The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-10
shooting the strIkers

ST. LOUIS, April "a crowd of strikers
formed at the relay depo, in East 81.
Louis at 45 o'clock this afternoon and
advanced in the direction of the rail-
road yards 10 stop work by the new men
employed there. They were met BY a
guard OF deputies, who ordered them 10
dispense. The mob refused and made a
rus for the yards. when the deputies
leyeled their Winchesters and fired, kill
ing six OF the strikers.
30 p.m.-The deputy guards sta
toned at the Louisville yards near
Broadway. fired into 4 crowd of 300
strikers about go o'clock this after
noon. Five men and one woman were
shot. three men were killed and the
woman is supposed TO be MORALLY
wounded. The killed are Pat Bristol.
an employee of the water works, and
not a striker; Oscar Worthington. a
painter, Jonn Bohman, a water woiks
laborer, not striker; Major Richman
was shot in the head and shoulder. aud
will probably die. Mrs. John Pfeiffer
was shot in the back and probably mort
ally wounded. An unknown man was
shot at the bridge approach. The crowd
made no attack on the yards as first re-
ported, but were standing on Cahokia
Bridge, near the Louisville & Nashville
yards, jeering at the guards, when
without apparent proyocation, the dep
uties leyeled their rifles and fired two
volieys. The crowd Immediately sep
arated, running in all directions, and
the deputies ran over Cahokia Bridge
toward the Missouri River Bridge, still
holding their rifles and firing to cover
their retreat.
When it was known by the strikers
that the guards had fed, the former re-
turned TO recover their dead. They found
Pat Briscoll and Oscar Washington
lying on Cahokia Bridge, and were
dead when picked up. John Brohman
was also found lying on the bridge, but
showed signs of life. He was taken 10
the switch house, but died in a few
minutes. Mrs. Pfeiifer was found lying
on the railroad about 100 yards from
Cahokia bridge. and was carried by her
husband to a drug store on Broadway.
near the crossing. where she iS-now in a
critical condition. Mayor Richman
was taken into 4 hotel near by, where
physicians are now attending him. The
crowd. after the firing began, ran up
Broadway. shouting 10 arms y To
arms We will get guns and return
that fire."
Women and children ran out of
their houses and met them in the street.
weeping and ringing their hands. The
crowd returned to the scene and the
excitement had abated Several leadir z
strikers drew revolvers and swore they
would drive all the deputies out OF the
city, even at the loss OF their own lives.
II is ascertained that another man
named T. e. Plompton is among the
killed.
3l5 p. m.-The deputies who did the
shooting, eight in number, went TO the
third district police station. in this city.
and surrendered themselves, and were
taken in the patrol wagon to Four
Courts, where they were taken into
custody and relieved of their arms.
They say the crowd began firing on
them first and they simply returned the
fire. After the first firing was over the
strikers had become bent on revenge.
and q number of them provided
themselves with revolvers and advanced
upon the Missouri Pacific railroad yards,
where thew surprised the deputies on
guard and fired into them, killing one.
Great excitement now prevails in East
st. Louis, and the strikers are fast arm
ing themselves. and are determined to
avenge those of their number so wan
tonly slain. as they say. The local
executive committee of the Knights OF
Labor are on the scene attempting 70
restrain the men and trying to persuade
them to meet in Flannigan's Hall.
where they desire 70 advise them against
all further violence. The men refuse.
however. to meet them, claiming that
they will be surrounded by deputies and
fired upon again. A mass meeting of
strikers, however, is being held in front
of the city hall, and are with difficulty
restrained by their leaders from
advancing in a body upon the different
railroad yards and attacking the
deputies engaged.
$50 p. m.-Guards of police are now
stationed at each approach OF the
bridge connecting with East st. Louis,
and no one is allowed to pass over.
ST. LOUIS, April 9-5 p.m.-Governor
Oglesby has ordered out eight compa-
MES of militia and placed them under
orders to move at once. Some OF them
are on the way and will be in East ST.
Louis tonight. Adjutant-General Vance
will also arrive tonight, and every
means to allay the excitement and re-
store order will be used.
Bailey and Hayes of the executive
board. and p. II. Brown, q prominent
knight, who came here with the board,
spoke at the meeting and made i'm
passioned appeals TO the Knights OF
Labor 70 obey tbs laws OF the country
and to rigidly regard all the laws ana
principles of order.