Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-06-10
FOUGHT AMONG THEMSELVES.


the Route of the Illinois Drainage Canal |
Many Men Hurt-A Negro Ground to |
Pieces by Train While Trying to Es- |
cape His Assailants.
CHICAGO, June 3.-War broke out be-
tween quarrymen and laborers at Ro-
meo and Lamont Friday. Turbulent
scenes were enacted and many men Sc
riously injured, several, it is feared,
fatally. few days ago the
Illinois Stone company reduced its
s1.5O a day. They believed that 1t
was due to the importation of laborcrs
for work on the canal, and great indig-
nation arose among them, Four hun.
dred quarrymen struck Friday,
and armed with clubs and re-
volvers marched from one stone
quarry to another gaining adj
ditions to their ranks. When their
force was sufficiently strong they left
the quarres and rushed upon the
nearest camp of contractors on the
drainage canal line. Camp after camp
was visited and in each the men were
driven from their work and where they
resisted were assaulted by the strikers
The employment of colored laborers
on the canal still more enraged the
strikers, and in spite of all the con-
servative men could do the riotous ele
ment carried the counsel and war was
declared.
One negro while fleeing from the mob
of excited Poles and Swedes was killed
by Santa Fe train. Charles Burns,
| general drainage foreman, is momen-
III &c, 20 l, ~
| fiicted by the strikers. Foreman Pow
derly is not expected to live and Fore
man Larson had his arm broken by
striking negro connected with the
quarry strike at Joliet.
After several stormy meetings Friday
morning mob gathered in the vicinity
| of Romeo, and after listening to one or
| two incendiary speeches the men started
| for camp 1 on the sanitary district.
| Here they called upon the men to quit
work and completely cowed the
laborers by their show of strength and
arms. About 500 of the canal diggers
| obeyed the order and threw down their
shovels and picks. To emphasize their
demands the strikers assaulted few
of the laborers and gave them severe
beatings. No one was severely injured
| here.
A march was then made to Gilford's
camp, where rumors of the trouble had
preceded the rioters. The foreman had
organized a resistance, and the strikers
We're met by body of men hastily
armed with such weapons as bars of
iron and pick handles. The sight of
an armed force seemed to enrage
the strikers. Without hesitation they
made charge. The defenders of the
camp made but little resistance. A few
clustered around the foreman, James
Powderly, and with him made a stand
against the charge. The little
band was overwhelmed by the
numbers, and in moment Pow
derly was stretched insensible on
the ground. His men We're steadily
beaten back and finally, bruised and
bleeding. We're forced to take refuge in
fight. The rioters swept on, leaving
Powderly apparently dead behind them
He was subsequently found by his men
and cared for at Macarthur Bros camp
The next raid was on the camp of E.
D. Smith & Co. Manager Jackson had
heard of the approach of the mob and
had gone to the headquarters of Sec
tion II near Lemont to consult with
his superiors. The camp was left in
charge of Foreman Larsen. Smiths
men We're mainly colored and un'
armed The mob commanded Lar
Sen and his men to quit work
The foreman refused and rush
was made. One of the colored laborers
drew a revolver and dared the rioters
to advance, threatening to shoot the
first man who interfered with him. The
mob made a rush, avoiding the man
with the revolver. Larsen was knocked
down and his arm was broken with 6
club as he warded off blow from hi!
head. He was knocked senseless anC
his men put to rout. Larsen was sub
sequently carried into camp, fearfully
beaten.
The Iuob heard that one of Agnew &
Co.'S employees named Welch hac
threatened to have the ring-leaders ar
strikers and they started to fnt
Welch. He had disappeared ant
the rioters attacked Superinten
) dent Burns and gave him ;
terrible beating He was left for dead
and was carried by trends to his hom
in Lamont, where he was attended b,
Drs. Leahy and Fitzpatrick, who hat
, also attended Powderly. Friday nigh
the physicians said that Burns woul'
: recover, but there was little hope TO
' Powderly.
: Altogether the rioters visited sevel
camps on the drainage channel an
drove off all the men. AT the las
camp, near Romeo, the negroes refuse,
for time to join the mob Persuasiv
, measures having failed a free for al
fight followed. The negroes gave il
shortly, but their leader was pursue
for some distance. Finding himself i
j danger of rough handling from thos
behind him he attempted to board
. swiftly moving Santa Fe train. H
, fell under the cars and was ground
!, pieces.
/, The most alarming reports reache