Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-06
The Militia at Milwaukee
Fire with Intent to Kill"
on the Rioters.
The Particulars of the Bloody Trag-
edy at Chicago.
Three of the Socialist Lead
ers Arrested,

CHICAGO, Nav 5.
IL ne anarchist began in earnest last night,
the reign of lawlessness which they have
threatened and endeavored to incite for
years. They threw a bomb into the midst of
line of POO police, and it exploded with
fearful etfeef, moving down men like cattle
Almost before the missile of death had ex-
ploded, the Anarchists directed murderous
fire from their revolvers upon the police, as
If their action was pre-arranged As the
police were hemmed in on every side by an
amuuscade, the effect of the fire upon the
ranks OF the officers was fearful. When the
police had recovered from the first shock of
the attack they gallantly charged upon their
would be murdererS, shooting at every step
and moving them down as their fellow off
GERS had been by the bomb The Anarchists
fled in dismay before the charge, but every
where they turned they met withering fire
from the revolvers of the policemen, who fol-
lowed them and thinned their ranks. The
cowardly ours, finding that their attack did
not completely annihilate the officers, and
that force large enough to cope with them
was LETT, fed in all directions, seeking the
darkness of alleys and side streets to escape
the revengeful fire of the police.
The collision between the police and An
archists was brought about by the leaders of
the latter, August Spies, Sam Fielding and
A. X. Parsons. They endeavored to incite a
mass meeting and then a riot. From the
Socialist headquarters they issued late in the
morning, yesterday, the following circular,
which was distributed throughout the quar-
ters of the city which are inhabited by thous-
ands of workngmen:
ATTENTION WoRKINGMEN.
Great mass meeting at 30 at Haymarket
Randolph street, between Des Planes and
Halstead. Good speakers will be present to
denounce the latest act of the police, the
shooting OF our fellow workingmen yester-
day afternoon.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
AT I o'clock large crowd had collected on
Des PLANES street, just north of Randolph,
in dlmly lighted spot, near which were
many wagons and trucks. August Spies WAS
the first speaker. After a long rambling
talk on the labor problem he asked: What
means this display of Calling guns. cannon.
bayUnets, patrol wagons and clubs? What
means the calling out of the first regiment?
Is it as entertainment to you gentlemen? The
demand of McCormick's men was reasonable,
and yet Mccormick denies that he is re-
f,r ba bl,nJsh.I
say he lies, he is responsible for the death of
our brothers. There are 25,000 or 10000
families in Chicago suffering starvation To-
dav because the husbands aad fathers are not
men enough to stand up for their rights"
Loud cheers followed this speech, and
cries OF The Lake" and The Rope" were
heard from horse throats.
A. X. Parsons was the next speaker. He
went into labor statistics largely, and defined
the difference between Trade Unonis.s and
Socialists.
Sam Fielding, Socialistic Engishman,
was the next and last speaker. He harangued
the crowd in a loud, blatant way, and asked
what was the crowd there before him; He
said I'VE wno came here to address you
as Socialists. rebels ID law. Legislation will
pever help you, never. Martin Foran went
to Congress in the interest of Labor. and he
tells you that no legislation can be had for
the wcrkingman When the rich man under
stand that it is not healthy to live among a
lot of disconted woringmen we shall be able
to get legislation and not before
That the mob was in sympathy with his ut
terences was evident by the wild applause
which was accorded him While this was
going on Capt. Banfed and Capt Ward with
nearly 200 policemen had been waiting pa
81. Co. t1,,, al, 4,
perse or attempt some act of lawlessness.
When the officers who had been sent to min
gle with them returned and reported the tenn
per of the Anarchists both captains came to
the conclusion that only prompt measures
would avert another serious riot. The order
''fall in" went round among the leutenants
with lightning rapidity 1t was reported to
the men and they jumped into their places with
accuracy and precision and prepared for
march on the Anarchists. There were five
companies in all, commanded by five lieu
tenants. Captains Banfeld and Ward took
positions at the head of the line, which was
marched to point almost 100 feet north of
Randolph stseet.
Wnen the front of the column reached the
speakers wagon, Capt. Banfield ordered a
halt. and cried ''In the name of the State of
Illinois | order you to disperse." As the
words left his mouth a sputtering spark of
fire arose though the air, 1t was the burning
fuse of dynamite bomb. 1t was well aimed
in its deadly mission and fell directly in the
middle of the street, and between the first
two double columns of police. The instant
it struck the ground it exploded with a ter
rible roar. The men were tearfuly wounded,
and % mangled officers were left groaning
on the ground.
A scene of horror followed, the details of
which NAV never be known. The officers
were demoraized, and for an instant broke
ranks, but almost instantly recovered their
presence of mind. Before they had time,
however, to realize the destruction which
had been wrought in their ranks, crowds of
Anarchists gathered in front on either side of
them, and opened fire with revolvers almost
at point blank range. The first voiley 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
and within the briefest possible
space of time, they were charging the MUIR
derous assassins dealing death on every hand,
with the revolvers.
The Anarchists did not sustain the charge