The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-19
The Srreutor Poisoning

lHc aCtudl sldtc pl tue Hcu. ny many IL WIS
looked upon as "hoax.' scouting the idea that
such wholesale murder were possible in so peace
full town as Streator, and in the state OF ILL
nois. With the morning came rumors confirm
Ing all that had been said, though eXaggerating
the real fact, as might be expected. The excite
ment increased during the morning and reports
varying chiefly in the degree Of the horror of
the deed spread like the wind.
To form correct idea Of the case, and to see
If possible the grounds and the men, and learn
the facts Of the case from headquarters, report
err of the TRADER on Tuesday, in company with
Marshal Harris, visited Streator, and learned all
that could be discovered at that time, which we
give our readers. In Streator we found the poi
sonng' was TIE chief topic of conversation.
Everybody was excited and horror stricken as
founded at the boldness ana magnitude of the
terrible crime, and bewildered as to the manner
of its accomplishment; and, seemingly, the
longer they talked OF it the more the mystery
grew. During the few hours we spent there we
talked with Mr. Stevens, of the office of the coal
company, with Mr.. Hoge, of the Free Press City
Marshal Rockwell, employees at "Shaft No. g
and others, and the facts we learned are about
these:
With the details of the original troubles, the
cutting down OF wages 10y the coal company
and the refusal of the men to work on the com.
panys terms-10 cents per ton in summer and
50 cents in winter; the importation Of "blackleg"
miners and special police from Chicago to pro.
teet the "blacklegs," &c, the readers Of the FREE
TRADER are already familiar, the senior editor
having written the first reliable article on the
subject published outside Of Streator. Through
all the difficulty with the coal company the min.
ers, through their good conduct, had won the
entire respect Of the community as well as their
sympathy, for excepting a few minor alterca-
lions res ulting in an occasional black eye or
bloody nose, no difficulties had occurred between
the "od' or regular miners and the "blacklegs'
or special police And when about two weeks
ago the regulars" held a secret meeting and
decided Notwithstanding the opposition Of some,
to accept the terms of the company and TO begin
work again, there was general feeling OF relief,
il being supposed that this would end the trou-
bles. The men were reinstated IN the mines as
fast as there was room for them, so that at the
time Of poisoning" on Monday all the principal
shafts except mo. ." were filled with old miners,
and so far as could be learned everything was
working satisfactorily. The "backlegs," finding
with the old miners, were constantly leaving and
old miners taking their places Only about 100
"blacklegs" were left and these all in mo. ."
where the poisoning occurred
To understand the case it should be remem-
bered that at mo. 2" the coal company had
built what is known as the headquarters" a
large two story frame building where the "black-
were prepared also in old cars near the shaft
and in the machine shop. The "blaclilegs" were
not allowed to leave the grounds for fear Of col
lisions with the men whose places they were
filling, and the whole was guarded by special po-
lice who took special precautions to keep all
strangers off the place. When the old miners
returned to the mines the "blackegs" were re.
tanned at mo. ." at their former price of 81 per
day and board, but as members of the "blackleg'
gang were constantly becoming dissatisfied and
leaving, number-about 30--of the old miners
were also at work in mo. ." on Monday. The
old miners Of course did not lodge nor eat at the
headquarters"
At the headquarters" in the cook house the
meals for the "blacklegs" were prepared, the
morning and evening meals being taken above
ground and dinner in their "rooms" below In
the mine. These dinners are put up the day be.
fore in dinner pals by the cooks in the "hcad.
quarters" and placed in the dining loom where
they stand over night, and as the men pass out
in the morning to go below, each man takes his
pail with him, keeping it in the room where he
works till noon. In the mines the old miners
and the "blacklcgs" worked together, only in
separate rooms; and all were allowed 10 move
about til mine at will.
Now whether the poison was put into the din.
ner pals on Monday (Which were filed on sun
day and which stood in the dnning.ro over
night above ground or below is not now known,
we believe; hut its presence in the pals was
discovered about noon. Al noon man went
through the mine Informing the men Of
the hour, who a, once began eating their
meal. As soon as three or five minutes after
eating the Lcn began 10 show the evidences Of
poison, being siezed with terrible cramps and
vomiting. The sick men were Immediately TAX.
til .I, uui Is I4N Nbleltluls IHNitaSGt,
all the men in the mine were taken out Phys.
clans were summoned and everything done to
alleviate the mems suherings. By four O'Clock
the number down amounted TO about 60, and tie
sight in the barracks oi the sixty strong healthy,
able-bodicd men, dirty and in their working
clothes, writing in torture and doubled up with
cramps caused by the poison, etc, il said to have
been most terrible. On Tuesday, when VIC saw
the barracks with from 20 10 20 men in bed, cy-
cry Thing was quiet aud gave bat lll,lc evidence
OF the tortures Of the night before Many Of The
men were out, few at work, and others appar.
emily doing well, though the doctors say there
is Danger Of deaths any time within 4 month.
The poison used was arsenic, and the only rca-
son why the 30 men are no, dead 10 day Is be-
cause the villain who did The job did not under
stand his bu-iness,and gave too large G dose-so
large that the stomach rejected il; the danger
OF death being from internal Inflammation caus-
cd By the terrible wretcAng and the poison It
was put into the dinner pals. but whether into