The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-18
PINKERTON MEN ASSAULTED.
They Fired in Crowds Wounding Sever
People.

They Fired in Crowds W0unding Several
People.
ALBANY, Aug, 1.-THE most disastrous
day in the history of the New York Central
strike closed tonight. Fifteen Pinkerton
men are in the care of surgeons and five
citizens are SO badly wounded, there are
fears for their recovery. Three Pinkerton
men are cut and one was severely handled
by the mob. : Nearly ok Einkert0n: mon
were withdrawn from duty at the crossings
within city limits, as their presence serves
to excite the throng of onlookers and police
took their places. About O'Clock, James
Hatton, Pinkerton man. was patrolling
tracks in the vicinity of Van Woerts. He
the chest while his companion was knocked
down and severely hurt by a gang Of
rouRhs. Then he fred his revol yer into
Dwyer, age Is. ~ Hatton had no
time to fire another shot. The crowd
surged around him and before the police
could interfere, his clothes were torn from
his back. He was struck with fists
and clubs, and he presented pitiful
crowd by police, who were obliged to draw
their revolvers to stem the providing mass
of people. This occurrence aroused the
passions of the spectators, mostly roughs
and hoodlums, and their number increased,
and the cheief of police, fearing further
trouble, established headquarters in the
station house near by. About O'Clock 9
the Pinkertons say it was stoned. The po-
lice claim such was not the case. At any
event, when the train reached the Broad
way viaduct, the Pinkertons began reck-
less fusilade on the crowd standing in the
vicinity. Four or five shots were fred
without any ,provooation. Mrs. Thomas
residence, was shot through the iee.
A small boy was shot in the thigh. The
crowd this time was wrought up
to fearful pitch of excitement, and only
by the efficiency of the local police, aided
by committee from the strikers, were they
kept back. After this incident Robert Pin
person, called on Chief Willard. He said
his men had been assaulted, aud firearms
had been put into their possession only yes
terday, that they might be used when nee
essary in self defence in the work of pro-
tecting the company's property. He was
sorry innocent parties had suffered. and
@ sdded that il generally happened that way;
the wanton attacks of roughs. Chief Will
lard expressed the belief that il the Pinker-
ton men had never been brought the
local police would be able to cope with
the situation. As it is. he fears
there will be further trouble il these men
stay, and says, in that event, the local
authorities could not be held responsible,
as he had repeatedly informed Superintend-
ent Bissel that the company's property
would be we'll guarded by his own men II
no other forces were brought here to in
flame the passions of sympathizers Of the
strikers. At o'clock another freight train
came through and the Pinkerton men
again fred into the crowd, a boy named
Parks receiving bullet in the arm. The
Pinkerton man who fred into the crowd at
Vanwort street crossing was pursued up the
track by officers and captured. As the po-
licemen were coming back they were as
saulted by crowd Of Pinkert0n men who
rescued the prisoner and severely beat the
officers. All the police are gathered at this
point and trouble is expected tonight. The
blockade at West Albany is almost as bad
az the first of the strike.