"TAMMANY TOUGHS."

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8947, 12 October 1907, Page 4

"TAMMANY TOUGHS."

New York Tammany, on August 22nd, gave a picnic on the Long Island coast, and took down over 7000 of tlio tougher element, from the East Side mainly, whose support Tammany Hall desires when elections come along. Next day’s hospital statement of the 'result of the feast gave the number of the dead as two, the dying eight, and the wounded 367. The day was hot and by the time the huge party arrived at the shore they were thirsty, and by noon they were hungry also. The thirst at that early hour had developed irritable feelings, and so, when the caterer and his assistants delayed serving the banquet, the “toughs” from the Tenderloin grew angry, and demanded that food should be forthcoming at once. The speed of the waiters was still not to their liking, and they set to work to help themselves. The 500 waiters and cooks’ assistants offered resistance in defence of their edibles, whereupon the invaders produced knies, and made a determined rush towards the provender.! The cooks were called from the kitchens to help the waiters, and they brought as their arms red-hot pokers, which proved effective ! weapons. The caterer meanwhile ! sent for the police, but the small i force which came at first was quite inadequate to prevent the smashing lof heads and furniture. A large ' body of police at length arrived, i just as the defenders had been ■ beaten back, and the reinforcements ; laid about them mercilessly with i their clubs till the banquet halls had been cleared of all but wounded. | Doctors and ambulances were kept i busily employed for some hours re--1 lieviug the wounded, and carrying I the serious cases to the hospital. I Many of the victims were women . and children, whose strength was in- ! sufficient to enable them to escape ! when the battle began.