Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-01
BLOODSHED AND RIOTING.
A PICNIC BOAT THE SCENE OF A
FREE-FOR-ALL FIGHT.

The Keeper of Lunch Counter Killed
on Principle by the Crowd for Resent
ing RObbery-The Bartender Put to
Flight-Miners in a State of Turmoil.
COLUMBUS, o., Aug. 3l.-Reports have come
from the Hooking valley to the effect that the
miners at Snake Hollow made an attach on
the guards at O'Clock this morning, one of
them being killed and two wounded. 1t is re-
ported that about 5000 miners who came In
from the surrounding country made an at
tack. The telegraph lines are all cut, and the
Sheriffs in that vicinity thus prevented from
communicating with the Governor in order to
call out the militia. One of the coal honDnrs
was burned during the night, entaiing a loss
of about $4,000. No definite information has
yet been received here as to the reason for
cutting of telegraphic communication. AS
soon as the lines are repaired direct COM
munication viii be had with the Governor
The columbus and Hooking Valley Railroad
and Coal Company's officials went down on a
special train this morning. They ext,ect
further trouble later in the day or to- might
Sheriff Mccarthy, of Athens county. sends
the following telegram to Gov. Hoadly from
Buchtel, which is in the neighborBOod of
where the riot occurred last night:
shooting. was commenced by the rioters
about O'Clock this morning and continued
about an hour, / am not able to Judge of the
number ofmen nor to say how many shots
were fired. The firing was general and not
less than zoe or 700 shots were fired. One
hundred or more men were riOting around
with shotguns, rifles and revolvers One of
the guard was shot dead without groyaca-
ton, and while pleading for mercy, and two
others were wounded.
THE FIRE RETURNED.
''The guard returned the fire, but / cannot
say whether any person was killed or wound
ed" Ghe Sheriff IS unable to say how soon
another attack will be made. No troops can
be forwarded except on an order from the
iG i'm Afv,ac to
ceive such an order.
A Nelsonville special received this after
noon, says: SAT O'Clock this afternoon the
guards on duty at No. miTe were
suddenly surrounded by a lot Of armed
men. In the meantime the coalhop-
peFs were discovered on fire. The men
had their faces blackened. The telegraph
wires were cut in several places in the valley,
cutting off communication. A newspaper rep
resentatlve was surrounded and ordered to
leave the town suffer the consequences"
The name of the guard killed is William
Hare, an elderly man, and resident of Lo-
gan. The wounded guards are Jacob Left, of
Logan, shot in the leg, and another whose
name Is not given, was shot IN the head. The
striking miners are concentrating tonight at
Murray City, and the Deputy Sheriff in charge
there has applied to the Sheriff for aid. 1t is
thought that troops will be called out before
morning. At all the other points in the val
ley everything is reported quiet. Murray City
is about five miles from Snake Hollow, and
not so well guarded.
RudfOS
sand Run and LOFgstreth mines. Both places
have called for help, and the militia at Ian
caster and New Lexington have been Orde red
TO be in readiness for marching orders.
Owing to the cutting of the wires, particulars
are obtained with difficulty. Gov. Hoadly
has telegraphed the Sheriffs Of Athens, H0ck-
ing and Perry countless
"All means in your control should be eX-
hausted to suppress the riOtOus proceedings
and protect life and property before the aid
of the State is called for"
ANOTHER STORY OF THE TROUBLE.
Another account of the Laundrymen's ex-
cursion and murder says that between 700 and
800 of che employees of the Empire Steam
Laundry Company, which carries on a large
establishment here and in New Jersey, went
on an excursion this morning. Many of the
male employees Of the laundry are men who
have "dOne time" in different State prisons,
where they had learned this trade When
the party was few miles beyond Elizabeth
port, n. j., gang of roughs began to clean
out the bar and lunch counters. George
KOph, who was in charge of the lunch coun-
ter, attempted to protect his wares, but was
set upon and severely beaten. He was finally
struck upon the head with beer glass and
killed.
THE SUPPOSED MURDERER.
The glass is supposed to have been thrown
by man named John Behan. When oppo-
site Port Richmond Behan and four compan-
| ions took small boat and escaped. Behan,
| however, was captured later. The crowd
soon disposed of the dead mans stock and
! next attacked the bar, run by William Kaest-
ner, of this city. Seeing the result of Koph's
! resistance, the bartender fed. The rIoting
| crowd seized kegs of lager and, after drink
! ing all they could they hurled the remainder,
| forty five kegs, into the river. The Captain
| of the barge, seeing that affairs were
/ getting worse, headed his vessel
! for this city. The fighting and rioting con-
| tinued until a landing was made. Police
! were on hand to receive the gang. Koph was
| 80 years old and has a family. A son of the
/ deceased saws that he can identify the man
/ who threw the glass, and his description tall
| lies with that of Behans