Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-29
AN ARMED MOB OF WOMEN
TIGERS IN NPETTICOATS JOIN THE
ILLINOIS STRIKERS.

The AmaZonian Band of FerOciOus
Wives and Daughters $50 Strong
Everything Swept Before Them-Their
Armament the OId-Time CIub-The
Situation Critical.
ST. LOUIS, May 2S.-Reports from Col
linsville, ILL.,, received late last night
say that perfect quiet prevailed there all
day yesterday. The militia have had
nothing to do and the few strikers there
have either kept out of sight or manifest
ed no disposition to create any further
disturbances. Reports from Belleville
and that neighborhOOd say that the
strikers held several meetings at different
places yesterday but they were
all secret and nothing is known
OF the strikers proceeding or what they
intend to do. Their future action will
depend largely on what the mine owners
DO. Most of the miners will attempt TO
resume operations to-day, the Sheriff of
the county having given his assurance of
full protection to all men who desire to
work. A considerable number of
strikers left Belleville Saturday evening
for points south of Cairo. on
the Short Line Railroad, at Lenzburg.
they met a coal train and threatened
u, l.
lowed it to proceed. 1t is stated that the
militia now at and near COllinsville will
be concentrated to-day at East st. Louis,
from which place they can be more
promptly distributed to all parts of the
country should occasion require. Guards
will be left at the COllinsville mine, how
ever. No arrests have as yet been re-
ported, but quite number of warrants
are i'll the hands of The Sheriff, and they
will probably be served to-day.
The latest information from the mining
dIstaicts in st. Clair county, ILL.,, is to the
effect that work was to have been resumed
this morning at the Rose Hill mine, near
West Belleville, but when the men were
about to begin work at ) O'Clock band
of 100 women, wives and daughters
OF the strikers, marching two abreast,
and armed with stout clubs, appeared on
the scene, and after some alteration
compelled the men to desist and work
was not started. The Sherifi's posse was
driven back by women, and the latter are
now in possession of the mine. The mil
ltarv are assembled in East St. Louis,
and detachment will probably be sent to
Rose Hill to restore order and protect
the men who desire to work.
After completing their work at Rose Hill
and leaving guard there to see that
their mandate was carried out, the women
marched to Reinick's mine No. 1, three
miles from Belleville, on the Louisville and
Nashville Railway, and being reinforced
by large number Of strikers
drove out the men working there. The
mob at this point is said to be increasing
rapidly, and now numbers several hun
dred, including about one hundred wO-
men, who constitute the most unmanage-
able part of the crowd, and are beyond
the control OF the civil authorities.
The Sheriff has telegraphed to Governor
Hamilton for military aid. 1t is known
that work i'll the mine was stopped, and
that some very ugly threats were made
regarding the consequences of any at
tempt to resume. AT Marissa, some
fifteen miles beyond Belleville, a
crowd of miners appeared in the morn
ing, and demanded that work should
cease. Deputy Sheriff Ragland, who was
present with civil posse, told them that
any interference with the working of the
mine would result in bringing out the
force, who would arrest all dis
turbers. He then advised them to retire,
an1 fbou did