Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-06-05
Dynamite on the Track.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind June 5.-Four
pounds of dynamite Were placed on the
track of the Evansville and Terre Haute
railroad by striking miners. The explo-
sive was placed on tie track in front of
the train Tearing the several companies of
the Indiana militia, in command of Gen
eral w. j. Mckee. This was at n point
few miles south of Farmersburg, between
this station and Shelburn, the first of the
mining towns of the road.
The militia has been in the vicinity
since Sunday morning and has materially
aided the company in moving the coal
which has been tied up by the strikers.
The power Of might was too much for the
strikers, and they concluded themselves
to indulge II some fight
This was in the shape of dynamite and
the forearm err of what is to come unless
the men are quickly quelled. Had the
dynamite been exploded one of the great
est casualties the state has ever had might
have occurred. 1t was sheer good fortune
as it was. Five coaches and baggage
car, the officers quarters and storeroom,
were fillcl with the troops, numbering
800 in all. All day tie militia had been
campcd at Sullivan, when orders were
given to ESCORT II trainload of coal past
the several mining camps.
Strikers In Ambush.
The train bearing the militiamen moved
out from Sullivan and proceeded directly
to Shelburn. 1t preceded the coal train
and pulled Oh tie side track at Shelburn
to allow the Other train t. pass along
The militiam N left the train and w, re
marched under orders past the station to
road where a crowd of 200 men and
women were standing in mcnacing atti-
tude.
An occasional slur against the soldiers
was all tat co I'D be heard but the ap-
pearance Of the faces of the strikers was
determined and looked as though some
thing was in store for the troops. The
coal train went down the track at o fair
rate of speed and no att mpts were made
to draw the pins.
At the trcstlo work just north of the
road running along the station the speed
was slackcncd mat rally for fear that the
timbers might have been w, al1ene1. The
soldiers expected SOM developments so
quiet were the strikers, but none antici-
pated such dastardly attempt as was
made. The coal train safely passed the
station. The troops ennA-, i-ed again and
follow, Il short distance III the rear.
Hardly mile had been uravcrSed when
a shot was heard in the distance. Fear
was expressed that harm had been put in
Uu0 way vi Ullo COIl Urtlu buI IL lluu IOS-
sibly been ditchcd but second shot gave
an inkling of the real cause. 1t was an
alarm t. fellow miners in the distance
that train carrying coal was approach
ing. The militia train moved rapidly for
ward and drew to Il standstill directly in
the rear of the coal train.
An investigation showed the reason for
alarm. Across the rails for a distance of
so feet heavy timbcrS were stretched in all
possible ways. In ambush in the heavy
grass and thickly studded timber were
body of 200 miners. 1t was their purpose
to capture the coal train The disembark
ment of the troops was Immediately be-
gun and General Mckee ordered the
troops to endeavor to surround the miners,
but thu maneuver failed, the miners
scattered in all directions. The wreckage
on the tr OK was removed, and the coal
train WIS sent on.
Four dynamite bombs were found near
Shelburn and forced off the track by tho
trains without exploding. A coal train
was captured by the miners and run to
Alum cave, whcre the strikers have
stronghold. The militia slept on their
arms near Farmersburg last night.