The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-22
PINKERTONS PLUGGED.

PINKERTONS PLUGGED.
FIFTEEN OF THEM NOW UNDER
THE CARE OF SURGEONS.
Che Presence of the Licensed Outlaws Ex-
cites the hrong and Causes . Riot-In-
nocent B~ystanders WOunded-SerioNs
Phase of the Strike Situation.
The following dispatch, under date of
the 18th inst, gives the status of the
strike situation at Albany, N. Y:
The most disastrous day in the history
ofthe New York Central strike closes to.
night. Fifteen Pinkerton men are under
the care of surgeons and five citizens are
badly wounded that there are fears for
their recovery. Three Plnkerton men
we're arrested, and one was SO badly
handled by the mob that the police sur
geons had to dress his wounds. Nearly
all the Pinkerton men were withdrawn
to-day from duty at the crossings within the
city limits, as their presence served to ex-
cite the throng of onlookers, and the police
took their places. About l o'clock, James
Hatton, o Pinkerton man, was patroliing
the tracks in the vicinity Of Van
Woert street. He claims to have
been struck with a stone in the
chest, while his companion was knocked
down and severely hurt by a gang
of roughs. Then he fired his revolver into
the crowd, seriously wounding Richard
Dryer, aged Is. Hatton had no time for
another shot. The crowd surged around
him and before the police could interfere
his clothes were torn off lis bach and he
was struck with fists and clubs and pre-
sented q pitiable spectacle when rescued
from the angry crowd by the police, who
were obliged to draw their revolvers to
stem the crowding mass of people. This
occurrence aroused the passions Of the
spectators, mostly roughs and hoodlums,
and their number increased, and the chief
Of police, fearing further trouble, estab-
lished headquarters at a station house
near by.
About 8 o'clock a freight train passed
through the city and the Pinkertons say it
was stoned. The police claim that such
was not the case. At any event, when the
train reached the Broadway viaduct, the
Pinkertons began a reckless fusilsde IN the
crowd standing in that vicinity. -Four or five
shots were fred without any provocation.
Mrs. Thomas Hogan, standing on the stoop
of her residence, was shot through the leg,
and a small boy was shot in the thigh,
The crowd by this time was wrought up tc
a fearful pitch Of excitement, and only by
the efficiency of the local police, aided by {
committee from the strikers, we're they
kept back.
After this incident Robert Pinkerton,
who had charge Of his forces here in person
called on Chief Willard. He said his mel
had been assaulted continually and fire.
arms had been put in their possession onl,
yesterday, that they might be used wher
necessary, in self-defense in the work o:
protecting the company's property. HI
was sorry innocent parties had suffered
and that it generally happened that way
Still he would stand by his men against
the wanton attacks of rouehs.
Chief Willard expressed the belief thai
If the Pinkerton men had never beer
brought here the local police would have
been abundantly able to cope with the sit
uation. AS it is he fears further trouble if
these men stay here and says in that event
the local authorities could be held respon-
sible, as he had repeatedly informed Su-
perintendent Bissell that the compsny's
property will be guarded by his own men
if no other forces were brought here to in
flame the passions of the sympathizers of
the strikers.
At 4 o'clock another freight train came
through and the Pinkerton men again fired
into the crowd, a boy named Frank Parks
receiving a bullet in his arm. The Pinker'
ton men who fred into the crowd at the
Van Woert street crossing were pursued III
the tracks by an officer and captured. 4
policeman was bringing the prisoner bacl
when he was assaulted by acrowd of Pink
erton mon, who rescued the prisoner an
severely beat the officer.
All the police nre massed at this point
and trouble is expected tonight. III
blockade at West Albany is almost as ba'
as on the first day of the strike.