The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-21
A DEADLY ARRAY.
Fatal Collision Between Strikers
and Officers in Texas.


and Officers in Texas.
The first serious collision between the rail.
road strikers in the Southwest and the au-
thorities has taken place at Fort Worth,
Texas. Details of the fatal affray are as fol-
lows:
At 10 o'clock A. II. 1900 persons assembled
at the Missouri Pacific station, Fort Worth,
to see Sheriff Maddox send outa train, which
he said he would do or die in the attempt.
At II o'clock an engine, with 20 armed depu-
ties, backed into the yard to take
out a train of 10 cars loaded with coal.
The engine backed down the track,
but subsequently the train pulled out for the
south and reached the New Orleans crossing,
two miles south of the city. The suggestive
quiet that marked the passage Of the freight
train through the city was not without its Sc
quel. When the train left the station it was
under the protection of posse Of officers
lowed is reported by arailroad emp,oye who
was on the train. He says that when the
train stopped it was noticed that several
men were congregated on tho track in front
approached the men and asked
why they impeded the progress of the
train, to which they replied that they had
nothing to do with it, that they were not
armed, and had no intention of interfering
with the road As the officers returned to the
train they noticed several men sitting or ~
ing on the grass, a few yards from the
train. The entire posse advanced toward
the men in ambush until they
reached the ditch alongside the track, when
they commanded a throwing up OF hands.
The command was obeyed, but as the hands
came up they brought Winchester rifles with
them, which belched forth deadly fire, it Is
said with fatal effect. There were, perhaps,
100 shots fired. After the first
fire the. posse, advanced ana con- on
hind some piles of ties, which proved most
excellent breastwork, and from the security
Of which they poured murderous fire into
the posse. From this position they We're
finally dislodged and driven beyond the
range of the posses pistols. :,
The casualties among the posse were found
to be three-Police Off Ger Fulford was shot
through both thighs, Special Officer: Dick
Townsend was fatally shot through the iett
breast near the nipple, and Special Ofhcer
Charles Sneed was shot through the heart
and Jaw. Officer Townsend died during the
afternoon, and it was thought the wounds OF
the other two deputies would also prove
fatal. One Of the strikers named Pierce was
killed and q second named Tom Mace was
wounded, and afterward taken prisoner.
The posse carried the wounded officers
aboard the train, which backed into the Un-
ion station. 49,. -,
The news of the shooting spread like wild
fire through Forth Worth. Sheriff Maddox
passed along the street ordering the citizens
to arm themselves with Winchesters
and report at the station at
once. Business men closed their stores
and answered the summons promptly. Gun
stores were emptied inside of ON hour.
Crowds surged in the Streets, women
mingled with the throngs, and bedlam
throughout the State the excitement was
intense. The sheriff of Dallas was asked to
come with a posse and pack of blood
hounds. At midnight special train with
two companies of Dallas militia left for Fort
Worth. At the same time the governor tel
egraphed to San Antonio for the State troops
to 20 to Forth Worth. Ten companies OF
militia and battery of artillery arrived at
Fort Worth on the following day, and more
were expected to follow. Strikers from sur
rounding points also congregated at the city,
and it was stated that the attempt to run
any trains would be resisted at all
hazards. A proclamation was issued 6y the
mayor ordering all saloons to be closed until
the evening of the 7th, and it was feared
that more bloodshed would follow