Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10
FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR CHICAGO.
styiker and Non-Strikers Engaged In Q
Pitched Battle.

NEARLY HALF DOZEN MEN ErIIED-rwo
BODIES OF STRIKERS REFUSED AS THEY
MARCHED TOWARD THE CAMP OF THE WORK
MEMORIAL EXCITEMENT AND FEARS or An
OTHER RATTLE.
A pitched battle took place at Chicago yes-
terday afternoon between strikers and en-
ployes of the contractors on the drainage
canal at about O'Clock The fight took place
| at Romeo. the strikers coming down from Le-
mont and others coming from the north. they
being divided into two mobs They at once
began firing on the contractors and their men,
Coming from the north they drove of the
men on section TO- The men retired fighting,
but they had gone only short distance when
they were set upon by another division Of the
strikers and several men were killed.
Three Of the men killed are in Viii county,
two of them in the Illinois and Michigan canal,
one is lying on the towpath, and two others
are lying in the bushes just across the line in
Cook county. -Four OF these, who were wounded,
will probably die.
1t is impossible to learn the names Of thoss
killed.
The list of wounded is as tollows: Michael
Micholb. bullet through feshy part Of thigh;
Frank Palski, two bullet wounds and terribly
dubbed; Lorenz Levandoski, wrist shattered
By bullet; Ludwig K. Ruga, shot through alb
domen, viii die; Anton yescliski, several
wounds in head and dubbed; Thomas Merelski.
bullet through lungs, win die; Michael Boyer,
bulle: through lower lobe of liver. will die;
John Zwojatonski, bullet through thigh bone,
will lose leg; Michael Josloski bullet in lungs,
Is dying; Frank Smith, ear shot of: Severn
PETERSON, shot in several places and dubbed.
There are six or eight others whoare wounded,
put their injuries are not of a serious nature.
All OF the wounded live in Lemont, where they
were taken for treatment DR.. J.. ]. Lehy
attended all Of them. He extracted q dozen a
nfteen bullets from the wounded men.
STORY OF THE BATTLE
According to the stories told by the strikerv
they were in nowise responsible for the carnage.
Those from Lemont and those from the campo
north Of Romeo were to hold meeting a
Romeo to discuss the situation. They claim
they we're unarmed and were attacked without
provocation- or the men employed on the
drainage canal about 100 negroes in the en-
| ploy OF Contractors Edward Locker, Smith d
Jackson, King Bros. and John Mccormick re-
fused to Join the strikers.
Yesterday morning they were armed with
shotguns, Winchester and revolvers and told
| to protect themselves Lookouts with powerful
field glasses were stationed in towers TO give
warning of the approach Of the strikers When
the party from the north came in sight about
met with q fusillade from the men at work
They deny having fired q shot or making any
hostile demonstration.
At the first FIRE they started TO run The
negroes gave chase and seventeen of the strik-
| ers were captured and imprisoned in box car,
in which they were afterward conveyed 70
Joliet
When the party from Lemont approached
the camp from the south an hour later the
lookout gave notice TO the negroes who were
| placed by the man In charge ct various
coigns Of vantage on the summit Of the huge
piles Of rock which surrounded the camp. The
strikers approached unconscious Of the recep-
ton in Store for them. When about fifty feet
from the camps whistle sounded. This
was the signal for the negroes to fire in Q body,
and instantly 100 rifles beched forth their
death-desling missiles into the ranks Of the
strikers. Many fell at the first Ere, while those
| uniniured started to fee. They were almost
surrounded, however. and as the firing con-
tinued they became thoroughly be wildered-
| AZ last an avenue OF escape was discovered,
and then began q race for life. The negroes
gave pursuit. firing as they ran. bringing down
| q striker every few rods. For q mile and half
| the chase was kept up, marking the road for
| this distance with q trail of blood Two Of ths
| wounded strikers were seen 70 fall into the
canal. The others died where they fell In the
| roadway.
While the battle was in progreA Ludwig Kru-
ger, . section man employed on the Santa Fe
railroad, mistaken for q striker and shea
through the abdomen He win probably die
| A NUMBER OF PRIsoxxna
While the mob of armed men were chasing
the strikers along the towpath, twenty Of the
latter were overtaken and made prisonerA
They were locked in . freight car and FROM
there taken to the commissary department Of
King Brothers' camp. One of the Kings
| turned the men over to the chief deputy sheriff
of viii county. The chief refused to take the
men into custody until he knew what they had
done to be arrested King said il be did mot
take them there would be more bloodshed, and
to protect them the chief locked them in Q box
car and sent them to Joliet There were
thirty-two Of the strikers locked up in the win
county Jail
Romanus Arnold, coroner Of viii county,
held Al inquest last night on the BODY Of one
Of the strikers found dead on the towpath-
No papers were found on the body that
would establish the mans identity. The canal
will be dragged for the other two or three
bodies that were seen 70 fall in.
Geo. Neimer of Lemont, father Of the super
intendent. issued a warrant late last night for
the arrest Of Contractor Locker. The charge
is shooting with intent to kill John kruGa,
the father Of the boy who was shot while eat
ing his dinner. is the complainant The
wounded men were picked up in wagons and
: brought to Lemont
} There is talk Of mob being formed to drivs
the negroes and contractors away. IL q battle
does take place today the list OF killed and in
. jured will exceed that of Yesterday.
: At 1850 O'Clock last night Gov. Altgeld 70
} ceived the following kilograms from Sheria
} kennedy of VIII county;
"JoLIrT, IL, June O.
! "H. T. htgeld, governor:
at is next to impossible TO secure men who
! will serve As deputies and also difficult 20 arm
them. The use Of deputies has the effect
merely to bring on q fight, resulting, as 1t did
today, in bloodshed. believe Q strong mill
tary demonstration will save both life and
property. lam credibly informed that anothel
movement viii be undertaken tomorrow, and
fear the result, which can be avoided by .
strong display Of force. have had about ~
deputies and posse.
(Signed) ''THoMAs KENNEDY,
.'Sherif VIII County,
MILITARY ORDERED OUT.
At 80 o'clock Gov. Atgeld had not 70
, ceived any word from the sheriff Of Cool
: county, but fearing . further outbreak ct L.
,, mont he ordered Adjt Gen 0repdorn TO 60 q
once to the scene Of action and kilograms vers
. sent calling out the second and third regiment
4 to repair at once to Lemont and Joliet and b
. there by daylight this morning.