Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-04-10
THE GREAT STRIKE.
SEVEN MINERS KILLED AND a
LARGE NUMBER WOUNDED.
The Pennsylvania Coke Strikers At
tack Property and are Repulsed
by an Armed Guard.-All the Men
Killed Were Foreigners.
Striking Miners Killed.

A serious fight between striking miners
and guards in the coke district of Pcnnsyl-
vania took place on Thursday, April 2. at
two o'clock in the morning. The strikers
gathered in great force and made deter
mined attack upon the Norwood plant,
which has proved bone of contention be-
tween the strikers and their employers.
The fight was brief and deadly. Two
rounds Of cartridges were fired by a band
OF siXty-five guards and seven Of the charg-
ing mob Of strikers fell dead, while at
least forty others were wounded, how bad
ly cannot be definitely stated as they were
taken away by their companions. The
strikers killed instantly were all foreigners.
not one Of them being even a naturalzed
citizen OF this country.
The following account OF the attack is
given: The night was Of inky blackness
but the guards were apprsed OF the move
ments Of the attacking party by confused
mutterings in foreign tongues or subdued
orders from the leaders. Under the orders
of Capt. Lear the sixty-fivc guards stood
quietly in line before the works, their
Winchesters peacefully lat cock" Sud
denly break was made by the advancing
mob toward the fences Of the company.
A stern order to halt was given, but
the firing of three shots by members
Of the mob, which whstled warning close
to the ears of the impassive guards, each
one of whom was well drilled and was
simply there TO obey orders. After the
shots were fired by the strikers, they
turned and made dash toward the
stables Of the company. Without firing a
shot the guards were ordered to follow.
and the command again given the strikers
TO halt. They only retreated further
down the road and answered the order
with yells and threats. Again was the
command given and again came the mock
ing answer, and then the order 10 fire was
given by Capt. Lear. The yolleys from
the WinchcSters were well directed and
but a few rounds were necessary TO drive
the frightened rioters back INTO the hills
where hundreds of their fellow strikers
had gathered in anticipation of assisting
in the riot. bat not in battle with such a
determined band of guards. The firing
on both sides continued hardly three min
utes. The volleys from the guards bac
terrible effect on the compact mass Of
strikers. while the latter made an attempt
10 return the lire with what few weapons
they possessed. but without effect. The
dead were left lying in the road, while the
wounded, estimated at between forty and
fifty, were either assisted or bodily car
ried away into the hills by their fellows.
Several companies Of the state militia
have been ordered 10 the scene OF the dis
turbance.
Mr.. II. G. Prick. the owner Of the More
wood plant and the largest coke operator
in the country. in an interview said: 1--WE
placed our men and property in the hands
Of the authorities for protection. The
sheriff. in the Morewood case. has done
his duty. The governor is doing his.
This is no quarrel about wages. but only
whether our men working are TO bc shot
down at midnight and our property
destroyed by rioters. The authorities
must settle this, and we will know
whether mobs or law is TO rule