The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-21
Striking Miners Led BY Females Who
Draw the Fire Of Strip Pit Men.
Winchssters. Pistols and Clubs Freely Mingls
In the Fray. and Over One Hundred Shcts
Fired During Riot at Weir City.
Much Alarm Felt in the East Over the
Closing Down of Many Old Mills.
Should the Amosksag Cotton Plant Stop II
Would Cripple Number OF Oihers-lron
Men Distressed in All Sections.
KANSAS BLEEDTSG AGAIN.

KANSAS BLEEDISG AGAIN
This Time 1t Is the Striking iiiners Who
Got In - Fight.
WEIR CITY. Kan.. July 2o.-The expected
crisis has come In the Kansas miners
strike. Miners who were willing TO work
quietly and peacesby have been attacked
by the strikers, and blood has been shed.
The feeling which has been growing more
and more bitter for several days culmi-
mated to-day in n fierce battle at Clements
pit, one mile south OF this city. All the
forenoon there were mutterings of the ap-
proac hing storm. and the feeling was unr-
versal that serious trouble was at hand-
just before noon a band OF five bundred ~
of the strikers. headed by one hundred
women. which had been marching 20 the
various strip pits. reached Clements
pit and sent IN q committee to persuade
the miners working there to quit. This
they refused TO do. and when the commit
tee reported the entire body moved on to
the works to foroe the men out The strip
men were ready for them, and when they
CROSSED the trespass line they were fired
upon and q general battle ensued. In which
Over one hundred shots were fired.
One man was wounded in the fore
head, another In the leg. boy
In the foot and one OF the women
got q bullet through her arm. 1t Is be-
lieyed that none OF the wounds ere danger.
ous A number on both sides were badly
beaten mp with clubs and dubbed guns.
The wounded were quickly removed by
their friends and their names have not
been learned.
AS result of the battle tho men in the
strip were routed by the strikers. and were
forced 10 flee for their lives, pursued by
the bowling mob. which would have
lynched them had they been caught. The
owner of the strip. Clements. his son. and
man named 'Big Dick" Reed are said "a
be tho ones who did the shooting. and they
have given themselves mp and were run out
of the county for safe keeping. The exc
citement was intense after the shooting,
and il was feared that matters would be-
come worse, but o prominept striker, Geo,
X. Fulton, made the crowd speech. il
which be advised them 70 keep cool and
quantity Of firearms have been received
here To- o-night. The excltement continues
at high pitch, and further bloodshed now
seems inevitable.
women, and in the vanguard were also an
evidently placed in the front rank
in the belief that the gusrds
The men followed behind. and the
children were armed with sticks
and clubs and some with firearms.
big United States flag and on either side of
it. two black flags. When the men
at work and the guards fired
upon the strikers. the children fed. bus
and fought with rs much ferocious-
ness as the men. The list of the
wounded, as far as can be ascertained.
is as follows: A boy named Defender. shos
the forehead; Joseph Burgendi, striker,
shot in the breast; an unknown woman.
shot through the arm; Dick Reed,
strip miner. slight fracture OF the skull.
Simon Berg. strip miner. shot In the leg.
Simon Clemmens dubbed on the head.
Believe More Bloodshed Is Coming.
PITTsBURG. Kan.. July 20.-The miners
in this vicinity are in q state Of intense ex-
citement to- ght over the wounding of four
of their number at Weir City this after.
noon. Many express the OPINION that this
is but q starter and will result in more
bloodshed. That they are wrought up
more now than ut any time during the
strike is certain. and there is no telling
what the end will be. A meeting of miners
in this city, when 10 is expected that O
large number of miners will be present.
from the lower part of the district, and it
10 almost certain that something new will
be decided on regarding the matter OF
work.
A telegram was received ct the miners'
headquarters to-day stating that Assistant
Attorney general Clerk will arrive at Pitts.
burg tonight to afford the miners all the
legal protection 60 which they may be en-
titled. No attempt was made 20 disturb
the strip pits in the neighborhood of Pitts
burg to-day. Those operated by Beck.
Beasly & Lanyon are running tho
same as usual. The stoekades around the
Kansas and Texas shaft No. 22at Litohfeld
Is about one third completed and the men
are working night and day upon IL About
$50 men visited three "Trip pits at Fronte-
nae yesterday and prevailed on the work.
men to Quit.
Will Retaiinte on the Railroads
TOPEKA. July general
Allen. who has been employed TO represents
the miners in southern Kansas in their
fight against the coal companies. left for
Pittsburg this morning. There is going
to be a hot legal fight" said Mr.. Allen.
land / believe we will win. To-day is the
last day of grace allowed by the com.
panies before they attempt TO evict the
u
once begin action against them for violat.
ing the antitrust law. / shall also endeavor
TO hsve the county attorney or the Attorney.
general institute proceedings TO annul tho
charters of these companies for violating
this law. It is plain 10 me that it 10 being
violated. and think we can forfeit their
charters. So far the miners are con-
cerncd. the first thing i expect to do on
reaching Pittsburg 10 TO have O consulta-
tion with them. and advise them TO keep
within the bounds of the law. There Is
considerable talk of riots just now but 1
believe the men understand that their only
hope in winning this fight lies in modera-
ton"
1t Is reported from railroad officers as
authority that one thousand oolored men
were put on the cars at Birmin CHAM. Ala,
last night aud started for Kansas 10 take
the places of the striking miners. &c is
thought they Will 20 TO Pittsburg. and
from that place be distributed to ali Affect
cd mines In the State. Trouble and blood
shed will undoubtedly follow any such az
tempt.
MILLS CLOSING DOWN.