Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-12
SHOT TO KILL.
TWO MEN KILLED AND SEVERAL
SERIOUSLY WOUNDED.
A Denver BriclSlnaker and Some Negro
Employees and White Strikers En-
gage In Pitched Battle.
Special &c the Gazette.

SptC4a4 u LLG IdLtLLF-
DESvEE, Col. May IA desperate
fight took place in the city park At 10
o'clock this morning between F. y. Davis
and y Davis, white and John White, Tom
Davis. f. FarTis, J. W. Smith and James
Blackburn. colOrcd On one side and some
fifty or more strikers on the other.
Two men were fatally shot and about
twelve more wounded more or less Sc
liously
The fight. which was at close range. was
brought about by he brickmaliers strike.
which has bg eu in progress at the Davis
wards Tor several weeks past
This morning r w. Davis and
son. with ei"ht negroes armed with double
harrelcd shorguas heavily loaded with
bucksh OF started for the wards with the
avOwed int :ntiOu of beginning work
or dying in the attempt. As
they We're nearing the yards 4
party Of strikers led BY Frank
SUrber.a appeared and asked that they be
allowed to talk 10 the men who were going
10 work.
Davis replied that the mon did not want
TO talk, and ordered the strikers to clear
the way and allow his men to pass.
This the strikers would not do. and Davis
and his son and his five men opened fire on
the strikers and mortally wounded Thomas
Kelly aud John RidcnOur and more or less
lniuring ten others, while a number who
are supposed TO have been hit are missing,
they having ran away when the firing be-
gan
Davis shouted that he would go only
when there va, q large enough force to
take him.
Deputy Sheriff Sam mman heard the
firing and rode rapidly to the scene. and
when he came up Davis and his men sur
rendered on condition that they retain
their guns until they reached the city.
- p..r Of he,
less seriously hurt, said We were sitting
under the trees when Davis and his men
came up with their guns on their shoulders.
Mr.. Surber said: Mir Davis. we would
like TO talk to these men, Davis replied:
Get out Of this, we want no talking
wasn't ne trouble, but II any man
attempts to shoot, take his gun
away from him and throw it away
Davis then drew his gun and gave
The killed are Thomas Kelley, shot in
the small of the back, and John RiGenour.
also shot in the back
Wounded Frank Surber, shot in right
arm, but escaped before result of injury
could be learned: Bert Brown. shot in right
am Is. Paul. several shots in left shoulder;
j lrI5 GalTct one shot on right hand ". J.
SIaMute, shot on forehead and shoulder:
sam Farrar several shots in legs: Pete
Nolan. right wrist badly laceratcd.
\ number of others are known to have
been hit, but fed from the scene before
Their names or the extent OF their injuries
we're aScertaiucd.
Immediately after the firing began the
strikers ran. except those who were too
21dly hurt 10 get away. and Davis
with his men proceeded TO the yard,
but before they had commenced
work mounted Police Keenc rode up and
Tried to place them under arrest
- ,sAr md ~, +igsa 81,
bu- they fired upon Us. When poor Ridenour
fell. Young Davis shot him again after he
was down"
\ number of the men who were present
n the time coTroboratcd the statement of
Shamulc
i. y. Davis was seen in Justice Palmer's
ofice. where Sheriff lnmau had taken him
ana the men. Davis said: i want You
10 state this matter just as | give it
10 you. shot To kin ana | don't deny it.
This morning ! drove Ia Sheriff Barton'S
house and told him he had better send
some men out 10 my yards as was going
10 start up this morning. and there was apt
to be- some fighting. About 10 o'clock
my son took 4 wagon and went
out TO the gate of the city with seven shot
guns, | think. l then went and cot seven
ineu and we went out TO the park
On car, where we met my
son Ed We stopped ut the
cate and loaded our guns, and started across
the city park to where my Yards are
l Gated. Before we had gone far we saw
lot OF men running across the park
hal!ooing 10 each other, and when
We got near the wards the
strikers blocked the road Frank Surber
was in the lead, ana said ne would like
'o talk 10 the men. | told him they did not
want Ia talk Ia anyone. ana ordered them
To yet out ui The way, as we were going
through. Surber then said Boys.
every man grab u gun. They
then rushed on Us, throwing stones and
shouting. told my men 10 fire, and shoot
90 hit then began shooting. and shot to
kill. After the shooting we went over To
tho yards. those of Us YOU see here.
Two Of my men ran as soon
A. ,ue trouble began and don't know what
became of them
The men about the park say that in addi-
ton 10 the men who were shot two little
boys who were cross 'ng the park ut the
time We're hit by stray buckshot, but
neither was fatally hurt