The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-24
RED HANDED STRIFE.
A Score of the Coke Strikers
Shot Down
Guards at Sickle Hollow Armed
With Winchesters
Pour a Deadly Fire Into the
Mob.
ACCOUNTS CONFLICT.
One Statement Says the Shoot
ing Was UnprOvOked,
Another Says that Some of the
Guards We're Shot.

UNIoNrowN, Pa, May 24-At day
break the battle which has been threat
ened at the Sickle Hollow mines of the
Washington Coal and Coke company the
past three days occurred, and as result
at least three strikers are lying dead and
half dOze n are seriously wounded.
The killed and wounded were carried
off the ground as they were moved down
by the fifty men armed with Winches-
ters who were guarding the plant 1t
cannot be said to have been battle as
not shot was fired by the strikers, but
seemingly without provocation yolleys
were fired by the deputies, while the
strikers were assembled in the public
road.
Shortly before midnight last night
1000 strikers assembled at the Sickle
Hollow plant coming from Lucyville,
Fayette City, Freeport, Allenport and
many other points on the Monongahela
river. Some of them were armed, but
the majority were not.
Meant Use PersuasIOn.
They went into camp near the plant
where they remained until o'clock
when they adjourned to the public road
leading to the works and over which the
workman would have to pass the pit
Here they formed line of defense to in-
terrupJ the workmen and attempt to get
them to return home.
According TO the plans they stopped
the first delegation of miners and after a
little persuasion induced them to join
the strike. The men turned back and
about the time they were starting back
home with their dinner buckets the
deputies who were on guard and wit
nesses to the affair were ordered to
shoot.
They fired three volleys into the mob
at a range Of only about fifty yards.
The firsts 1olley brought forth no re-
Spouse from the strikers, who were
thought to be we'll armed, but instead
they ran in every direction, leaving tho
dead and wounded lying in the public
road. The deputies followed with two
more volleys and were shooting when
the last striker disappeared. The re-
port of the affair given by the officials OF
the company is to the effect that three
strikers were picked up dead in the road
after the shooting and about half dozen
wounded ones were carried away by their
comrades
The reports say six men were killed
and sixteen wounded.
Later News.
The extent of the daylight battle at
Strickle Hollow is just becoming known.
There has not been so fierce d conflict
in the coke regions or river district since
the Inauguration of the strike. In facr
it is the first engagement in which bOth
deputies and strikers were shooting to
kill.
Later reports place the numbereof
killed to five and the wounded to eight
and other victims of the unfortunate af-
fair may be found when they can had
for a more thorough investigation of the
results. 1t was not Il One-sided affair as
at first reported, but it IL battle with
as many guns on one side the other
ard with as much firing by the strikers
as by the deputies.
Among the wounded are three depu-
ties, while the killed are all strikers.
When the workmeh came TO the strikers
in the public road they were asked to 60
home. The wor1men were about To
comply with the command. when the
deputies rushed into the midst OF the
men, got possession of the worlmen and
the performance deputy sheriff fired "A
shot which opened up the battle.
There was volley after volley fired
by each side at close range. The strik-
ers stood their ground while their COM
rades were falling one by one, but their
ammunition giving out and it requiring
too much time to load the shot guns,
they were forced to give up the fight and
flee to escape the rain of bullets from
the fifty Winchesters.
1t is said the strikers were advancing
on the line of deputies when the latter
fred the first shot. large number of
strikers were arrested by deputies today
who had guns in their possession and
who were equipped with ammunition.
They are now held prisoners and will be
brought to Jail together here. 1t is now
believed that the deputies had some
provocation for shooting when they did
w..nox,,~ n -u~1~ city Live sSt0ear ASmRam