The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-12
SHOOTING STRIKERS
E. A. Davis of Denver, Defends
His Brick-yards.
HE FIRES WITH SHOTGUNS
Into Crowd of FiftyEStrikers With Deadly
Efect-Dr. Graves Ready to Testify
Cassia County Water War.

DENVER, Col, May 11.-TSpecial tele-
gram to The HERALD. THE troubles at
the brick-yards in this city eliminated this
morning IN fight between f. N. Davis,
his son and sig colored men on one side,
and party of about fifty strikers The
strikers, who were unarmed, were en-
deavorlng to reach the negroes and dis
suade them from going to work at the time
trouble occurred. About the first of this
month the trouble began in the men strik-
ing and refusing to work longer The
operators nave since been endeavoring to
start with new men, but have been only
partially successful. A week ago last
Saturday an attempt to stop up the works
of f. n. Davis 81 Son resulted in riot in
which great many shots were fired, bat
no one was injured.
This morning Davis 81 Son announced
that they would start up their works Just
beyond the city park on Colfax avenue and
armlng themselves and the new men, the
negroes, with shotguns, they started for
the yards. When near the grounds, Frank
Surber, at the head of mob of about fifty
rioters, intercepted Davis men. Surber
asked leave to speak to the men
with Davis, which the latter refused to
allow. Davis asserts that Surber
then told his men to each sgrab CUR, y
and that they commenced to fire bricks and
ciods at the men. This the strikers deny,
saying that Surber's words were to lie
them pass, but to grab the guns
If the Davis people attempted to
shoot Almost Immediately following the
passage of the words Davis and his men
fired into the crowd. The shotguns were
Loaded with buckshot and moved down the
men In front. Thomas Kelly was shot in
the small of the back and died soon after,
without being removed from the scene.
John Ridenover was also Shot in the back
and afterwards died at ST. Joseph's hos
pital. Frank Surber was shot in the right
arm, Which has been amputated, and he
will probably die. Bert Brown, shot in the
right arm; H. S. Paul, shot in the shoulder;
Jack Gawett, one shot in the right hand :;
w. j. Shouter, shot in the forehead and
shoulder; Maybe Sam Farrar shot in the
legs; Pete Norton, right wrist badly lac
Grated. b. O'Brlen was found in tent
near the scene. He is terrible injured,
several shots having torn great holes in his
body and he may die.
The men aver that Davis fired first and
that he fired again directly at Ridenan
after the others had fallen and were on the
ground. Davis refused to surrender TO a
policeman who appeared soon after the
shooting, but gave himself up to Depu ty
Sheriff Inman and was taken to the county
Jail from which he and his men were
afterwards released on SO, 900 bail, Charges
of shooting with attempt to murder have
since been made out by the strikers and
Davis and his men will be compelled to an
swer to these charges.
The greatest excitement exists among
the workmen Of the city tonight and
threats to lynch Davis are freely uttered.
An immense meeting is being held in the
Brick Makers hall to decide on what action
to take in the matter. Frank Surber. leader
of the strikers, was al the time on the DO
lice force of the city and is the man vino is
charged with making all the trouble. His
record is not very good. Davis says to-
night that he shot to kill, having had all the
trouble he wanted with the men. He is
about town, being at the city hall and
other public places to-day and seems to
take little stock in the lynching threats.