The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-07-08

proceoeo ra.s wnefi the boats came 70 3
stop and we heard firing. Then 1t was
Mat we were handed gums and told that
we must
Fight for Our Lives.
This was the first intimation that we
had Of the character of the work for
which we had been engaged. Many OF
the men refused to obey the orders 10
use the gums. Not few made q rush
for the steamers, but found that they
had cut loose and that there was no pos
sibie chance OF escaping from the trap
All night long we were In state OF
terror, and when daylight came we saw
the armed and determined looking men
on the river banks and heard the roar of
cannon and saw men bleeding and dying
all around our feelings can be better
imagined than described. There We're
Abort Fifty Trained Pinkerton Men
on the barges who seemed to be doing
all the firing. With blanched faces,
strong men pleaded with those in COM
mand to run up a flag of truce, but they
would not listen to it. When it was
found that the fight was to continue
many Of those on board threw down
their arms and hid beneath cots, mat
trasses, etc. BY lying ON our stomachs
we could see everything that was taking
place on shore. When we saw that
preparations were being made to burn
the barges by throwing oil upon them,
not one of us expected to get away
alive. Even those in command grew
nervous, but still they would not give
up. 1T was then that made prepara-
tions to kill myself. loaded my revol-
yer and made up my mind to blow out
my brains should the boat be set on fire.
! am just as positive that Of our men
not less than
A Dozen Committed Suicide
during the day as that am standing
here. saw four jump into the water
and sink and have been told that sew
Heral others made way with themselves
in the same way. They went over the
ride of the boat furthest from shore and
could not be seen by the men in the mill
yard. The pleadings of some Of the older
men who said they had families was
enough to move the hardest heart, but it
was not until those In command saw that
TO remain on the boat until after
nightfall meant sure death that they
agreed TO the demands of the men and
sent out word that they were ready to
surrender. As q amember Of q military
company have seen sham battles and I
had some pretty rough experiences, but
that was all featherbed soldiery COM
pared with what / have gone through
during the past day and night. / will
never again accept soft snap as
watchman unless know exactly what
am going to do.
With his head bandaged and one arm
In . sling Joseph Glascer, j man weigh
ing over two hundred pounds, was the
picture of misery. He said: 's.I got all
my injuries ON the way from the boat to
the rink. hut am not complaining. |
should have had my head knocked off
for coming here Ny home is in Jersey
City. have family. Recently I lost
my position. A friend told me he could
get me place as private detective in
little town near Pittsburg at a salary
of SO week and board. I went home
and told my wife. With tears in her
eyes she begged me not to accept the
place. She said something told her that
the employment offered was not honor
able, rs people were not paying private
watchmen such large salaries. But !
did not listen to her. After being
haunted all over New York and Ohio |
reached Pittsburg with number OF
men whom ! also learned had been
engaged as watchmen. j
None knew just exactly where we
were going, and not until we heard
the firing, early in the morning,
did we know there was trouble of any
kind. When was handed q gun threw
it down, and told the man, who appeared
| to be sort of captain, that would not
fire shot against workingmen. lam
glad to escape alive. Yes, sir, am sure
at least half dozen mem committed
suicide by jumping overheard when
they saw the men on shore were deter.
mined to burn the barges.'