Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-03
Twenty-Five Hundred From The Ill
in0is Quarries
Threaten to Make a Bloody Stand
Against
Twelve Hundred State Troops Or
dered Out.
Illinois Labor Trouble Culmi-
mating.

JOLIET, May 2.-Twelve hundred troops
arrived here at eight o'clock this morning,
Twenty-Five hundred strikers, from all the
stone quarries in the district, armed with
clubs and revolvers, are masSing at Lemont
and declare that they will give the troops
battle. Public excitement is great and
business is suspended.
The labor troubles here have been grow
ing worse day by day for the past month,
and Governor Oglesby only yielded to the
Sherif's demands for troops after half q
dozen lattempts. The Governor said he
would not risk sending militia here as the
strikers, being mainly Hungarians and
Poles, were apt to make bloodshed II the
troops were met. The strike occurred in
the ouarries here ior better wages. The
ouarrynen alleged that convict labor had
necessitated lower wages and they could not
afford to pay more in competition with the
conyicts. Twice the strikers drove the nom
union men out Of the quarries, on one oc'
casion forcing the Deputy Sherltfs and the
police off the ground. The latter were
drawn up armed to repel them, but the
strikers advanced SC determinedly that the
law officers retired rather than spill blood.
The strikers, when they found that neigh
boring ouarries were working at cheaper
rates, visited them in force and compelled
1000 men to quit work These latter re-
mained idle Tor week or more. Many OF
them are still ont, especially the men at
Lenore. On Monday OF tdis week some OF
the Joliet strikers conferred with
proplietors and determined to 60 to
work at the old wages,
The Lenore men and the others who had
been forced into idleness, decided that they
would retaliate, and came here by the dozen
10 prevent the men from returning to work,
Their riotous inclinations could not be
curbed, and last night the Governor order
ed the militia here. The strikers are well
armed and the situation is critical. Al
noon to-day no collision had occurred and
this afternoon the troops were placed at the
ouarries and those who cared to do so, were
allowed to 60 to work under militia protec
ton. 1t is feared that within an hour ol
two, when the strikers learn that men are a
work, they will march on the quarrles.
Seventy Strikers Captured
JoILEr, May 2.-Gen. Vance has JUS
sent the following dispatch to the Governor
About half past p. m. two hundred anC
fifty strikers from Lam ont approached San
ger and Nobe's quarries, where two com
panies of Colonel Benefits command weEt
posted under the direction Of Colone
5. ". Mum, special deputy sheriff
Captain Jackson's company was PLACED
in ambush, Lieutenant st. Clair
company commanded the road to Joliet
The strikers we're halted by Deputy Sherif
Mum and commanded to disperse and re
turn to their homes unmolested, which the
refused and brandishing their clubs the,
cried, ION to Joliet" "No man shall work.
The companies deployed, closing il
on the fanks. Seventy of tn
strikers were captured, with the as
gistance of the deputies, and marched
as prisoners to Joliet They are now helC
by the Sheriff in Major Woods battery
armory. Captain Blanchsrd's company
and Captain Nsddsns company two and {
half miles south Of Sangers quarry wer,
placed on a special train and run to Lock
port under Col. Bennett. They dt2loye(
as skirmishers covering nearly a mile from
and are now securing the country between
Lockport and Sanger's quarry for thos
who escaped. Killed and wounded none.