[ not to be confused with the 1957 Tuition Riot ]

http://tech.mit.edu/V75/PDF/N21.pdf
May 3 1955

9 Students Arrested Sunday Night;
Fire and Water Highlights Of Riot

by Bill Daly '58
and Lee Holloway '58

In line with the recent trends toward May Day demonstrations and to celebrate the first National Loyalty Day, several hundred enthusiastic Techmen gathered together last Sunday evening and celebrated.

The riot, which lasted from 9:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m., had its beginnings on East Campus, and terminated on West Campus. In the course of the evening, both police and fire departments were summoned and attempted to quell the festivities. Nine students were arrested and one patrolman was injured during the action.

Early in the evening several East Campus residents started a mild bonfire between the parallel dorms and a crowd quickly gathered. As the evening wore on water bombs and tear gas were introduced on the scene, accompanied by the discord of many hi-fi sets blaring from the windows. By midnight the pickings had become poor on East Campus and the cry "March on West Campus" began to ring through the crowd. After several false starts, this suggestion was followed and the rioters made their way to Burton House.

Residents of Burton House were unprepared for the onslaught but quickly rallied their forces and began pitching firecrackers and water bombs from the roof. After a brief skirmish the defenders joined the attackers and the group, now numbering well over a hundred and fifty moved on Baker House. Material was soon gathered from nearby construction and a new blaze was born behind Baker in Briggs Field. When the flames began to die new fuel was requisitioned from discarded decorations at the Delta Kappa Epsilon house. Several members (came along with the decorations and joined the mob.

Great interest was aroused in Baker House as the residents lined the windows and roof and hurled various missiles at whatever was handy. Many residents left the house and joined the fray, which now involved over 200 people, congregated on Briggs Field.

The patients at the Santa Maria Hospital had become greatly disturbed by the noise and smoke and Miss Elanor Hamilton, night nurse, summoned the Cambridge police. Miss Hamilton later stated that many patients feared the building was on fire.

Two patrol cars arrived at 12:45 and were met by fresh deluges of water from the upper stories of Baker. The patrolmen warned the demonstrators to disperse or more men would be called and all those present, who could be caught, would be arrested. This announcement was met with cries of "more wood", "we hate cops", and 'let's have a panty raid". Members of the group quickly persuaded the others that any off campus demonstration was absolutely uncalled for, but no move was made to abandon the present activities.

Soon, three paddy wagons, filled with members of the riot squad, and an uncountable number of patrol cars arrived on the scene. The policemen entered the mob and began picking students at random and carrying them to the waiting paddy wagons. Many students were treated roughly and one was known to have been clubbed by some of the riot squad. During this period water continued to rain from the roof and windows and several of the policemen entered Baker House in a vain attempt to quiet the residents. A fire engine was called and the firemen quickly extinguished the blaze, while being drenched themselves. One officer was injured when a student hurled a water bomb into the fire and the flying embers struck him.
After nine students were arrested the remaining mob momentarily dispersed. They reappeared as soon as the majority of the policemen had left and more blazes soon appeared in the vicinity. The fire engines returned but the police took no further action and interest began to die out. During this period one unidentified student in a car raced through the drive behind Baker, narrowly missing several people.

After the melee had died down residents of Baker House collected over two hundred dollars and with this and other collections all the arrested students were bailed out by 3:00 a.m. They were charged with disturbing the peace and were arraigned in court Monday morning.