The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-12
DAVIS SHOT TO KILL.
Deadly Warfare in the Denver
Brickmakers' Strike.
THE STRIKERS WERE FIRED UPON.

They Wanted to Farley with COL
orcd Men Who Were Going to
Take Their Places, when Boss
Davis Ordered His Men to Shoot.
One Killed, Two Fatally Wounded.
DENVER, Colo, May 13.-A desperate
fight took place in City park yester-
day between +. N. 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. One man
was killed, two fatally shot, and about
twelve wounded more or less seriously.
Tho 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.
+. N. Davis &c Son, the propiietors Of
the brick yards, with five negroes with
double barreled shotguns, heavily loaded
with buckshot started for the yards
with the avowed attention Of beginning
work or dying in the attempt. As they
were nearing the yards party of
strikers, headed by Frank Surber, ap-
peared and asked that they may be al
lowed to talk to the men who were GO
ing 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.
The Killed and Wounded.
Thomas Kelly was shot in the small Of
the back and died two hours later John
Ridenour. shot in the back and mortally
wounded; Frank Surber, shot in right
arm, necessitating amputation, may die;
Burt Brown, shot in right arm; S. Paal,
shot in left shoulder; Jack Garrett, shot
in side; w. J. Shaunte, shot in forehead
and shoulder; Sam Farrar, shot in legs;
Pete Nolan, shot in leg; B. O'Brien and
William Dickson, both shot in head and
side. A number Of others are known to
have been shot, but fled from the scene
before their names or the extent of
their injuries were known. Immedi-
ately after the firing began the strikers
ran, except those who were too badly
hurt to get away, and Davis, with his
men, proceeded to the yard, where they
surrendered to an officer and were
locked up.
Davis Accused by the Dying Man.
Immediately after the shooting
United Press reporter arrived on the
scene of the trouble and found q 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 Nvonnds attended to. .4---
Thomas Kelly was lying on the ground
dying. Beside him was his sister, girl
about II years of age, almost crazed
with grief and moaning most piteously.
Before he was too far gone to speak
man who shot him. He then fell back
fainting. Kelly was not striker, and
only went to the place out of mere Curl
osity. John Ridenour, who was also
mortnlly wounded. was taken to the
Sisters hospital, where be now lies in a
dying condition.
A Wounded Strikers Statement.
W. j. Shaunte, one of the injured, said
they were sitting under the trees when
the Davis party came up with their
guns on their arms. Mr.. Surber said:
"Mr Davis, we would like to talk to
these men," Davis repliel: "Get out
Of this; we want no talking" and imme-
diately shouted ''fire" and emptied his
gun at the strikers. When poor Rid
enour fell young Davis shot him again
after he was down. A number of the
men who were present at the time cor
roborated the btory of Shaunte
Davis Shot to Kill.
+. N. Davis was seen at police head
quarters and said: 81 shot to kill and |
don't deny 1t. This morning got some
men and started out to my yards. We
stopped at the gate of the City park,
loaded our guns and started across the
park to where my yards are located.
Before we got near the yards the strik-
ers blocked the road. Surber was in
the lead and said he would like to talk
to the men. told him they did not
want to talk and ordered them to get
out of tho way. Surber then said:
Boys, every man grab a gun" They
then rushed on us, throwing stones and
shouting. told my men to fire and
shoot to kill"
The men about the park say that in
addition to the men shot, two little boys
who were crossing the park at the time
were hit by stray shot, but neither was
fat ally hnrt.