The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-02
Riot at BellevilIe, Illinois.

The strike of the Illinois miners, which
eliminated on Monday in rioting and blood
shed, has been in progress for fully two weeks.
A remarkable feature Gifts later 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 Sunday and work
was entirely suspended throughout the dis
trict The militia which Governor Hamilton
had ordered out on Thursday, consisting OF
companies from Taylorville, Edwardsville and
Verden, had been concentrated at East st.
Louis so as to be i'll readiness to
proceed to any point threatened. They were
placed under command of Colonel Barley,
of Springfield, who received Instructions from
the Governor to take his orders from the
sheriff Of the county in which the troops were
stationed. On Monday morning Col. Barkey
was notified that the mob had taken possession
of the mines around Bclleville and that the
civil authorities were powGrless.
He Immediately started with his three
companies on board "A train, and arrived at
Belleville late in the afternoon, where he
! learned that the mob had taken possession of
mine No | at Reinices, small station on
the Louisville and Nashville Railway. In St.
Clair county, about 81 miles west of Belleyllie.
The militia then started for that point, reach
/ ing it about $50 p. ~. From the car WIN,
dows they saw a mob of 800 strikers and
about 100 frantic women i'll possession 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 Il ravine between
! two high hills, and both bluffs were covered
/ with strikers, the women having tax zen po-
/ sition on the summit
! Deputy Sheriff Anthony, ofSt. Clair county,
mounted on box on the depot platform, and
/ addressing the strikers, said he did not desire
/ to have trouble, but he wanted the laws COM
| piled with, and urged the mob to dispense
/ peaceably. Before he had concluded pistol
was fired, and this was quickly followed by
| two more shots from the summit Of the hill.
/ The deputy drew bis pistol and fired TO-
/ wards the sp4t frOn whichthe shots proceeded.
/ This brought on Il general fusilade' from the
/ mob, and one Of the soldiers who was just get
ting out ofthe cars fell with bullet through his
! knee. Two-thirds of the militia were still III
! the cars. Deputy Sheriff Anthony ordered Col:
/ Barkleyto give the word to fire. The troops
| filed rapidly out of the cars and poured q vol
| lev into the strikers with deadly effect. The
/ latter retroated, but returned the fire, wherp-
/ upon SECOND YollGY Was given by the militia.
The mob scattered and ran through the gull
/ lies and raTines.
! The casualties were IA follows Fred eriek
| Hof'mastor, glass blower, shot through the
/ head and instantly killed; VIM. Starkey, shot
! through the head and hip, and will die; Jas.
! Blanchard wounded in the side dangerously;
| Martin Carroll, wounded slightly in the left
| leg. Of the militia, Elmer James was shot
through the leg Twentysix of the mob
! were maAe prsnMnrs