The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-05
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 LENOSr RIOT.
Collision Between the Strikers and State
Troops, In which Two of the For
Were Killed and Sew
eral Wounded.
Innlletln

CHiCEG0, May 4. noon.-Sherih Hsnchett,
of this city, mas just received word from
Lemont that collision occurred between
the troops and striking quarrymen at that
town this morning, and that two OF the
strikers were killed. Two companies OF tn
Ststs troops went to Lemont this morning
10 gusrd the qusrries there and to enable
the non-striklng men to resume work. No
dstails have yet been received. The action
OF the Sheriff of Will County in releasing
the several strikers captured by the troops
near Joliet last Saturday and who came
from LemOnt is assigned as one OF the causes
for the present outbreak
Later-12:15 p. m--ThTee companies of
State troops from Joliet left for Lemont and
disem barked at the Excelsior Stone Q lAIry,
two miles south of Lsmont. They were then
advised that the strikers in large numbers
had made an assault upon men loadiny a
canal boat with stone one mile north of lie
mont. Proceeding to that point. collisio
between the troops and strikers occurred
there little before noon.
The Evening Journals Lemont special
says: About 900 strikers assembled at
the depot here this morning with the intea-
tion Of capturing the militia, if any came
They afterward wenl to Walker Il Singer
qlsrries and routed the strikers there. At
$3.50 four companies of militia ana detach.
mtnt of Battery arrived from Joliet, With
General Varcs and Colonel Bennett In
command. They stopped at the Excelsior
Quarry, and one company deployed as skir-
misheIs; the other three companies marched
TO the quarries, where the InOb congregated,
TO dispeTse them. They we're met on the
edge OF town by mob of 800 or 100 Two
companies, Company b, of Joliet. and Com.
pany @, OF Bloomington, under the COM
mand of Colonel Bennett, followed the front
and charged up the main street with fix I'd
bsyonsts. Colonel Bennett removed his
command, except one company, from Jol-
let to LemonI, arriving at about u. n.
and s0rmed a line south of Lamont Dap
uty Sheriff Potter conducted the tfooIs
Into Lsmont, near the Alton Depot.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.
2 he 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
wsl es from 81 5O 10 Sl.75 Per day, have been
in turbulent condition for four weeks.
during which period the quarries have al
been idle. A number of quarry owners had
rel eatedly tried TO resume operations but
the strikers invariably drove the workmen
away. For two weeks they have dominated.
sno, in a measure, terrorized the entire snr-
rounding REGION. 1t became evident on Fri.
day that the county authorities could not
csntrol them and the Governor was asked
~ send troops. He responded promptly by
Sci ding i've companies from Joliet Ottawa
l. sale, Suea.or and Bloc uing The first
teting between troops snd strikers occur
red between Lemont and Joliet Saturdav af-
teTBooD. but 400 of the strikers who were
marching on JOiis from Lemont fled when
exposed 10 sudden attack By the melitia
s veniy of tx cir number, however, were cap
red by the troops, disarmed and marched
however, the Sheriff of Wi Comfy released
the prisoners and they returned - Lsmant.
where they are credited with prJVokIng the
trouble which resulted in the serious ri0ting
of to-day. The occasion of the bloodshed OF
today - Therefore, generally attrlb 1ted TO
the lll.advieed action OF Sheriff Rstz OF
Joliet. who has been charged in some quar-
tsTs with having sympatnizsd Win tne riot
era. Matters renamed quiet over lndav.
but when the troops arrived from Jol e5 this
morning TO protect Ihe squarries ~ Lsmont
they were met by very large and appar-
tnuy well organized mob. Prior TO the
coming Of the troops the rio, ,ers had boarded
several passenger trains on the Chicago aad
Alton road, armed with clubs, TO pre- vent the
disem barking OF any troops. The troops
peie landed. however. one mile south of
Demont at $50 this morning Colouel ,n-
nett, commanding the troops q. Joliet. re-
eeived orders from the Governor to proceed
to LemoDt. A special train was in waiting,
and 1t O'Clock four companies of the
Fourth Regiment, win 8 detachment of C.
battery OF artillery of Joliet and q gattling
gun and camp equipment, left for Lemont.
About one mile from the town they
were met by Deputy Sheriff Potter.
The troops disembarked and toe Snertrt oc.
dered the Colonel TO deploy his men, as there
was large crowd assembled al the depot
waiting for the train. Company ID, Ottawa,
was extended ss 3 skirmishlng line through
the quarIies, the line extending from the
canal 10 the bluffs. The main body cln-
sisting OF Comrany A, OF Streatof, uuder
Lieutenant St. Clair; Company O., of Joliet,
uncer Captain Jackson; Company g, Boom
iDgton, Captain Smith. and Gatling gun
detachment under Lieutenant kimbsr, of
Spring field, moved north along the bluff
road until they reached the street crossing a.
right angles to the bluff. when they were
crowd making demonstrations. The Mar
told by Colonel Bennett to retire" Or he
would be placed under arrest. He com.
piled. Company G moved across the street.
and, going up the three streets north, took
up a commanding position with the Calling
gun detachment under cover. Deputy
Sberih Potter then went forward and
ordered the mob 10 dispeTse Tney re-
fused. and Company A aud b, in columns
OF companies advanced up the street aud
grove the mob hack at the point OF the
OGlo lke MOB then retired into 80.