The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-06
THE FIGHT AT LEMONT.
A TOUGH TIME WITH THE STRIKING
QUARRYMEN.
Account of the Battle in the Streets
Continuous Stone Throwing Brings
on a Fusilade of Bullets-The
Killed and Wounded.

CHICAGO. May 6-The following is the &C.
count of the riot at Lemont Monday, in
which several rioters were shot and bayo-
neted and three killed:
1t was about 10 o'clock when the militia
arrived at the brow of the hill, which Is
about 500 yards above the town where they
were halted. Companies A and were then
ordered to fix bayonets and march in full
company front down the main road upon
the advancing and menacing strikers. Capt
Blanchard's company from Ottawa was de-
ployed to the right and ordered to take posi-
ton upon a hill overlooking the street lead
ing to the railway depot, while Company @,
with the Joliet battery and the Gatling gun,
were sent to the left to flank the road upon
the other side near the canal bridge. Com
panies A and B then took up their
march, and, with regular step and
bayonets fixed, advanced upon the striking
quarrymen, who stood threateningly In
their front Col Bennett who marched at
the head Of the column, ordered the striker,
and the citizens who were congregated In
the road and upon the sidewalk TO clear the
way The strikers advanced resolutely
few steps, but, finding the troops pressing
them pretty hard, number Of those in
the front broke away and ran up high hill
on the right Of the road. Company then
deployed as skirmishers and chased the
fleeing men up the hill until they sought
refuge behind the houses upon the higher
street at the top OF the hill When the
column was reformed and the march re-
sumed, the troops were saluted with volley
of stones, and for few minutes the air was
filled with flying missiles, which fell among
the soldiery, wounding several of them So
verely. Men and woman engaged in this
stone-slinging attack, and the women
seemed to excel the men in
strength, fury, and daring. But
little attention was paid to this dangerou,
mode of warfare at first. and the troops
pressed steadily forward to clear the road.
The men, both strikers and spectators, sui
lenly stood their ground and refused to move
until they were violently forced into
the houses or alley ways along the route.
Col Bennett struck several of the stub
| born crowd over their heads with the
| fat of his sword as he commanded them to
give way before the advancing soldiers As
the troops continued on their forward move
ment the stone-throwing became more dan
gerons, and several of the militia were Sc
verely hurt. The upper windows of some Of
the houses were filed with infatuated men
and women, and stones were hurled from
these vantage points upon the march
ing troops The officers had threat
ened several times to fire on the
| fighting crowd, but had refrained from
doing so, although they claim the provocs-
ton was sufficiently strong to warrant them
in such action At this point shot was
| fired, but whether from some one on the
sidewalk, or from one of the houses, cannot
be determined, and orders were given to
the men to fire. Amid a perfect deluge Of
stones the rear rank Of company B turned
and fired volley, aiming high, ami most
of the shots passed over the roofs Of the
houses. This firing was the signal for re
newed hostilities, and the missiles few over
their heads thick and fast. As the men ad
vanced some of the strikers and sew
eral women who were upon the eros
streets began to throw stones, and the sol
diers advanced upon them threatening Il
fire. At this point Jacob Kujawa, one Of
the boldest of the strikers, and who is known
as desperate character, was struck in the
back of the ear with a bullet, and dropped
dead upon the corner of the streets Tn
women then took to their heels and ran
Other shots were fired by the troops befor,
the men would yield and the throwing coult
be stopped
Tho following is list Of killed ant
wounded: Killed-Andrew Stelter, sho
through the brain; Jack Kujawa, died o
his wounds, and one other man named I'm
known. Wounded-John Polack, woundet
in ths left side with bayonet; Adolf MI
Ter, arm broken from shot from revolye
while in the act of hurting stones at the col
/, dry; A. Sipalipki, stabbed in the back;
Muddy, three slight stabs; Valentine Knoni
che, wounded in the head; P. Musial
wounded in the left side; Josep
Schelmetzka, struck on the head with
sword: w. Schaefer, bayonet thrust thong
the left arm; Frank Sizak, stabbed in tn
leg; ]. Schultz, wounded in the left arm; A
Nowack, flesh wound in the left side; tw
women, Mrs Luper and Mrs Lemasl
slight wounded by being pressed back wit
the butts of the muskets of che soldiers.
None of the wounded are very seriousl
hurt, and all will recover.
or the militia fourteen men were hit wit
. stones, but not hurt sufficiently to kee
them off duty. There was good deal {
indignation expressed by the citizens whs
it was known that two men had been kiileS
Its said that Steltzer, one OF the killed, va
block away from the scene Of the disturb
ance, and that he was not in sympathy wit
the rioters Kugawa, the other dead man.
? said to have been one of the most turbuler
. among the rioters. The woman Lemas
4 rushed up to soldier with large stone
her hand and attempted to strike him owe
j the head with it, at the same time seizin
' his muslzet She was thrown to one sid
= Int was not badly hurt