The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-30
LABOR TROUBLES,
The Militia Fires upon the Mob at
Bellevilfe. Ill.
A Number Killed, Wounded and Taken
Prisoners


st. Clair and adjacent counties tho past two
weeks has caused such condition OF aiialiJ
that last Thursday Coy. Hamilton ordered out
the militia 70 prot sot mining property near
Louisville, ILL., ConpanieB from Taylofgille,
Edwardsville and Virden, Ill. responded, the
three commands numbering about luV men,
They We're place in command Of Col Lark
ley, OF Springfield who was to receive his Or
ders from the sheriff ia whatever county the
soldiers were stationed, Upon their appeAsAnce
at Collinsviile the mob dispersed without in-
ficting any injury except numerically heitlng
the mon who ok their places Ia the mine.
Yesterday morning word ives hastily brought
T. the commander OF the militia ia CollinsYliie
that the mob had taken posses sion OF some
mines around Belesille, III, and that the civil
authorities were powerless TO control the strik~
ers. The three companies at once boarded q
train and arrived at Belleyile late in the alter-
noon. There they were informed that the mob
had taken possession Of mine No at kelnlcks
q small station ON the Louisville u Ngahsille
railway in st, Clair county, abont three and a
half miles west OF Belleville, ILL., The lAa iitia
arrived about D. 80 o'olt ok D. M, and on Ii 9xing
from the Windows of the train fonnd a nk4A OF
5c9 strikers aud about IIj frantic wonlsn In
possession Of the mine. The women, who had
just arrived from Rose Hill, were wild with
rage and fury, aud were more demonstrative
than the men, The train stopped 10 ravine
between two high hills and both bluffs were
covered With strikers, the women taking pos
session Of the summit. Deputy Sheriff AM
thony, OF st. Clair assembled box on the de-
pot platform, and addressing the strikers said
he had not como there TO have trouble; he
wanted the law complied with, and this la a
peaceable manner il possible. just then the
report Of pistol rang out ON the air followed
by couple more from Summit Hill. The
deputy felt bullet whistle around his ear and
noticing whore The smoke came from in the
mob he drew his pistol and fired at the spot.
This was the signal for a general fusilade from
the mob, and one soldier who was Just getting
out OF tho cars dropped with bullet through
his knee. Two thirds Of the militia were Btill
in the cars, whom Deputy Sheriff Anthony or
dered Col. Barkeley to give the word to ire.
The colonel shonted out his order and the mill
tia poured yolley into into the strikers with
deadly effect. The miners retreated and re-
turned ths fire. when second yolley went
after the first. Both men and women acattered
like sheep and went helter-3keiter through the
gulies and Tavines. After the smoke cleared
away it was found that one Of the mob had
been instantly killed and apother shot co badly
through the head that he cannot recover, a
third was shot through his hips, and several
made theif escape, leaving bloody trails be-
hind them. The exact number OF wounded
could not be learned, but the following is the
best authenticated list;
Fred Hoifmasser, glassblower, killed; vii.
liaui Starkey, shot through the head and hip,
will die, James Blanchard wounded in side,
dangerously; Martin Carroll, wounded slight
ly ia the left leg.
on the militia side, Elmer James. Of Ed
wardsville, shot through the tisshy part OF the
leg, not dangerous.
Twenty-six Of the mob were captured and
made prisoners, aud are held by the soldiers Ia
camp
Company f, of Edwardsyile. numbering
forty-hye men, is garFisoned at Remick with
the prisoners, and tho TaglorsgilIe and Virden
companies lett late ia the evening for home IL
4 ia fsr.il
readiness 70 move 10 CollInsyile in the morn
Ing, where trouble Is anticipated. At late
hour everything was quiet Ia the Belleyille
district
Another. account says only two reyolgers
were found on tho priLoners. The women BE-
came very turbulent after the engagement but
they were removed hy an escort OF militia
without further serious trouble.
There was great excitement IN Bellevilie,
some q miners paraded the streets with drums
and held maSs meeting 81 the Court House,
st which the speakers dan0unce / the action Of
the militia IN firing on the miuers.
Later dispatches from Belleville say the tone
OF the press there this morning WIS favorable
to tho strikers and many efizsns were on their
side, believing the militia acted very hf Silly
and did wrong in firing on the crowd. The
prisoners, thirty 10 number, we're brought into
town about neon ana great crowd met them
al the Depot. The entire police force Of the city
aud number OF deputy sheriffs were present TO
Keep order 10 men were aIter consultation
were released on their rscognizance after
which the great crowd OF strikers present took
them ia charge aud pareded through Court
House fquaFe. An inquest began about noon
All the officers testified the miners fred the
trst shots last evening, and fifteen witnesses,
i've Of them women, swoTo that the tFoops
hred first. The inquest will be continued To-
morrow. The name OF the dead man Is Hem
oerson, not Anderson. All miners IN the
district have been ordered out and . great
demonstration will be made. The miners are
pow ready 20 arbilrata. A committee of three
has been appointed ID meet with this bosrn OF
trade Of Bsleyille and consult with the mine
owners and eff It ii possible some comprc-
mise under which the men can return to work
The Governor hs ordered the militia away
from Remicg's mine and twenty deputy sher-
IFS are now on guard there.