Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-05
Another Fight With the Poles.

SHENANDOAH, Pa, Feb. 4.-The riot Of
last night was renewed this evening and the
manner in which it was gone about leaves
no further room for doubt that it is part Of
an organized plan to compel all miners to lie
idle until a general resumption of work takes
place. Open condemnation of the coal and
iron officers defense of them is INDUCED in
by many from whom it was not expected
The mere pretense of the authorities of pre-
pairing to prevent any further vo-
lence has only encouraged the rioting Poles
and Hungarians and whetted their
appetites for more turmoil. 1t was generally
known during this afternoon that the Poland
ers were buying all the revolvers that could
be had in the town, and that they were hold
ing meetings at central points for the purpose
of agreeing on concerted action. Yet beyond
the swearing in of twenty special policemen,
all of whom were in sympathy with if not
engaged in the strike the chief burgess
did nothing to avert the storm
that was impending. While the sheriff was
absent at the county seat the Poles were
open in expressing their intention to stop
the Kelly run cOlliery from doing any work
after to-day, and warning that they would
suffer from the coal and iron police had no
effect on them, their replies being: ''We,
empty hands, last night; pistols now, kill
business" and so it proved Toward 3o'clock
they began to gather on the grounds
south of the Kelley Run collery, on the sur
rounding hillsides and in all the streets,
alleys and yards of the vicinity BY 4 O'clock
when the bell rang the signal to quit work
there were fully 1900 men, women and
children congregated in waiting for the work
men. Not all of these were Poles, but those IN
the front rank were, and armed with re-
volvers, clubs and stones they impatiently
looked for the coming of the Kelley run en-
ployes. They regarded the other thousands
who stood behind them as passively cndors-
ing their work. if not actively engaged in it,
The Creakcr boys We're the first to quit work
and start for home. 1t was not thought by
mine managers that mob would mOlest these
mere boys, but it was bad Judgment for they
kicked, stoned and beat them as though they
had been responsible adults A few men
who braved the mob also met the same fate,
and it soon became evident that if the rioters
were to be checked at all it must be by the
authority of the coal and iron police and
cold lead. The borough specials were
absent and while the riot was going on the
chief burgess was running around trying to
Suddenly the coal and iron men to the
number Of twenty-five formed on fiat at a
distance of about fifty yards below the
breaker in front of the bowling mob, who
formed the company in front
with drawn revolvers, heavy and
self-cocking weapons the mob recoiled and
stood at bay, their temper temporarily cooled
by the knowledge that they We're facing
death The conservative part of the crowd
drew back to a safe distance.
The Poles, however, still remained
in the foreground, waiting for move
on the part of the officers. The
latter marched Off along pike road leading
the east and toward the red BRIDGE which
spans the Lehigh Valley railroad where the
Reading crosses and connects the Gap col
lery with Indian ridge. The Poles slowly
followed and the platoon of officers marched
slowly on up u slight elevation of the road
which, as it rose, formed an embankment for
the Lehigh Valley road.
AS they neared the top of the road
they were suddenly fired on by
few Poles who had crept along
under the shadow of the bank. One of
the officers, Oscar Wilman, fell, with an ugly
wound in the inner part of the left thigh.
The police then turned and fired
repeatedly in the direction of
the mob, but without hitting
any one as far as known. The mob returned