Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-04-17
Deputy Marshals Fire on a Crowd
OF People,
Killing Five and Wounding Sew
eral Others.
The Shooting Entirely Without
Provocation.
The Devil Loose and No Telling
Where the End Is.

On Friday, April 8, at l AS p. IN, o crowd OF
strikers gathered at the rail wa depot In East
st. Louis, and proceeded toward the rail way
yards to stop work by the new men. They
were met BY q guard OF eight deputy msrshsls
who ordered them TO dispense. They refused
aud the deputies then fired upon them with
W!nchesert rifles, shooting five men and
MORALLY wouuding Mrs. John Pfeifer. The
killed are Pat DrIscol and John Bohmsn, EN-
ployed a, the wster.works, Oscar Washington,
o painter, and Msj)r Richman. TIL crowd
hsd made no attack but were standing on the
Cakokis bridge near the Louisville aud Nash
Vile yards. The deputies fred two ~volleys,
without the slightest provocstion. The depu-
ties then fed toward the Missouri, bridge, fir
ing as they retreated.
The crowd after the firing recovered the
dead and wounded. The latter were cared for,
and then the crowd surged up Broadway
shouting ITO arms, to arms" threatening to
get guns and return the fire. Women and
children ran into the street weeping and
wrInging their hands. When the crowd
reached the scene OF the shooting several
drew revolvers and swore they would drive
the deputies out Of the city even at the sscra.
fee OF their W lives. In the rush that fol-
lowed the firing by the officers O man was
forced from the Cahokia bridge and killed.
The deputies who did the shooting surren-
dered at the ST. Louis police station, and were
taken into custody.
After the first firing was over a number OF
strikers with revolvers proceeded TO the Mis-
souri, yards end fred upon the guards, killing
one. The strikers are srming themselves, de-
termined TO avenee the murder done ~ the
marshals. The local extcutive boards Of the
Knights OF Labor tried TO restrain the violence
OF the men by making appeals to them to
obey the laws Of the order and Of The state, and
endeavoring to have a meeting at Flannigsn's
hall, but the men refused. A mass meeting
Of strikers was organized. but the leaders had
great difficulty In restraining them from goine
in a body to the different railroad yards.
AS the deputy n srshsls we're crossing the
bridge, they were net b. Mayor Joyce, City
Clerk Canty, and Z. Z. Thompson. One Of the
deputies fired upon the three men, killing Ii,
latter. some shots were fired by the re-
naming deputies at the approaching
strikers and all started ever the bridge. TIE
scene on the bridge was one Of the widest con
fusion and excitement. Coal teams and othe
teams With wagons were galloping westward
and the drivers shouting 10 all pedestrians anc
teamsters TO run back, Women AID men OF
foot we're running towards the city and warn
ing all they met, while Immediately behiIC
came the deputies, pursued by the vanguard
OF the crowd from East 81. Louis. One OF tn,
frightened guards threw his gun into the river
while another hid his weapon IN o wagon tina
was In full retreat.
A gambler named Dryer ~harangued a crowd
urging them to hang aud kill. be was in NJ
way connected with the strike and WAS not
Knight. A Knight OF Labor named Brown
made an jmpassiohed appeal for law and or
der. He implored them In the name OF TIT
order OF Knights Of Labor aud law, not TO d.
violence and disperse to their homes. Mr.
Hayes OF the executive committee
appealed to the crowd in the SAM
tenor as Mr.. Brown had. Several prominen
Knights went among the crowd trying 10 calir
the excitement.
After a while the temper Of the mob cooled
and they dispersed, win threats TO avenge thu
murders caused by the deputies. Major JOYCE
attempted 10 quiet the men, but without muct
success. He issued q proclamation orderins
all women and children to remain indoors
and saloons closed. Some Of ths deputie
who did not escape with those who fed were
chased by q crowd and took refuge in a freigh
house, from whence they made their exit Il
places OF safety. One of the deputies wa
seen on the levee, caught and beaten to death
At IL o'clOck q fire broke out In the Csir'
short line yards aud three or four cars wer'
burned.
Gov. Ogleby has ordered eight companies t.
ct. Louis.