Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-15
THE STRIKERS CHECKED.
Those at East st. Louis Quilted by the
Posse.
The Sheriff Marches Before Them and
Camps on the Ground.

EAST ST. LOUIS, H., April 1O-After the
mob occurrences, yesterday, Sheriff Re-
plequet determined to make use of sum-
mary measures to prevent the recurrence
OF such scenes, and, leaving several of his
deputies to take charge of the extra force
which he already had there, took the even
ing train for BellevilIe to summon a
posse. Until last night he and number
OF others, whom he called in to help him,
were busy serving summons on citizens to
appear at the court house this morning
to be sworn IN as specials to preserve the
peace and protect the railroad property
IN East st. Louis. All classes of men were
drafted-lawyers, merchants, mechanics,
and even newspaper men. About 200
summons were served and every man
drafted appeared on time at the Court
House this morning. They were all furn-
lshed with revolvers and decorated with
white badges on which was printed in black
Posse COnaitatus. Four cars were charter
ed from the Pittsburg railroad, and
at 10 o'clock the posse left for
East ST. Louis. The train was
stopped at Fourth street, and the posse
then formed in line, two abreast, for the
march to the relay depot. great num-
Der of strikers forming in line behind
and following. In anticipation of the
posses arrival a large crowd of strikers
and citizens had assembled at the depot.
and when the Pittsburg train came up
with only few persons aboard, great sur
prise was manifested. The posse soon
atterward came in sight however, and re-
Heved the suspense of the crowd As
they passed by the relay the strikers had
a great deal of fun at their expense Such
ordinations as = If you fellows stay here
over night 1t won't be good for YOU" and
Il wonder where those fellows ex-
pect to get anything to eat" and
the like were heard on all sides.
The posse HATED on the bridge which
spans Cohekia Greek, at the Bowman
Dyke, and, after Sheriff Ropieuuet and
Colonel Andel acted as their commander,
had reviewed them, the Sheriff babe them
take off their hats while he administered
the oath. A couple of hundred strikers
witnessed the ceremony. The oath was
as follows: you swear to uphold the
constitution of the United States and the
State of Illinois, and to act as a posse
comitatus to the best of your ability to
preserve life and protect property" After
the oath was administered Sheriff Ro-
prequet dispersed the crowd of strikers
and shortly afterward Colonel Andel an
nounced to the members of the posse as
there was nothing special for them to do
just at present they might dispense, but
warned them not to leave the vicinity of
the relay as they must be ready to fall in
line again at any moment of the day when
1t might be necessary.
The scene to-day in all the various
yards was in striking contrast to that of
va 61yv Jyhn oil h.
were IN complete possession of the mob
All the roads had out switch engines this
morning, and no interference was offered
by the strikers. Very few platform men
are willing to go to work on account of
the action of the strikers yesterday. On
account of failure to obtain men very
little freight was handled in any of the
yards. excepting, of course, the Wabash,
where everything is progressing the same
as If there was no strike. Sheriff ROpi-
quet sent all his posse home this after
noon on the $40 train, and leaves the
East st. Louis yards and depots with only
such guards as the railway companies
provide, many of the latter's employees
having been sworn in as deputies.
Freight trains are moving freely this
afternoon and nothing has occurred TO
them. Trains are also moving
on the bridge. The sheriff has not de-
cided whether he will bring the deputies
back tomorrow or not He will decide in
the morning. If further need for their
does not appear they will not be
at all.
SPRINGFIELD, April 8-The telegraph
wires have been burdened to-day with
messages from AID jutant General Vance, at
East st. Louis, to Governor Oglesby. 1t
is known that General Vance pictured the
condition of things at the scene of war as
very turbulent, and it is intimated that he
expressed the opinion that the militia
ought to be called out AS a result of
this the Governors Guards, of Spring
field, were informed that their services
might be needed at any hour, and posi-
bly, tonight, to go to East st. Louis, and
it is surmised that the same message was
wired to the commanders of other com
nanies.