The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-15
A DAY OF BLOODSHED.
THE STRIKERS IN DEADLY CONFLICT
WITH THE DEPUTIES.

st. LouiS-Three Strikers hflleu at EAST
St. Irnis-The Guard at Argenta, Arllan-
sas. Attacked and Killed by the Strikers.
ST. LOUIS. April 9.-The outbreak
at East St. Louis to-day seems to have
been wholly unprecedented. The men
had been busy in all the yards with but
slight interference until noon, and it
was thought the day would pass with
out any demonstration by the strikers,
and that it would be recorded as one OF
the Quietest days since the strike began.
At that hour, however, a number OF
strikers, without apparently having
formed any preconcerted plan, congre-
gated at the relay depot and began the
discussion of the general situation. AS
time passed, their number was augment
ed until the original knot of men in
creased to fully 200. The discussion
became animated and the crowd more
demonstrative, till some one proposed
that they 90 to the Louisville and Nash
vile yards and drive olt the men EN-
ployed there.
The CRY of ''On to the Nashville
wards !" was caught. up. and the crowd
advanced. AS they proceeded their
numbers again increased, some Joining
the mob simply as spectators, while
others were in full sympathy with the
movement. until from 500 to 400 men
were advancing toward the yards.
Arriving there they swarmed into the
yards and persuaded the men at work
to strike and desert their posts. The
crowd remained in the yards for some
time and, although considerable excite
.ment prevailed, no violence was resort
ed to. Just at this time, however. 4
Louisville and Nashville freight train
was slowly passing guarded by eight
deputy sherihs armed with Winchester
rifles. Crowds Of men, women and
children had congregated on Broadway
where the Louisville and Nashville
tracks cross the street and upon Broad
way railway bridge which spans the
Cohoakia creek and into the open space
to the east. Just as this train reached
Broadway crossing trouble began. The
crowd on the bridge began to yell and
ieer at The officers. and it is asserted
that stores were thrown, which struck
two or .hrce of them, aud it is also
asserted that 4 pistol was discharged.
The deputies Immediately levelled their
rifles and fired two volleys into the
crowd oa the bridge. Four men fell
dead and one woman was mortally
wounded. The dead are Patrick Drls-
coll, Wabash section hand: not Il
striker; Oscar Washington, painter. not
a striker: JOHN l5ouner. coal miner, not
a striker; Major Richman, null en-
ployce, not a striker. Mrs. lltetfer.
said to be the wife Of a striker. was
shot in the back and mortally wounded.
The greatest excitement prevailed I'M
mcdiatcly and paudemonium reigncd.
The crowd fled in every direction, and
when the deputies realized how fearful
was the result Of their fire, sought
means of escape by rushing for the
bridge, with view Of fleeing TO this city.
At the approach, and just at the bridge
tower on the east side, they were met
by Mayor Joyce, City Clerk Canty and
A. Boardman, who seized the deputies
guns and cndeavored to turn them back.
One of the deputies in his terror fired
upon the trio, killing Il man named c.
E. Thompson, who stood between
joyce and Canty. Some shots were tired
by the remaining deputies at approach
inc strikers and all started over the
bridge.
Tic scene on the bridge was one of
the widest confusion and excitement.
Coal teams and other teams with wagons
were galloping westward, and their
drivers shouting to all pedestrians and
tcamsters 10 run back. Women and
men on foot were running toward the
city and waving back all thcymct, while
Immediately behind came the deputies,
pursued by the vanguard OF the crowd
from East st. LOUIS. One of the trightcn-
ed guards threw his gun into the river,
while another hid his weapon in wagon
that VAS IN full retreat. On arriving in
the city the deputies went at once to the
Chestnut street police station, where.
after stating the facts, they surrendered
to the Sergeant in charge and were taken
to the -Four Courts, where they were
placed in custody, after giving the follow
ing names: p. &. Hewlett, John Hague,
Sam Jones, John f. Williams. &. Lustcr,
Stewart Martin, George Marnell and W..
T. Laird.
About half an hour after the shoot
ing an excited and angry mob gathered
in the square between the City Hall and
the police station. a man named
Dwyer, a gambler, in no way connected
with the strike, became the centre OF the
crowd, who chcercd the incendary state
mcnts which he uttered. lie urged the
men to ''hang and kill" and was in the
amidst ola appeal to the mob to follow
him to the Ohio and Mississippi depot
to ''hunt for deputy shcrifis," when
John w. Hayes. member of the gcner,
al Executive Committee of the knights
of Labor, NJ. O'Ncill and a Knight of
Labor named Brown, arrived from this
side. Brown who travels with the
General Board in the capacity of the
knirhts Of Labor orator and lecturer,