The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-06

patiently IN the station for the Socialists to dis
perse or attempt some act of lawlessness. When
the officers who had been sent to mingle with
them had returned and reported the temper of
the Anarchists, both captains came to the con-
clusion that prompt measures only would avert
another serious riot The order 'fall in" went
round among the lieutenants with lightning
rapidity. 1t was repeated to the men, and they
jumped into their places with accuracy and
precision. prepared for the march on the
Anarchists. There we're Ave companies
in all, commanded by che following Heutenants
in the order named: Lieutenants Bowler. STAN
ton, Hubbard, Penzen and Beard. Captains Bon
field and Ward took position at the head of the
line, which was marched to point almost one
hundred feet north Of Randolph street. Captain
Ward raised his club to command the attention
OF the strikers and then he ordered them in the
name of the people to dispense quietly and peace
ably. The order had hardly left his lips when
dark object was thrown from behind pile of
boxes which stood on the sidewalk about one
hundred feet from Lake street 1t shot over the
head Of Captain Ward past the first two COM
panies, and fell kissing at the feet of the man in
elront rank of the second company, and ex-
ploded with a report which seemed to shake the
earth. Men fearfuly wounded and dying fell
on all sides. the death dealing contents of the
bomb reaching almost to the rear ranks Before
the officers had time to realize the destruc-
ton and death which had been wrought in
their ranks, the crowds of Anarchists gathered
In front and on either side of them opened fire
at almost pont-blank range. The first volley Of
the mob was quite as fearful in its effect as was
the explosion of the bomb, but the officers did
not lose their presence of mind Orders few
thick and fast from the captains and lieutenants,
and within the briefest possible space OF time
they were charging the murderous assassfns on
every hand, dealing death and destruction to
them with their revolvers The Anarchists did
not sustain the charge an instant, but fed as
soon as they could distinguish the blue coats and
bright buttons of the officers through the smoke
from their revolvers The cracking of revolvers
was incessant for FIVE minutes, and only once
was anything like volley fred by either side
This was fired by the Anarchists, when the
bomb exploded in the ranks of the police, thus
showing that they had been carefully drilled be-
forehand to act in concert When the officers
emptied their pistols they used them as clubs
and it is quite probable that the coroner's jury
Will develop that one or more of the strikers
came to their death by fractures Of the skull.
The police chased them until they all disap-
peared. The explosion of the bomb and the re-
volver fusillade attracted thousands of people to
the vicinity Of Desplaines street station. ma
Jority of them had no connection with the An
archists, no sympathy with their recklessness,
but with the fatality of curious crowds they at
tempted to resist the police when ordered to
leave the sidewalks in front of the station. Some
of them were seriously injured for their indiffer
tnce to the orders of the blue coats. After
the Anarchists had been dispersed the police set
to work to look after their wounded and dying
companions. Two of them were found where
the bomb exploded, both so desperately wounded
as to be past hope of recovery. About thirty
others were found lying the pavement in the
vicinity, and suffering from pistol-shot wounds
In their limbs their bodies, and unable to stir
hand foot. The strikers, too lay around
wounded and dying, but the officers paid no at
tention to their sutferings only thinking of their
own fallen companions. They picked them up
and bore those who could not walk or move to
the station, aud assisted all with slight wounds
to walk to their homes. The drug stores and
saloons about the scene oe the battle were soon
filed with wounded men, but it was impossible
TO get even partial list of their names.