Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-14
4 Fatal Strike.
a Collision Between Troops
and Strikers Takes Place
at LemOnt and Two
Strikers are
Killed.
DETAILS OF THE JOLIET AND LEMoN1
STRIKE.

LEMoNT, H., May 4.-The strike
among quarrymen here and at Joliet
has finall assumed proportions of
magnitude. Men who went out be-
cause they failed TO receive an sd
vance of wages from 81 so to 81. rs a
day, have been in a turbulent CON
dition for 4 weeks, during which time
the quarries have all been idle. g. mum
Der of quarry owners had repeatedly
tried to resume operations but the
strikers invaribly drove the workmen
away and for two weeks have domi-
mated, and IN a measure terrorized
the entire surrounding region. It be-
came evident on Friday that the
county authorities could not con
troll them and the governor was
ASKED TO SEND TROOPS.
He responded promptly by sending
five companies from Joliet, Ottawa,
LaSalle, Streator and Bloomington.
The first meeting between the troops
and the strikers occurred between LIE
mont and Joliet Saturday afternoon,
but the four hundred strikers who
were marching on to Joliet from Lee
mont fled when they were exposed to
the sudden attack of the militia, Sew
enty of their number however, were
captured by troops, disarmed and
marched to Joliet under guard.
On Sunday morning, however, the
sheriff of Will county released the
prisoners and they returned to Lee
mont, where they are credited with
provoking the trouble which resulted
IN the serious rioting of today. The
occasion of
BLOODSHED TO-DAY
is, therefore, generally attributed to
the ill-advised action Of Sheriff Rietz,
of Joliet, who has been charged, in
some quarters, with having Synpa-
thized with the rioters Matters re
manned quiet over Sunday, but when
the troops arrived from Joliet, this
morning, to protect the quarries at
Lemout, they were met by q very
large and apparently well organized
mob.
Prior to the coming of the troops
the rioters had boarded several pas,
senger trains on the Chicago & Alton
road armed with clubs to prevent the
disembarklng OF any troops. The
troops were landed, however, one
mile south of L9mOnt at $50 this
morning, Col. Bennett commanding
the troops at Joliet, received orders
from the governor to proceed to LIE
mont A special train was in wait
ing, and at 8 o'clock four cars of tie
fourth regiment, with detachment
of 9 battery Of artillery, of Joliet,
and Gatling gun and camp equip
ment, left for LemoGt. About one
mile from town they were met by
Deputy Sheriff Potter and the troops
disembarked.
The sheriff ordered the colonel to
crowd assembled at the depot waiting
for the train. Company D, of Otta
wa, was extended as a skirmishing
line through the quarries, the line ex~
tending from the canal to the bluffs.
The main body, consisting Of company
a, of Streator, under Lieut.. st. Clair,
company g, of Joliet, under Capt.
Jackson, company O., of Blooming.
ton, under Capt Smith, and the Cat
ling gun detachment under Lieut..
Kimber, of Springfield, moved north
along the bluff road until they reached
the street crossing at right angles to
the bluff, when they were met by the
city marshal, followed by a crowd
who were making great demonstra
tons.
The marshal ordered the troops tc
halt but he was told by Col. Bennett
to retire or he would be placed under
arrest. He complied, and company [
h 81,
three streets north took up