The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-02-10
the READING STRIKE.

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Two Oatbrsaks In che Pennsylvania CSal
Regsons-Slx PolicsmsA EAee m Angry
Mob.
READING, Pa, Feb. A-Yssteraay morn
ing the miners at the William Penn colliery
were stopped by q party Of men and y fight
eusued. Strikers also met the men at Rock
Bank at the Turkey Run switch and stoned
some Polandcrs. Tho attacking party were
strikers ct the Philadelphia Coal Com
pany's works. The Coal and Iron Com
pany's police in disguise were with the
Poles and made rush for the assailants,
and Thomas Ryan was captured and taken
to the Pottsvills Jail The others were
chased by the police to No. 8 school house.
where they were met by y large force, who
fired two shots at the officers. The latter
did not return the fire with their carbines
for fear Of killing some innocent people.
but went back and escorted the Poles to o
place OF safety.
At five o'clock yesterday afternoon when
the non-uDion miners left their work in the
Shenandoah City and West Shenandoah
colllcrie., a lot Of striking Polanders at
tackled them with stones. A squad of iron
police went ut once TO their assistance,
caught one OF the rioters and were hustling
HIM OF when the strikers rallie and res
cucd linn, and began to handle the officers
roughly. The latter, however, succeeded
in breaking away and started Tor the She
nandoah City mine, followed by the crowd
Of riotOus strikers armed with clubs and
stones, who now numbered about q thousand,
und who continued their attacks on the
men and boys coming from the mine.
The six policemen accepted the long odds
against them and returned to the attack.
They made y sharp fight and took . couple
OF prisoners, one Of whom they landed in
Magistrate ShoeiDaker's Office, but tho
crowd rushed for tho two policemen with
the other prisoner and began TO club and
beat them. Finding themselves down and
their lives in danger, they drew their re-
volvers and Lieutenant Meyers fired into
the crowd, which scattered in all direc-
tions. Mike Heffron. young man, re-
ceived a ball in the mouth and is badly in.
jured; John Cutler, an iron founder, was
shot in the arm. another in the neck and =
Polander behind the ear. shot was also
fired by u Polander, but with what effect
il not known. An officer then arrested
both policemen for shooting in tho bor.
ough.
The crowd scattered at the firing but i'm.
mcdiately swelled to several hundred
on any policeman or scab they could catch.
The police arrested two men and took them
10 Squire Shoemaker's office, the mob fol.
lowing and almost demolishing the place in
their efforts to release their companions.
Meanwhile, in the eastern part OF the town,
Boss Duncan of the KOhin0Or cOlliery was
attacked. An officer came to the rescue,
fired on the crowd and arrested two men,
whom they took to Squire Monough's
office.
Tho two magistrates Offices are On East
Centre street, u square and q half apart.
TIE whole space was densely packed with
people, u large portion Polish, who were
wild with passion. They surrounded both
offices, yelling for the officers and crying
Lynch themr' ''Kill themP' etc. Sud-
denly stone was thrown ut Squire Shoe
makers window. In a minute the fronts
of both Offices were riddled with stones
ant their inmates had u hard scramble for
safety. Some bruised bodies resulted. but
no serious damage was done except to tho
Offices, which were wrecked.
Tho town Is In perfect uproar. Men
are ma with passion and drunk and no
one appears to have any power to qucll
them. The borough authorities are power
less and no one can say how tho mob's fury
may yet vent ITSELF Captain Christian
will mass his whole force Of coal and iron
men here. together with Captain Lindnes'
Pinkcrton men. Sheriff Duffy swore in
last night the three fire companies Of the
town AS q posse c0mmitatus preparatory for
trouble. The Borough Council also had .
special session and instructed Chief Bur.
CESS Bolhcm TO swear in special officers for
an emergency. John Durkrn. assistant
foreman at KohinoOr colliery, was shot ut
last evening by q Polnnder, but escaped in
jury. His assailant was arrested. Thomas
Ryan, Of William Penn, Is also under ar
rest for participating in the riot. lie vas
sent to Jail.
At midnight the mob had dispersed and
every thing was quiet No further trouble
is unprecedented for the present.
ANOTHER STRIKE THREATENED.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Feb. 4-The convcn.
ton Of district assembly Is remained in
session at Pittston until two O'clock this
morning with closed doors. The session
was stormy one and the question OF ask
ing an advance in wages was thoroughly
discussed. Before adjourning it was re-
solved by n unanimous vote to make
demand upon operators in tho Wyoming
and Lackawanna regions for an in
crease Of ID per cent. This action was
placed in the hands Of the executive
board. who were to confer with the opera
tors and make the demand without further
delay. John L. Lee arrived IN Pittston at
eight O'Clock last night and attended tho
conclusion Of the session. His arrival ut
this late hour was unexpected and it can
not be learned what part he took, though
1t is claimed TO urged the demand for the
advance in wages.