Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-10-06

Indianola. Ind, the Scene of Desper-
ate Conflict.

Indianola, Ind, the Scene of a Desper
ate Conflict.
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 6.-The riotinS which
has been in progress at the Big -Four shops
in Indianola was continued in desultory
fashion until shortly after O'Clock, when
it resulted in a running battle, resulting
in the death of one man, James Pitts, and
the serious injury of J. c. Riley, superin-
tendent of the Peoria and Eastern divi-
sion. The special police were in place
with the exception Of two. who refused to
go on duty and turned in their badges.
The boilermakers were also at work.
When it became known that the police
were back the crowd soon gathered again.
1t was composed principally OF boys of
20. II a guard appeared in front of line
OF cars he was at once assailed by q shower
Of rocks and was compelled to retire be-
yoni range. II he passed along behind
the ca~s the boys threw rocks over or
under. or between the cars. Anything 10
harrass the specials. When they were
not in sight Ihe crowd was quiet.
The First Shot.
The specials would advance behind the
cars and. for safety sake, stand or kneel
behind the tracks. The boys advanced to
the company's line and thus got within a
few feet ofon of the specials as he stopped
behind the iron wheels. Rocks fell all
around him. Suddenly the SPECIAL pulled
| his revolver, stuck il out past the end of
the car and pulled the trigger. The bull
let struck a boy, Bennie Stamm, on the
| knuckles of the fingers Of the hand that
| was hurling the rocks and imbedded itself
| about hip-hign in the side of Charlie
| Taub's drug store across the street. Stamm
| fastened back among the crowd and was
| Immediately surrounded. As he showed
| his bleeding finger a young man named
| Ellis raised his arms above his compan-
ions and shouted. Men, this is too much;
them devils is shooting boys. Who'll fol
low me over and clean 'em out:"
Not Brave Crowd.
He started across the street, but as less
| than twenty out Of the hundred followed
| him he halted. and the most exciting Incl
dent of the morning ended The specials
were not seen again and the rock throwing
| ceased. There was no further trouble IN
| I'll 5:I5 o'clock, when Superintendent Riley,
| OF the Peoria and Eastern division, arrived
| with an engine and one coach to bring the
| worhmen and the specials into the city.
| After they were on the train 1t was stoned
by a crowd of boys but otaway. However
it met the outbound passenger train and
had to back down 10 the shops again tc
take siding. The word soon spread and
a great crowd assembled. After the pas
senger passed the special again backed
upon the main track and was met with 6
shower of stones and clubs. Riley AMI al
the rest took refuge IN the coach, except
John Stoke special policeman, who stood
on the rear platform and emptied his re
volver into the crowd.
| Took Fatal Effect. a
One shot took fatal effect upon jaime.
Pitts, a Big Four fireman residing near
by, who was on his way home. Immedi
ately there was howl of indignation anC
stones, clubs and bullets were showeret
upon the coach from the crowd. The en-
gineer and fireman lay upon the floor o
the cab, the throttle was opened and tn,
train shot into the city. The only one hur
upon it was j. w. Riley, division superin
tendent, who was struck in the neck by
stone and seriously hurt, A warrant i
out for Stokes for murder, but the polio
have been unable to find him. The com
pany has dismissed the 40 blacksmith an,
machinists employed at Brighton for sym
pathy with the strikers.