The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-05-13
ahead of mine and four behind US. We

next order, which would have been flank
movement. The bomb came from close
to the speakers wagon. l saw and
heard it coming, but it exploded too
quick for anybody to have done anything
with it or get out of the way. I was
knocked down by the explosion, but not
wounded. When I recovered myself my
sergeant fell into my arms badly hurt.
1t was a terrible time. I can tell you
they had everything cut and dried"
When the front column reached the
speakers wagon Captain BonGeld ordered
"halt," and cried: "In the name of the
State of Illinois, I command this crowd
to disperse." :"
AS the words left his mouth q spluttcr-
ing spark of fire arched through the air
from an opening of an alley and over
the speakers wagon. 1t was the burning
fuse of dynamite bomb. 1t was we'll
aimed in its deadly mission and fell di-
rectly in the middle of the street, and
between the two first double columns of
the police. The instant it struck the
ground it exploded with a terrible sullen
roar, seeming TO shake the earth.
Men badly wounded and dying fell on
all sides. The death dealing contents of
the bomb reached almost to the rear
ranks. Twenty.nine mangled officers
| were groaniug on the ground. a gatling
gun could not have cut wider swath.
A scene of horrors followed, the details
of which may never be known.
The officers were demoralized, and for
an instant broke ranks, but almost in.
stantly recovered their presence of mind.
Before, however, they had time to realize
the destruction which had been wrought
in their ranks, crowds Of anarchists
gathered in front and on either side Of
| them and opened fire with revolvers at
an almost point 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 flew thick
and fast from the captains and lieuten-
ants, and within the briefest possible
space of time they we're charging the
murderous assassins on every hand, deal
| ing 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 receivers. The crack
ing of these weapons WAS incessant for
FIVE minutes, and only once was anything
like vollcy fired on either side. This
was fired by the anarchists when the
bomb was exploded in the ranks of the
| police, thus showing that they had been
| carefully drilled beforehand to work in
concert. When the officers emptied their
pistols they used them as clubs, and it is
quite probable that numerous skulls
were fractured. With the revolver shots
cracking like the tattoo of mighty
drum, and the bullets singing in the air
the mob plunged away into the darkness
with yells Of rage and fear. 1t was an
indescribable scramble for life.
Fourteen citizens, one of whom was 9
looker.on, and others, members of the
mob, are under treatment at the county
hospital. This does not comprise, it is
believed. more than one third of the an
archists and people injured.