Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-20
n FIRST BLOOD.
A Fight Between a Sherif'S Posse
and the Strikers.
1T RESULTS IN AN INQUEST ON FIVE OF
THE LATTER
A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.
A short, sharp and Bloody En-
counter.

At an early hour yesterday morning
Hank Storey, who had accompanied one OF
Lamoureux's teams to Fish Greek, arrived
in Eureka with the intelligence that a des-
perate fight had taken place late on Mon
day afternoon between the Sheriff g posse,
led by officer Simpson, and a band OF Ital-
ian coal burners. Storey's account, given
Of course under intense excitement, was
not altogether connected, and during the
day was garbled beyond all recognition. A
number OF men were reported killed and
wounded. and Sheriff Kyle, Coroner Smith
and DR.. Thoma Immediately left for the
scene.
Throughout the day all sorts Of rumors
we're afoat on the street. The number OF
dead rose from five to eleven, and the dead
and wounded to twenty-six. 1t vas known
that none OF the Sheriff IS posse had been
injured, and this led to a good deal Of
speculation and the expression OF coDsid-
cradle feeling among the Italians and those
who sympathize with the strikers. No one
could give a satisfactory reason why so
many OF the burners had been killed and
wounded while no casualties were reported
on the opposite side. The matter, how
ever, is clearly explained in the account Of
the fight published below.
what Led to the Fight.
On Monday afternoon Deputy Simpson,
accompanied by Joe Toomey, left for Fish
Creek for the purpose Of arresting some
Of the strikers who had prevented the load
ing of Lamoureux's teams, numbering six
in all. When nearing Pages upper ranch
they were met by Billy Martin, who said
the strikers were in such force that it
would be impossible to load any teams.
Simpson replied that he was in quest of
certain men and had nothing to do with
the teams and continued on his journey,
accompanied by Martin. Upon reaching
the ranch they ound Bob Brown, d team
owner Marshal Rich. Hank Storey, James
Porter, q. Smith and another man whose
name we nave been unable to learn.
Brown reported that about $50 Of his sacks
had been emptied and that he had been
forcibly prevented from loading his coal.
Simpson, accompanied by the entire party,
proceeded south in search Of the main
body OF tho strikers, and when some eight
miles beyond Pages ranch the Deputy
Sheriff espied three men crossing the
road about $50 yards to his right, the
posse ut the time being in a narrow ravine.
Thinking this was the advance Of a
larger body, the officer called to his men
in front and turning rode to the point, while
the posse struck for the same place, max
ing a defour however in order to prevent
the burners from getting ont Of the ravine.
On arriving at thes spot the posse found
themselves confronted with about l25 men,
about SO Of whom were armed, having
cooked revolyers in their hands, and sew
eral mounted. At the head Of the strikers
..Jaa ,o.. -1.n.. S;un,aaa ,.o~Ys~nl -.
one for whom he had a warrant, and whom
he had met at Browns ranch. The man
upon being questioned acknowledged his
indemnity. In the meantime, the officers
assistants bad dismounted and ranged
themselves in line, about twenty feet in
the rear. Joe Toomey, who was on a line
with Simpson. advanced a few steps toward
the crowd OF strikers and found himself
confronted with the muzzle Of a rifle, which
he grasped and threw to one side. Another
striker, armed with a huge knife, then adj
vanced on TooIey, and Simpson, seeing
his danger, warned the man not to assault
him, informing him that Toomey was an
officer, at the same time showing his own
badge of Office. A conversation then en-
sued between Simpson and the leader Of
the party, in which the officer said it would
be folly to have any difficulty over the
matter. and advised him to accompany him
peacefully to the city. The striker asked
for the officers authority, and the latter
then read the warrant. At this juncture
mother party eame up and sitting down
by the mounted striker, asked permission
to sec the warrant. As the man spoke ex-
cellent English Simpson complied readily,
and passed over the document, stating
again that he had only come in an official
capacity, and not for the purpose OF taking
orx. mart 10 tho lna1ipn ~ rnal a. Vow
can't arrest anybody here" remarked the
mounted striker ''you have not men
enough. and can't bring enough" Simp-
son, realizing his p~erilous position, said I:
"Ali right" and turning to the man with
the warrant asked for its return. This the
latter bluntly refused TO do. saying he
guessed he conld take care of II. At this
juncture Marshal Rich walked up TO Simp-
son and pointing ont a striker standing by
his buggy. requested the officer to arrest
him. asserting that the day previous he
had threatened his (Rich'sl life, and had
prevented him from loading coal by a
threatening display OF a revolver. you're
a Cd id lying s--n Of o b--h. and
no one ever drew a revolver on you" said
the mounted leader Of the strikers, 70 which
Rich promptly retorted "You are q Cd
id cowardly one, and think you can
scare us because you are ten to one"
The Fight.
AT this time the posse Of nine men were
ranged almost in a straight line about so
feet long. with Simpson ON the right and
Billy Martin on the left, while the main
body Of strikers were huddled together in
q space scarcely larger than that occupied
by the posse. About half a dozen, mostly
mounted, were in advance. while at least q
dozen surrounded Simpsons buggy, some
yards in the rear. The moment Rich re-
piled to the insulting remark of the
striker, the latter drew a revolver, and
taking deliberate aim at Rich he pulled the
trigger. At the same moment his horse
SHE'D violently, di~sconcerting his aim, q
fact to which Rich undoubtedly owes his
life. In au instant a perfect fusilade was
opened between the two parties. The I'M
armed strikers, who had been impressed
by their comrades, took to their heels.
Five OF those immed iately in front, three
mounted and two on foot. went down be-
fore the officers dea lily fire, and this,
taken in connection with the stampede OF
more than half their number. demoralized
such OF the burners as were disposed to
show fight, and they retreated uncere-
moniously to the hills, hiding behind sage
brush aud cedars.
After the Battle.
OF the five men who had fallen three
died almost instantly. Fourteen prison.
crs had been secured, and taking three Of
thaoa whoaa tast;,,ony ha daaired Eimu-