1886 Illinois - The Anarchist-Labor Troubles in Chicago...
Illinois - the Anarchist-Labor Troubles in Chicago - The Police Charging the Murderous Rioters in Old Haymarket Square on the Night of May 4th
By: C. Bunnell and Charles Upham
Date: May 25, 1886 (published) New York
Dimensions: 14 x 20.5 inches (35.5 x 52 cm)
An impactful wood engraving of the violent events that unfolded at Hay Market Square between laborers and the Chicago Police on May 4th, 1886.
A landmark event in Chicago history, the Haymarket rally led to an unknown number of casualties among both participants and spectators, including 60 injuries and 8 deaths among the police. The event was sparked by a series of meetings, parades, and protests between Mat 1st and May 4th in support of an 8 hour work day. Ultimately, it was a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration on May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square that sparked the depicted scene.
The print shows police in a line firing upon protestors of all races. Much of the crowd flees in horror for their lives while several citizens fall to their deaths, crawl to safety, and retaliate with gun fire of their own. Atop the scene are seven portraits of police officers including the Superintendant Frederick Ebersold, Inspector J. W. Bonfield, and four Captains.
While the United States did eventually adopt an 8 hour work day through the Adamson Act of 1916, the immediate aftermath of the Haymarket Square Massacre did not favor the rioters. A harsh anti-union clampdown followed the Haymarket incident and the Great Upheaval subsided. Employers regained control of their workers and traditional workdays were restored to ten or more hours a day. There was a massive outpouring of community and business support for the police and many thousands of dollars were donated to funds for their medical care and to assist their efforts.
Condition: This print is in B+ condition with some toning and minor splits along the centerfold that have been reinforced on the verso using archival materials.
Inventory #11679
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