The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-01
THE MINERS Used RIFLES
TWO BATTLES AT AN ALA
BAMA COAL SHAFT.

White Strikers Kill Half Score OF
CoIored Men Who Had Taken
Their Places-Many Desperately
Wounded-Five Hundred State
Mihiia on Guard.
A large body CT men, armed with rifles,
were discovered about 5 o'clock p. m. near
Slope No. 8, OF the Pratt mines of the Ten
hessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company:
seven miles from Birmingham, Ala.
It was the hour when the men at work at
the mines came out. These men were coll
ored miners who had taken the places ofthe;
strikers, and the attacking party were strik-
ers ard their sympathizers. 80
As the colored men came out the strikers,
who were hiding behind bushes and fences.
opened fire. Several hundred shots were
fired before the strikers scattered. Guards
stationed around the mine returned the fire,
but they were few in number.
The casualties were: H. W. Merce, white
guard, killed; colored miner, name un-
known, killed striker named Racquet fatally
wounded. Several men on both sides were
wounded. One of the wounded strikers was
dragged of by his friends. 1t was delibe-
rate attack by the strikers on the miners put
Two local military companies we're
hurried to the scene. The ten companiesI
which had been sent to Birmingham from
other cities for week on account OF the
railroad strike had been ordered home. The
Montgomery companies were stopped en-
route and turned back, and all the others.
went back in the morning for duty at the
mining camps.
The mining strike has been on since the
k1o 10 r-Iy,rp
bitter, being accentuated by the railroad
strike. -,
Governor Jones saw the miners commit
tee and begged them to accept the compro-
mise lately offered. but they declined. The
proprietors are proceeding to open all mines
with such labor as they can get, and Cover
nor Jones is of the opinion that troops will
be needed indefinitely
The above attack followed in less than two
hours after the departure of the troops.
The bitterness OF the strikers Is illustrated
by captured striker. He was kneeling be-
hind a cowpen fence firing his rifle when a.
bullet from guard knocked him over. He
rose up and emptied his gun. He could not
speak word Of English.
The colored men scattered in all directions
when fired upon. Only few had gotten out
,of the mines when the firing began, which
accounts for the small loss Of life.
A second battle was fought at Slope No. 4,
OF the Pratt mines. simultaneously with that
at No. 3, and the total dead reaches six, with /
at leasta score wounded. Another mob OF
strikers had amhushed themselves near the
mouth of No. 4, whence the colored men
came in box cars. The train was guarded
by deputy sheriffs, who were placed in the
cars and on the engine The train had pro-
ceeded but short distance from the mine
when the marty in ambush Opened fire.
The first shot went through the window OF
the engine cab, ficked some hair from the
head OF Mine Superintendent J. j. Moore,
and nearly killed the engineer. The depu-
ties returned the volley with vigor, and In
shon time the mob began its retreat toward
Centre Point
Posses of scouts were hastily formed in the
vicinity o! the mines and the work OF search
ing for tie dead and wounded was entered
upon. The miners made their escape, ex-
cept those unable to walk for their wounds.
Ten bodies were picked up, OF which six
were Ilfeless. Many wounded were helped
away by their comrades. The names OF the
colored dead are unknown.
George Campbell, one OF the colored Ia
borers, had his leg broken, and bullet
passed through his chin. He says the
strikers came on him after he was
shot down, beat and kicked him and
then fired the bullet through his face.
The bodies OF the dead we're all taken to
BIRMINGHAM. Great excitement prevailed
there, the streets being crowded with ter
ror-stricken citizens. Every precaution was
taken to guard the mines against further
depredations.
The Third Regiment oi the State Guard
was ordered into camp, and altogether there
w,re five hundred soldiers in the vicinity.