish on the rights of the local authorities to interrupt the operations of the Gillespie company. Attorney Fish stated that he did not believe the city could legally stop the work in local territory, even with no work started in the streets.
While the police sent to guard the Italians was absent at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon, the Hungarians and Poles swooped down on the imported laborers with stones and clubs and drove them from the trench in Wheatfield street, near Ironton street. The Italians, being greatly outnumbered, decided wisely not to try to return the attack, but took to their heels. They ran through adjoining lots and lumber yards, followed by a fusillade of stones and clubs. Their assailants made no attempts to pursue them, being satisfied with having driven them from the street.
Word was received at police headquarters of the riot, and Patrolmen Kinzly, Kent, Hoefert, Smith, Sequin, Sullivan, Tunis and Thompkins were soon on the scene. At the sight of the officers hostilities ceased. Under the protection of the officers the Italians returned to work. The officers will remain on duty guarding the Italians. If the trouble assumes more serious proportions, the State militia may be called out to preserve order. Several of the Italians were cut and bruised by the missiles but none was injured sufficiently to require the services of a physician. It was stated during the afternoon that several arrests would likely result from the riot yesterday.
Date
1908-05-19
Collection
Citation
“Police had to guard diggers, article (Niagara Sun, 1908-05-19).pdf,” North Tonawanda History, accessed September 12, 2025, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4379.