The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-10
Earnest and Effective Efforts Of Pr0mi-
nent Knights to Quiet the Tumult.
Three Deputy Sherifs Killed During the Day
and Might've Companies of Militia Ar
rive and Are at Once Placed on Duty.
BLOOD AT EAST ST. LOUIS.
Five Men Killed and a Woman Mortally
Wounded-Three Ofcers Slain.

rive Men KAlile0 ana q woman uOrCally
Wounded-Three Oacers Slain.
ST. Louis, April 9-Fver since the railroad
employees in East St. Louis ceased work in sup
port of the striking Knights of Labor on the
Gould Southwestern system rumors of riots and
bloodshed have daily gained circulation, but un-
til to-day no serious conflict has occurred be-
tween them and the deputy sheriffs and United
States marshals stationed in the various yards
to protect the companies employees and property
The county sheriff has sworn in numerous depu-
ties, and upon several occasions has brought to
that city bodies of armed men to suppress
anticipated attack upon the railroad yards and
their protectors. Upon one occasion only, how
ever, has the presence of these men really
needed, and the railroads have. with some excep-
tions, but generally with slight interference,
done their usual business.
To-day opened with but little prospect of serious
trouble, although some OF the strikers intimated
that the roads would find it less easy to move
their trains than they had anticipated, and, early
in the morning. the yards presented an animated
scene. Switch engines were running backward
and forward. making up trains; the platform
men were busy loading and unloading freight,
and trains were arriving and departing without
any interference from the strikers
This condition of affairs continued until noon,
and 1t was thought that the day would pass
without any demonstration by the strikers, and
that It would be recorded as one of the quietest
since the strike began.
At that hour, however, the trouble which af-
terwards grew to such alarming proportions be-
gan. A number Of strikers, without apparently
having formed any preconcerted plan, congre-
gated at the relay depot, and began discussion
Of the general situation. AS time passed their
number was augmented, until the original knot
of men increased to fully two hundred. The
discussion became more animated. and the crowd
more demonstrative, until some one proposed
that they 60 to the Louisville & Nashville yards
and drive ont the men employed lhere. The cry
of ION to the Nashville yards" was caught up,
and the crowd advanced
As they proceeded their numbers again in
creased, some joining the mob simply as specta-
tors, while others were in full sympathy with
the movement, until from three to four hundred
were advancing towards the yards.
Arriving there, they swarmed into the yards
and persuaded the men at work to desert their
posts. The crowd remained in the yards for
some time, and although considerable excite
ment prevailed, no violence was resorted to-
just at this time, however, a Louisville e Nash
vile freight train was slowly passing, guarded
by eight deputy sheriffs, armed with Winches-
ter rifles. In the meantime. crowds of men
women and children had congregated on Broad
way, where the Louisville & Nashville tracks
cross the street. and also upon the Broadway
bridge, which spans Cahckia creek. and in the
open space to the east just as this train
reached the Broadway crossing the trouble be-
gan. The crowd on the bridge began to yell and
jeer at the officers, and it is asserted that stones
were thrown, which struck two or three of
them, and it is also said that pistol was dis
charged The deputies immediately leveled
their rifles and fred two volleys into the crowd
on the bridge with fatal effect. four men being
killed and one woman wounded mortally. The
dead are
Patrick Driscoll, Wabash section hand. not Ia
striker.
Oscar Washington, painter, not striker
JOhn.Bonney. coal miner, not striker.