The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-30
Four Strikers Shot Dead.

-Four lives lost. three men seriously woun-
ded and probably dozen others shot in the
arms and legs, was the result Of the striking
coal miners attempting to force the men at
the mines Of the Washington Coal Coke
Company, near Connellsville, to quit work
about o'clock Tuesday morning. The
miners at the Washington mines have been
working steadily since the coal strike was
first declared The men were satisfied with
their wages, and with one exception, during
the early part of the strike, were not molest-
ed until Tuesday Then a crowd of YOugh-
iogheny river and Fayette city miners
marched mp, but Offered no violence.
O1 Wednesday evening the officials Of the
company were informed that general raid
was TO be made on the works the following
morning. Sheriff Wilhelm was notified and
an extra force of deputies was sent from
Jackson. AL told, the deputies at Wash
ington Tuesday morning numbered about %
men. The information that had been given
concerning the raid proved authentic. A
systematic plan was laid by the strike lead
ers to surround the works from all sides. As
early as > O'Clock squads from Fayetle City,
Bellevernon, Sute9viIle, Woods Ran, Van
Meter and all the river towns within a radi-
US Of Is miles, began gathering in the vicin-
ity Of the works Nearly all Of them car
ried fire arms. At O'Clock a delegation
from Belleyernon and Suterville, headed by
an Italian, came down to the company store
aud demanded that Mine Boss Santemyer be
sent for. He came up and the Italian leader
told him that he must bring the men in the
pit out 50 that the strikers could talk 10
them. Santemyer refused TO obey the de-
mand. BY that time the strikers had closed
in on the works from all sides. There were
between !, 200 and !, 500 Of them at the low
est estimate From the store the Believer
non and Suterville delegation marched down
the road toward the coal tippe. Near the
company barn they encountered a gang of
masons employed in the building of slme
new ovens. They surrounded the men and
would not allow them TO proceed to work.
A squad of deputies under Captain Mat
thews, Of Pitisburg, then came upon the
scene aud ordered the strikers 10 allow thu
men TO go on with their work. Their order
was answered with curses and boots of de-
rision. The Captain argued the case with
them. The Italian leader only lauged at
him, and, pointing to the arms Of the strik-
ers behind him, asked if he knew what they
meant. He said they had come there to
close the mine, and would do it at all haz-
ards.
A move was then made by the deputies to
get the surrounded workmsn. The first shot
was fired at the deputies by an Italian stand
ing near the leader. The deputies then
opened fire. Over fifty shots, they say, were
fred into the air before they began to sh DOT
in earnest. The Italian who fred the first
shot fell in his tracks. For a moment the
strikers stood their ground and then broke
and fed. AS they ran, probably over 100
shots were fired by them. The deputies ans
wered in kind and when all was over thrte
others beside the Italian who first fell were
found with gaping wounds in their heads and
bodies.