The Portland daily press., 1885-05-05
STRIKING QUARRYMEN.
Collision Between Strikers and the
Troops.
Two of the Former Reported Killed


city has just received word from Lemsnt that
collision occurred between the troops and
striking quarrymen at that town this morning,
and that TWO of the strikers were killed. Two
morning to guard the quarries there and to en-
able the non n-strikng men to resume work. No
details have yet been received.
The action of the sheriff of Will county in
releasing 70 strikers captured by the troops
near Joliet last Saturday, and who came from
Lemont, is assigned as ono of the causesfor the
present outbreak.
LEMoNT, May About 1000 strikers assem-
bled at the depot here this morning with the
Intention OF capturing the militia If any came
They afterwards went to Walker and Singer 3
quarries and ousted them. At $50 four COM
psnies of militia and detachment of Battery
y arrived from Joliet with Gen. Vance and
Col. Bennett in command. They stopped at
the Excelsior quarry, and one company de-
ployed as skirmishers, the other three COM
panles marching to the quarries, where a mob
had bongregated, to disperse them. The troops
were met on the edge of the town by a mob of
3O0 or 400. Two companies under command of
Col. Bennett formed front and charged up
Main street with fixed bayonets, while the 9th .
er company with detachment of Battery G,
formed at the right and left on side streets and
the command, Forward, charge bayonets,"
was given.
The mob, with wild hooting and cheering
n.
as the troops advanced steadily the mob gave
way to the side of the street, and hurled a
shower OF rocks at them, and one fred q shot.
Col. Bennett ordered them to be dispersed, and
number that refused TO leave were prodded
with bayunets. One man, q Pole, was serious
ly stabbed.
Farther up the street the mob reformed and
commenced hurting stones, and a detachment
sent to disperse them fred volley, and the
rioters then scattered. Two men named An
pouu ap1A TOta kr;I IN
troops are now clearing the streets of bowling
women and children. More trouble is appre-
hended. The troops will encamp at Singers
quarry.
When the mob were charged at the point of
the bayouet, Co. A suffered severely, 16 men
being hit by stones, and Private George Briggs
being badly hurt. Co. BIS right flank was at
tackled, and as the mob persisted, about ten
shots were fired and then Co. A charged the
mob, which retired.
CHICAGO, May 4-12.15sp. m. Three com.
panies of State troops from Joliet left for Ls-
mont and disembarked at the Excelsior Stone
quarry two miles south of Leront. They were
then advised that the strikers in large num-
Ders mad made an assault upon men loading a
canal boat with stone one mile north of Le-
moGt Proceeding to that point collision be-
tween the troops and strikers occurred there
little before noon.
The following official report from Adjutant
General Vance has been sent to Governor Og-
lesoy: Col. Bennett removed his command
except one company from Joliet to Le1nont,
arriving at about 9 a. M, and forming line at
South Lemont Deputy Sheriff Potter conduct
ed the troops into Lemont near the Alton
depot, where mob of 500 TO 1900 strikers Sere
congregated. They were commanded to dis
perse and go to their homes by Deputy Sheriff
Potter, but they would not. The strikers
rushed towards the troops, throwing stones.
Major Heffernan and one or two others were
struck and slightly wounded. The air was full
of stones. In self defence the troops fred and
two strikers were killed and several wounded.
Before the troops fired, pistol was fred from
q house into the troops The troops have pass
ed on to their original destination at the Singer
and Talcott quarry. A great many people are
in the streets now, but are quiet