Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-08
A FATAL vOLLEY.
4 Mob of Miners Defy the Civil Authorities,
tobe Dispersed by n voIley and a Charge
from the 1Iilitia-One OF the Rioters
Killed and Others Wounded.

tobe Dispersed by a vOiley and Charge
from the HIilitia-One of the Rioters
Killed and Others Wounded.
BELLEvILLE, ILL.,, May %.
The coal miners strike in st. Clair and
Madison Counties, which has been in prog
ress for the last few weeks and which caused
such critical state of affairs at the Abbey
mines, near Collinsville, last week, that
the State militia had to be called out, cul-
minated yesterday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock
in collision between the militia and the
striking miners, in which blood flowed, one
miner being killed and one, and perhaps
more, wounded. This battle between the
striking miners and three companies of
militia took place at little way station
called Reinecke, on the Louisville d
Nashville Railroad, in st. Clair County,
and about three and a half miles from Belle
Vile. 1t was short, sanguine and effective,
md when the smoke cleared from the val
ley the militia were in possession OF the
field, while a dead miner lay on the bank
Of the gully with the crown of his head shot
OFF, another lay up among the trees on the
bluff shot through the hip, twenty-six OF
them stood under guard as prisoners, and
The remainder of the 400 or 800 had scat
tered over the hills and into the gullies and
ravines out of reach of the fire of the sol
diers. The seventy-five women who had
taken the leading part in the days proceed.
lngs before the arrival of the militia took to
heir heels also at the sound of the mus
ketry.
The first scene of the day was at the Rose
Hill Mine, on Wards farm, on a switch of
the Pittsburgh Railroad, about mile west
Of Belleville. The miners here have had
numerous strikes, but not till this one have
the females of the miners families taken
any active part in them. After the militia
was called to the Abbey Mines last week
and the strikers were overawed, the wives
and daughters of the latter became des-
perate and declared that if their protectors
could not cope with the soldiers they would
try their hands at the business and see If
American soldiers would interfere with
women organized and demanding what
they deemed fair for husbands and fathers.
The late strike inaugurated several
weeks ago, but the Rose Hill folks were not
interfered with till Wednesday last. Then
a committee of the strikers called upon
them and asked that they suspend work till
the strike was ended. This was finally ac-
coded to, provided that coal ceased before
Monday to come in on the Cairo Short Line.
the strikers agreeing that if coal continued
to come in the Rose Hill Mine might re-
sumo on Monday yesterday. After tho
calling out of the militia at ColIinsyilIe.
however, the women determined to take n
hand in the fight, and hearing that tho Rose
Hill men had threatened to 90 to work last
Friday, fifteen of these women were aft that
mine bright and early on that morning to
prevent it, But the Rose Hill folks stated
that they intended to observe their agree
ment with the strikers, and would not re j..
sumo till Monday, and not then if coal
ceased to come in on the Short Line.
The women declared that under no
to resume work and left, stating that thew
would be on hand Monday morning to see
that the mine continued to remain idle
Coal continued to come in on the Short Line
from Marissa on Saturday, and the Rose
Hill folks determined to commence work on
Monday, as did Conrad Reinecke and Mr..
Knecht, whose mines are on the L. 81 N.
Railroad. They had first calledupon the Sher.
if and asked if themselves, men and prom
erty would be protected from the strikers
IN the event they resumed the operation of
their mines. The Sheriff replied that thew
would have adequate protection, and ar
rangements were made for the running of
these mines again yesterday morning
True to their wsrd, the women were on
hand to prevent the Rose Hill mine from
working.
They gathered their forces i'm West Belle
vile, and numbered sixty-one as they
marched from the West End for the Rose
Hill mine. They were of all ages, from six
teen to sixty-five years, and many of them
had their children with them.
William Groom, aged seventeen, who as
sisted his grandfather, Bob Groom, as
engineer Mt the mine, was at the Rose Hill
mine at O'Clock yesterday morning and
Just getting ready to start a fire in the
CINE, by which the cars are lifted and low
cred Ill the shaft, when this force of women
halted at the mine. They asked if the mine
was to be worked that day and young
Groom answered that it was the intention
he continued to prepare the wood and coal
for the fire while the women were making
savage threats. AS the young engineer
paid no attention to the sayings or threats
the women held a short consultation and it
was determined to capture the young man,
strip him of his clothing and throw him
into the pond adjoining the run, unless he
deslsted from building the engine fire.
They communicated to young Groom this
dire threat and told him that it would GER.
tainly be carried into execution unless he
complied with their demand. He saw that
they meant business, and said that if they
would only let the engine be started so
that feed could be conveyed to the poor
mules in the mine, that would be all
that would be done at that mine.
But the women would not listen to this
appeal in behalf of the underground mules
and declared no fire should be built They
said they were starving themselves, and
their lives and those of their children were
of more consequence than those of all I'll g
mule kingdom. The lad still persisted in ar
ranging for the fire, and the leaders gave
the order to seize the lad, undress him and
pitch him into the pond. Just as they were
taking off his vest he shouted, "All right,
Pll quit making the fire if YOU let me go 70
Those who had hold of him let go their
hold. Then others of the cooperative Rose
hill mine came upon the scene and begged
that the mules be permitted to be fed. But
the women declined to let this be done, and
declared that whoever attempted the light
ing. of the fire would be disrobed and
ducked. So the Rose Hill folks surrendered
TO the band of women and agreed to refrain
from starting fire or working the mine.
The women remained about the mine a
short time and, seeing that no attempt was
being made to fire up, they set out for other
fields of conquest.
They learned that the knecht mine, an
other of those which were to resume yester-
cay, would not be put in operation, as
repairs were going on about, and in it, and
they therefore directed their attention to
the Reinecke mine, three miles from Belle
vile and one mile east of Brkner, on the
j. q n. Mr.. Reinecke is one of the largest
operators in st. Clair County and operates
two or three mines, this one, which is a
concluded to start up yesterday and had
employed about thirty-five outsiders to go
into the mine yesterday morning, which
thew did. For their protection Sheriff
Ropiequet had provided seven special
deputies under the command of Deputy
Sheriff Anthony of East ST. Louis. and sent
them to the mine in the morning. The new
miners had no difficulty in getting to or
into the mine, as there were no strikers
there at the early hour they arrived.
10 vfeyif T).,t,,
after their Rose Hill work, the women de-
tsrmined to augment their forces and re-
turned to West Belleville for that purpose
After marshalling their forces they had
about seventy-five and they started off in
wagons for the scene of conflict. The
works OF the mine are situated on the north
eide of the railroad track and close to it, on
steep hill some forty feet in height. On
the south of the railroad is a ravine or
valley some one hundred and fifty feet in
width, and this valley is inclosed by hill
which extends in a semi-circle. This hill
is about seventy-five feet in height, slopes
lIxr 70 &c forl IL