The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-06-06
aNnLrrors LABOR RIOT.


Sr. LOUIS, May 29.-The Strike Of
the Illinois miners, which culminat-
ed yesterday in rioting and blood
shed, has been in progress for fully
two weeks. A remarkable feature
of its latter stages was the active part
which the wives and daughters OF
the miners took in preventing the
new men from working the mines.
These Amazons, numbering fully
300, marching in battle array and
supported by about $50 miners, took
possession Of the mines yesterday,
and work was entirely suspended
through the district. The militia
which Governor Hamilton had or
dered out on Thursday, consisting
of Co. from Taylorville, Edwards
vile and Verden, had been concen-
trated at East St. Louis, 90 - to be
in readiness to yroceed to any point
threatened. They were placed un-
der command of Colonel Barkley, of
Springfield, who received instruc-
tions from the Governor to take his
orders from the Sheriff of the county
in which the troops are stationed.
Yesterday morning Colonel Bark
lev was notified that the mob had
taken possession OF the mines around
Belleville, and that the civil authori-
ties were powerless. Immediately
he started with his three companies
on board train, and arrived at Belle
vile late in the afternoon, when he
learned that the mob had taken pos
session of Mine No. l, at Reinicke, Q
small station on the Louisville and
Nashville Railway, in St. Clair coun-
ty, about three and half miles west
Of Belleville. The military then
started for that point, reaching it
about 5.3Op. From the car win
dows they saw mob of 500 strikers
and about 100 frantic women In pos
session of the mine.
The women had just come from
Rose Hill, and, wild with rage, were
very much more demonstrative than
the men. The train had stopped in
a ravine between two high hills, and
both bluffs were covered with
strikers, the women having taken a
possession on the summit. Deputy
Sheriff Anthony, of St. Clair county,
mounted upon q box on the depot
platform, and, addressing the strik-
ers, said he did not desire to have
trouble, but he wanted the laws
complied with, and urged the mob
to disperse peaceably. Before ne
had concluded the report of a pistol
rang out on the air, followed by two
more shots from the summit of the
hill. The deputy felt a bullet whis-
tie past his ear, apd noticing where
the smoke came from in the mob
drew his pistol and fired in that di-
rection. :.
This was the signal for {. general
fusilade from the mob, and one of
the soldiers, who was just getting
out of the cars, fell with a bullet
through his knee. Twe-thirds OF
the military were still in the cars
when Deputy Sheriff Anthony or
dered Colonel Barkley to give the
word to fire, and the Colonel shouted
out the command to his men. The
troops filed rapidly out of the cars
and poured a volley into the strikers
with deadly effect. The latter re-
treated, but returning the fire, where
upon a second volley was given by
the military. The mob, men and
women alike, scattered and ran
helter-skelter through the gullies and
ravines. After the smoke cleared
away it was found that ono of the
strikers had been instantly killed
and another shot through the head
so that he cannot recover. A third
was shot through the hip. Several
made their escape, leaving bloody
trails behind them.
Twenty-six of the mob were made
prisoners and are now held by the
soldiers in their camp. Company +,
of Edwardsyille, numbering forty.
five men, remain at Reinicke with
the prisoners. The Taylorville and
verden companies left late last night
for home, but are under orders to
hold themselves in readiness to move
on Collinsville, where trouble is an
ticipated.