The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-06
A Serious Riot at Lamont, illinois,
Two Persons Killed and Several
Others Wounded.
The President, Accompanied by
Veterans of the Army Of the
Potomac, Visits Get
tysburg.
THE LEMONT RIOT.
Collision Between the Strikers and state
Troops, In which Two of the For
mer Were Kuled aud Sew
eral Wounded.
Bulletin. /

CHIcEG0, May 4, noon.-Sherif Hanchett,
of this city, has Just received word from
Lemont that q collision occurred between
the troops and striking 1uarrymen st that
town this morning, and that two OF the
strikers were killed. Two companies of the
Stata troops went to Lemont this morning
20 guard the quarries there and TO enable
the non-strikIng men to resume work. No
details have yet been received. The action
Of the Sheriff of Will County in releasing
the several strikers captured By the troops
nes- Joliet last Saturday and who came
from Lemont is assigned as one of the causes
for the present outbres4.
Later-I2:15 p. m.-Three companies of
State troops from Joliet left for Lemont and
disembarked at the Excelsior Stone Quarry,
two miles south OF Lemont. They were then
advised that the strikers in large numbers
had made an assault upon men loading
canal boat with stone one mile north of Ls.
mont. Proceeding TO that point, q collision
between the troops and strikers occurred
there little before noon.
The Evening Journals Lemont special
says: About LOCO strikers assembled at
the depot here this morning with the inten-
tion of capturing the militia if any came.
They afterward wenl 10 Walker & Singers
qusrries and routed the strikers there. At
$50 four com ranies of militia and detach-
ment of Battery arrived from Joliet with
General Vance and Colonel Bennett in
command. They stopped at the Excelsior
Quarry, and one company deployed as skir-
mishers; the other three companies marched
TO the quarries, where the mob congregated,
10 disperse them They were met on the
edge of town by a moo of 500 or 400 Two
companies, Company B, of Joliet, and Com
pany G., Of Bloomington, under the COM
mand of Colonel Bennett, followed the front
and charged up the main street with fixed
bsyonets. Colonel Bennett removed his
command, except one company, from Jol-
let to Lemont, arriving at about s. m.
and formed line south OF Lamont. Dep
uty Sheriff Potter conducted the troops
into Lemont, near the Alton Depot
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.
The strike among the quarrymen here and
at Jolliett has finally assumed proportions
of magnitude. The men who went out be-
cause they failed to receive an advance Of
wageg from S1.5O TO Sl.75 per day, have been
In turbulent condition for four weeks
during which period the quarries have ali
been idle. A number OF quarry owners had
repeatedly tried to resume operations but
the strikers invariably drove the workmen
away. For two weeks they have dominated,
and, in q measure, terrorized the entire snr-
rounding REGION. 1t became evident on Fri
day that the county authorities could not
control them, and the Governor was asked
to send troops. He responded promptly by
nding ii ve companies from Joliet, Ottawa
Lfsalle, SIeator and Blooming The first
meeting between troops and strikers occur
red between Lemont and Joliet Saturday af-
ternocn, but 400 of the strikers who were
marching on Joliet from Lemont fed when
exposed to sudden attack by the MALTA.
Seventy OF their number, however, were cap
tured by the troops, disarmed and marched
to Joliet under guard. On Sunay morning
however, the Sheriff of viii County released
the prisoners and they returned to Lemont,
where they are credited with provoking the
trouble which resulted in the serious rioting
Of to-day. The occasion of the bloodshed of
to-day is therefore, generally attributed to
the ill-advised action of Sheriff Rietz Of
Joliet, who has been charged in some quar-
ters with having sympathizsd with the riot.
ers. Matters remained quiet over Sunday,
Dut when the troops arrived from Jole. this
morning to protect the quarries at Lemont
they were met by very large and appar-
entity well organized mob. Prior to the
coming of the troops the rioters had boarded
several passenger trains on the Chicago aad
Alton road, armed with clubs, to prevent the
Ql6em DdrkluS OI any troops. Inc troops
were landed, however, one mile south of
Lenont at $50 this morning. Colonel Ben
nett. commanding the troops at Joliet re-
eeived orders from the Governor to proceed
to Lemont. A special train was in waiting.
and at o'clock four companies of the
Fourth Regiment, with q detachment of G
battery OF artillery of Joliet and q gattling
About one mile from the town they
were met by Deputy Sheriff Potter.
The troops disembarked and the Sheriff Or
dered the Colonel to deploy his men, as there
wss large crowd assembled at the depo.
waiting for the train. Company d, Ottawa,
wss extended as q skirmishlng line through
the quarTies. the line extending from the
canal 10 the bluffs. The main body, con-
sisting of Compaay A, OF Streato., under
Lieutenant st. Clair; Company G, of Joliet,
nncer Captain Jackson; Company g, Bloom
ington, Captain Smith, and a Gatling gun
deiacbment, under Lieutenant Kimber, oil
Springfield, moved north along the bluff
road until they reached the street crossing al
right angles 10 the bluff, when they were
met by the City Marshall, followed by the
crowd making demonstrations. The Mar
shall ordered the troops to halt, but he was
told by Colonel Bennett to "retire" or he
would be placed under arrest He com
piled. Company moved across the street,
and, going ub the three streets north, took
ap q commanding position with the Gatline
gun detachment under cover. Deputy
Sheriff Potter then went forward and
ordered the mob to disperse. They re
fused. and Company A and b. in columns
CT companies advanced up the street alc
drove the mob back at the point OF ths
bayoDet- The mob then retired into the
honses and yards, but portion faced the
troops making demonstrations and throwing
stones. Soon those who had gone into the
houses returned and ATTACKED the troops in
the rear, Q signal being given by the firing
of q pistol from a window. Company A suf.
fereo severel, no less than sixteen men be-
ing hit by stones, and one of them. Private
George Boggs, was badly hurt. The rear
rank of the company faced about and
opened fire. Company was attacked on
The right flank further north, aud the first
four Of the company was deployed across
the road. AS the mob pursued in the attack
some ten shots were fired, and Company A