Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-04-08

GREENsBURG, Pa, April 2.-The
troubles at the Norwood coke works
resulted this morning in a desperate
battle between mob of 400 or 50t
strikers and the special deputy sherilis
who we-e guarding the works. The
great body of armed strikers approached
the works of the H. c. Frick Coke Com
pany at 2 A. NJ. and began to batter
down the gates. When ordered to de-
| sisC they fired on the deputy sheriffs,
slightly wounding several. The latter
replied with their Winchestersandk killed
seven rioters instantly, while many
were wounded. The guards fired two
volleys before the rioters retreated.
Previous to the raid the rioters had cut
the telegraph and telephone wires.
The situation is SO critical that the gov
ernor has ordered the Tenth Regiment
to aid the sheriff of Westmoreland
County in quelling the trouble in the
coke. region. The Eighteenth Regi
ment of this city has been ordered 10
hold itself in readiness
At 8 O. clock this morning another at
tack was attempted and three more
killed. Twenty-Five of the rioters were
wounded in this last scuffle.
The deputies who took part in the
riot at the Frick works were all full
grown, experienced men. and they
were armed to the teeth. A more de-
iiberate arrangement for contemplated
trouble was never made. Last night
Supt. Pickard summoned his deputies
and told them that raid was contem-
plated on the works. He formed them
into line and examined the firearms
of each one. He then presented
each man with a Winchester rifle,
drilled them in the use Of the
weapon, and ordered them on duty.
When they were retiring Supt. Pickard
said: 81 will be in command. | have
received positive information that our
works are to be raided. | have prom
ised protection to our men, and [ must
give it to them. When the raiders
come, obey me. Fire the first shot
into the air If the raiders do not
retreat, fire the second shot, and
keep on firing while you have
ammunition Protect the companvs
property, protect the men at work, and
protect your own lives. The man in my
employ who runs | will shoot dead on
the spot. Any man who is not willing
to accept my terms will please drop into
the rear and | will send him home I'M
der guard"
There was no one dropped back. All
the deputies looked grim and serious,
and awaited further orders.
els everybody satisfied % asked the
superintendent.
eyes, yes" rang out all along the
line. Each man was supplied with
twenty-six cartridges, ard under the
command of the superintendent were
marched to a convenient point.
All night long the strikers were pre-
pairing for the raid. Delegations head
ed by drum corps marched to and fro
to places Of rendezvous. An occasional
pistol shot in the distance was accepted
rs a mysterious signal. Now and then
rocket flashed into the air, and from an
adjoining hilltop a swinging light could
be seen. The guards did not know
what these signals meant They were
accepted as evidences of danger, how
ever, and the people at and about the
various works did not retire during the
night.
| 1t is said that the miners were pro-
| pared to blow up the mine at Norwood.
There were three parties of the strikers.
| One came from Stonerville. Another
and marched to Greensburg. Here
they were met by a party from the
mines around here.
At about 2:45 this morning mob OF
about 500 men surrounded the Standard
Works. They destroyed some of the
company's property and then proceed
ed to cut the telephone and telegraph
lines of the coke company so no warm
ing could be sent to people at More
wood. About CLOCK party of riot
ers, between 400 and 500 strong, reached
Norwood.
In the meantime the company's en-
ployes at the Standard Works hurriedly
repaired the telephone lines and sent
word to Norwood that the strikers
would attack the works in three places,
and had well-laid plan to destroy the
whole plant. The deputy sheriffs were
in readiness to receive the attack. The
men were divided into three parties,
Capt. Lauer having charge Of the party
which was placed behind the big gates
! of the barn and stable enclosure.
AS the 1ioto.5 pss6ed the company's
store they made an attack upon it and
raided it as far as they could in brief
time, breaking the windows and doing
other damage. They then marched to
the barn enclosure 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 rapid vol
ley in the direction of the deputies,
none of whom were seriously injured.
Capt. Lauer then gave the order to
fire. Two volleys were fired before the
mob broke and ran. Eleven men fell
dead in the public road and twenty
seven were found wounded. The riot
ers then broke up into small groups and
made their escape in various directions.