Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-26
THERIOT At GILBER1Og
Fatal Result Of Tearing Up Rail-
road Tracks.
A BLOODY BATTLE PREoIPIrATED.

Two Men Killed and Four wounded In
Fight Between Citizens and Rail-
road Empioyes-Of the wounded One
May Die and Another Loses n Leg.
GIiBERToS, Pa, Aug. 23-The tearing
up of the Schuylkill Traction company's
tracks here by the borough officials re-
suited most disastrously. Seven men were
shot, two of whom are dead
For some time past trouble has been
brewing between the borough of Gilber-
ton and the Schuylkill Traction company,
whose electric railway extends from Lo-
Gust Dale to Mahanoy City, distance OF
twelve miles. 1t is alleged that when this
company was seeking the right of way
/ through this borough the council adopted
an ordinance extending to it certain privi.
4 leges as to streets. This ordinance the
company Ignored, and pl aced its tracks
/ elsewhere. There has been more or less
dissatisfaction at this action OF the com
pany, as it is claimed that their track as
now laid is an obstruction to regular
water course
On Saturday evening the heavy rainfall
J flooded the swampy portion Of the town
through which the track is laid, and the
water was forced into the cellars Of the
houses near by. This is said to have 50
/ inccnsed the property owners and ten.
ants that they demanded immediate &C
( ton, and the tearing up of the track b.
/ gan Monday night about o'clock The
Traction company were notified, aud about
7 10 o'clock Chief Officer Amour of the
above company, arrived at the scene on
special ear.
The Gilberton people-men, women and
children-fioeked about the car, and mat
tiers looked serious. The men engaged in
tearing up the tracks did not stop their
work, but continued until the rails had
been lifted fora distance II about eighty
yards. Officer Amour called upon Coun-
cilmen Stone aud Reynolds. who We're
4 present to assist him in restoring order
and relaying the tracks of the company.
/ The reques. was ignored, and was followed
/ by bitter words from the mob that sur
rounded these men. The officer and an
employe of the Traction company each
held a Winchester rifle, but upon the re-
/ fusal of as sistance made no attempt to
use them.
1 All this time the people were hooting
and making unpleasant remarks bearing
on the militia, a member Of which was on
the special car. This augered him to such
an extent that he came to the front Of the
car, gun in hand. Whether he intended
to use it or not is not known but u second
1 later the report of gun was heard, and Ii
is alleged by the Gilbcrtoa people that the
shot was fired by John Briggs, a motor
man on one of the eompany's cars
The shot had no sooner been fired than
tall man, whose name could not be
learned, rushed through the crowd, and,
pulling out revolver deliberately aimed
it ut Briggs head and fired Briggsdodged
and the bullet grazcd the side of his face,
making a slight wound. Another shot
was fired by some person in the crowd,
and Briggs dropped on the platform. Tho
/ lights We're turned OF in the car, and
Briggs, who was shot in the leg, took adj
vantage of the darkness and lied. This
saved his life, for had he been found he
wculd have been lynched.
The shooti.g continued and Officer
Amour was seen TO drop. He was carried
! into the car and laid on the floor, with tho
blood streaming from his side and from
another wound in his right thigh. He
was removed to his home in SHENANDOAH
where he i = In an unconscious condition.
Fully fifty shots were fired. during
which James Pariit. aged -, was shot In
the right lilac region, the bullet making
its exit at the right hip. lie died two
hours nfter being shot William Holland,
I 49, was shot six inches below right nipple,
the bullet passing through his body IN tho
neighborhood of the left kidney. causing
his death fifteen minutes later. William
I Connors was shot through the arm, James
/ Hullihan in the head and Evan Davis
through the right knee, the ball passing
directly through the joint and rendering
amputation necessary. James Hullihan
also had his skull fractured by a stone,
and may die
GILBrRToS, Pa, Aug. 24--Coroner Mar.
shall, assisted by District Attorney Ryan,
is thoroughly investigating the Gilberion
riot trouble, and volumnous testimony Ia
being taken. Amour, the special officer In
charge OF the armed force Of employees.
I who was shot during the disturbance, still
I lives. the statement that he died having
been made on misinformation. Warrants
have been issued for the councilmen aud
borough officials Of Gilterton, charging
them with riot on oath Of the Traction
company officials, 10 offset the warrants
that were sworn out against the traction
people.