The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-03

Especial About 2:45 this morning a
mob Of about five hundred men began
rioting at the Standard works. They
destroyed some of the company's pro-
perty and then proceeded to cut tie
telephone and telegraph lines of the
Coke Company, SO no warnings could be
sent to tho people at Morewood.
About 3o'clock the party of rioters, be-
tween four and five hundred strong,
marched to Morewood. In the meantime
the company's employees at the Standard
Works hurriedly repaired the telephone
lines and sent word to Morewood that
tho strikers would attack the works in
three places and had a well-laid plan to
destroy the whole plant.
Deputy sheriffs were sworn in readi-
ness to receive tho attack. The men
were divided int three parties, Captain
Laucr having charge of a party Which
was placed behind the big gates of the
barn and stable enclosure. AS the
rioters passed the company's store they
made an attack upon it and raidcd it as
far as they could, in brief time break
ing windows and doing other damage.
They then marched to the barn enclo-
sure and attempted to break down the
gates. They succeeded in doing this,
and as they entered Capt. Lauer called
out to them to halt or he would fire
upon them. Their answer was to fire
rafting volley in the direction of the
deputies, none of whom were seriously
injured.
Captain Lauor then gave tho order to
hrc. Two yolleys were fired before the
mob broke and ran. Seven men fell
dead in the public road and number
were found wounded. The rioters then
broke up into small groups and made
their escape 10 various directio
The Slavs and IIungarians are
wild. All over the region the most
intense excitement prevails. Great
crowds are coming in on every train
and the highways are so thickly peopled
as to almost resemble a passing pro-
cession. 1t is openly declared by the
strikers this afternoon that they will
have revenge for their companions.
They have, for tho time being, trans
ferred their attention from the plants
to the deputies, whom they vow they
will kill. They say at the same time
that the works will surely be RACED.
Word has been passed to tho strikers
all over the region that the shooting
was without provocation, that no vio-
emas on hearing these reports are deep
and strong.
Peter Wise, master workman of tho
district; Jas Mcbride, secretary, and w.
+. Penna, vice-president of tho United
Mine Workers of America, came here
this morning and visited the scene of
shooting and held Il conference with
several men. 1t is said that they are
securing the names Of the deputies and
that warrants for tho arrest of all of
them, including Captain Lear, who was
in command, will be sworn out. The
latter claims that he ordered the mob
to halt three times and that he was
answered with three shots. After an
other command to halt the guards were
ordered to fire, and deadly volley was
poured into the crowd. Tho fire was
returned hotly, but the aim was poor.
From the hills the friends Of the mob
down on the road could do nothing.
They could not shoot, not knowing the
positions Of the combatants. and were
compelled, therefore, to wait word of
the result of the fusilade. They could
not have reached the ground in time to
reinforce them to any purpose, for a
circuit of the works and buildings on
either side of the road was necessary.
The firing did not continue more than
three minutes.
Whom the strikers saw tho execution
of tho deputies bullets, when they
knew that many of their number had
been visited with terrible punishment,
they retreated in great haste.
In less than five minutes after the
firing the deputies held the field. The
wounded were carried away, but the
dead were left and were carried back to
h.,r rl oil at tLA 90 ~.
dead men were not afraid is evidenced
by the fact that not one was shot in tho
back. When the bullets struck them
they were all firing at the deputies, who
say they had returned to highland fight
they did. Volley after volley was fired
at them, but not guard was wounded.
II tho mob had the coarage of lions
they were poor marksmen.
The stable where the bodies are living
has been surrounded all day with
strikers and their friends. Persons who
understand their language say their
threats are fearful. They swear to be
avenged. Peter Wise, district master
workman, applied to Justice Nc Williams
to arrest the deputies for murder, but
the Justice refused to do so. Wiso
denounced the shooting as cold blooded
murder and said there was no protection
for workingmen. The physicians say
forty strikers were wounded, many of
them MORALLY.
Tho excitement is increasing and
prospects for another outbreak are grow
ing every hour. a report that a second
attack took place in which four more
were killed is pronounced untrue, but
another raid is expected at any time.
Squire McCabb consented to issue the
warrants prayed for, charging the dep
uties with murder and tho warrants