Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-12
HE SHOT TO KILL.
Denver Strikers Made Targets
for Fusillade.
DEADLY WORK WITH TEE SHOTGUN.

The Strikers Declare No Thoroughfare
for "Scabs' aud Their Employer, and
the Result Is a Bloody Protest
Eleven Men Hit, One of Whom Dies in
an Hour and Another viii Die-The
shooting Party surrenders, and Their
Leader Says He Shot to Kill and Told
His Men to Do Likewise.
DENVER, Colo. May IA desperate
fight took place in City Park yesterday
between +. \. Davis and Ed. Davis
(white), and John White, Tom Davis, E.
Farris, J. W. Smith and James Black
burn (colored), 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 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. Yes
terday morning Davis and his son, the
proprietors of the brick yards, with eight
negroes with double barreled shot guns
loaded with buck-shot, started for the
yards with the avowed intention of be-
ginning work or dying in the attempt.
The Strikers Appear, and the Result.
As they were nearing the yards party
of strikers, headed by Frank Surber, ap-
peared and asked that they be allowed to
t Ilk 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 men most
seriously injured are: John Ridenour.
shot in the back and mortally wounded;
Frank Surber, shot in the right arm, ne
cessitating amputation, and may die;
Burt Brown, shot in the right arm; 5.
Paal, shot in the left shoulder; Jack Gar
ret, shot in side; W. J. Shaunte, shot in
the forehead and in shoulder; Sam Far
rar. shot in legs; Pete Nolan, shot in leg;
B. O'Brien and William Dickson, both
shot in head and side.
A Number of Others Hit.
4 number of others are known to have
| been hit, but fed from the scene before
| their names or the extent of their injuries
were learned. Immediately after the fir
ing began the strikers ran, except those
who were too badly hurt to get away, an /
Davis with his men proceeded to the yard,
| where they surrendered to an officer and
were locked up. Immediately after the
! shooting a l nited Press reporter arrived
on the scene of the trouble and found a
large crowd of men there, being attracted
| by the shooting. a number of the strikers
who had at first fled from the scene had
returned, but some were away having
| their wounds attended to.
Pitiable Scene on the Battlefield.
/ Thomas Kelly was lying on the ground
| breathing painfully, and evidently dying
Beside him was his sister, a girl about "A
years of age, almost crazed with grief,
/ and moaning most piteously. Before be
was too far gone to speak Kelly stated
| that F. y. Davis was the man who shot
! him. He then fell back fainting. Kelly
was not a striker and only went to the
| place out of mere curiosity. John Ride
nour, who was also mortally wounded
was taken to the Sisters hospital, where
! he now lies in dying condition. :
Statement of Striker.
| W. J. Shamute, who was one of the in,
| jured, said: "We were sitting under til.
trees when Davis and his men came VI
|
Der said: Mr. Davis, we would like Il
talk to these men Davis replied: Get
out of this, we want no talking and i'm
! nediately shouted, Fire. and emptied
! MS gun at the strikers. When poor Ride
nour fell young Davis shot him again
after he was down" a number of the
men who were present corroborated the
story of Shamute.
\ Another Account of the Affair.
F. \. Davis was seen at police head
| quarters and said: al shot to kill and
cont deny it. This morning l got som,
men and started out to my yards. w
stopped at the gate Of city park and load
ed our guns and started across the parl
to where my yards are located. Belor
we had gone far we saw lot of men run
! ming across the park and when we go
| near the yards the strikers blocked TIT
road. Surber was in the lead and said n
would like to talk to the men. / to!t
HIM they did not want to talk, and order
ed them to get out of the way. Surbe
then said: Boys, every man grab gun.
They then rushed on US throwing stones
and shooting. told my men to fire anc
| loot to kill"
Condemned by the Labor Unions.
The various labor unions in the citl
held a mass meeting last night, at which
| resolutions were passed condemning the
shooting of the men. Everything il
quiet and no further trouble is antici
pated.