The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-15
THE GREAT STRIKE.
Bloody Work in East ST. Lcu!s--Six Warksen
Killed and Many Wounded.

The quiet which had reigned for nearly q
week among the strikers was terminated IN a
sudden and terrible manner on the 9th instant.
About noon that day number of strikers were
gathered at the end of the bridge near the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad tracks, where
they stood laughing and jeering at the engi-
neer and crew working switch engine. Watch
ing this scene were five deputy sheriEs, two
armed with Winchester rifles and the other
three with heavy navy revolvcrs. They were
standing on a bridge not more than 90 feet from
the workmen. These five deputies were Joined
by 10 more, who suddenly, without any warn
ing. fired promiscuously right and left into the
crowd. The strikers at once broke and ran,
and while in full retreat the Deputies followed,
firing as rapidly as they could use their repeat
ing rifles At least $50 shots were fired Two
o! the mob fell in their tracks on the bridge,
while one man was seen to topple on the edge
and fall head foremost into the depths below.
Six in all were killed and large number
wounded among them being a woman. One
man, 81 mere locker on, was one OF the victims.
He was shot through the abdomen and died in
few minutes After this nurderous and
unprovoked assault the deputies turned and
ran. As is usually the case in similar affairs,
the bullets went wide of those for whom they
were intended, and only one striker was
wounded. The lady who was shot was Mrs.
Pfeffer. The bail struck her in the back and
the wound proved fatal in a few hours. The
excitement following this affair was most in
tense. Men went among the crowd urging them
to procure arms and shoot all the deputies they
could find. One deputy was caught and beaten
TO death by the mob. Another is reported to
have been shot while endeavoring to escape.
There was n general search commenced through
all the railroad yards for the deputies. Box
cars were opened and looked into and every
nook and corner where it WAS thought possible
EN~ ,,ci4o n,n vnt
up on a stand and made a most incerdiary
speech, urging the men to kill every deputy
they could find. Three officers of the Knights
of Labor appeared on the scene and harangued
the mob in an endeavor to preserve order, but
1t was some time before their appeals would be
listened to. On Sunday Last the funerals of
five of the victims of Fridays riot took place.
They were made the occasion of great demon
stration by the knights of Labor. Four white
and one colored Assembly of Knights in East
st. Louis, with All aggregate membership of
1850, turned out in force. The streets were
crowded with spectators, and it is estimated
that fully 5000 men were In line. They were
all sober and quiet, and the silence was not
broken by single disturbance. As the funeral
procession passed one point in the city where a
large body Of military was stationed, the troops
formed in line and presented arms as the
funeral cortege passed, the officers standing
with uncovered heads until the procession, a
mile in length, had passed. When the funerals
were over the men quietly dispersed and went
to their homes.
The danger is by no means over and the city
is filed with troops, who occupy positions at all
the points necessary to protect property. 1t is
stated that the Knights of Labor will prose-
cute the deputies who fired on the people and
that plenty of money will be forthcoming for
that purpose, and the best legal talent attain
able will be employed. Large sums of money
are pouring into ST. Louis In aid of the strik-