The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-05-16
A DESPERATE AFFAIR.
Bloody Fight Between Strikers and Non
Union Brickmakers at Denver. Col.-One
Man Killed and Several Wounded. Sew
eral Fatally-Stories of the Anhlr as
Told by Some of the Participants.


Man Killed and Several Wounded. Sew
eral Fatally-Stories of the Affhir
Told by Some of the Participants.
DENVER, Col, May IA desperate
fight took place in the City park at 10
a. m yesterday between f. n. Davis,
and f. ID. Davis (white) and John White,
Tom Davis, E. Farris, ]. W. Smith and
James Blackburn (eoloredD on one side,
and some fifty or more strikers on the
other. Two men were fatally shot and
about twelve others wounded more or
less seriously.
The fight, which was at close range,
was brought about by the brickmakers'
strike which has been in progress at the
Davis yards for several weeks past.
Yesterday morning F. n. Davis and son,
the proprietors of the brick yards, and
five negroes armed with double-bar-
relied shotguns, heavily loaded with
buckshot. started for the yards with
the avowed intention of beginning work
or dying in the attempt
As they were nearing the yards a
party of strikers, headed by Frank
Sarber. appeared and asked that they
be allowed to talk to the men who
were going to work. Davis replied
| that the men did not want to talk and
ordered the strikers to allow his men
| to pass
This the strikers would not do, and
Davis and his son and five men opened
| fire on the strikers. Thomas Kelly,
was shot in the small of the back and
| died two hours later. The more serious
ly injured are: John Ridenour, shot in
the back. fatally wounded;Frank Surber
shot in the right arm, necessitating
amputation: may die: Bert Brown, shot
in the right arm; s. II. Paal, shot in the
left shoulder: Jack Garnet, shot in the
side: W. j. Shamute, shot in the fore
head and in the shoulder: Sam Farrar.
shot in the legs; Pete Nolan. shot in
the arm: B. O'Brien and William Dick
son both shot in the head and side.
A number of others are known to
have been hit, but fled from the scene
before their names or the extent of their
injuries were learned.
| Immediately after the firing began
the strikers ran, except those who were
too badly hurt to get away, and Davis
with his men proceeded to the yards,
where they surrendered to an officer
and were locked up.
Immediately after the shooting
United Press reporter arrived on the
scene of the trouble and found large
crowd of men there, being attracted by
the shooting. number of the strik-
ers who had at first fled from the scene
had returned. but some were away hav-
ing their wounds attended to.
Thomas Kelly was lying on the
ground breathing painfully and evil
IDENTIFY dying. Beside him was his Sis
ter, a girl about II years of age, almost
crazed with grief and moaning most
piteously. Before he was too far gone
to speak, Kelly stated that F. n. Davis
was the man who shot him. He then
fell back fainting and could say no
more in reference to the affair. Kelly
was not striker, and only went to the
place out of mere curiosity.
John Ridenour. who was also NOR
tally wounded, was taken to the Sis
ters' hospital, where he now lies in n
lying condition.
W. J. Shamute, who was injured,
said: I'VE were sitting under the trees
when Davis and his men came up with
their guns on their arms Mr.. Surber
said: MIR. Davis, we would like to
talk to these men Davis replied:
Get out of this. we want no tallxing:'
and Immediately shouted Fire and
smptied his gun at the strikers When
poor Ridenour fell, young Davis shot
him again after he was down."
All of the men who were present at
the time corroborated the story of
Shamute.
+. y. Davis was seen at police head
quarters and said: II shot to kill and
| don't DENY it. This morning l got
some men and started ont TO my yards
We stopped at the gate of City park
and loaded our guns and started across
the park to where my yards are located.
Before we had gone far we saw u
lot of men running across the park. and
when we got near the yards the strik-
ers blocked the road. Frank Surber
was in the lead and said he would like
to talk to the men. / told him they
lid not want to talk and ordered them
10 get out of the way. Surber then
said: Boys. every man grab gum"
They then rushed on us throwing
stones and shouting. ] told my men to
fire and shoot to kill.
The men about the park say that in
addition to the men who we're shot two
little boys who were crossing the park
at the time were hit by stray shot but
| mother was fatally hurt