Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-31
BLOODSHED AT DAWN.

Tho Threatened Battle at Sickle Hollow
Takes Place-Several Strikers Killed or
Wounded-The Deputies Didn't Come
Out Entirely Scot Free-The Firing was
at Close Range-Gatling Gums Ordered
Tor Rainey.
UNIONTowN, Pa, May 25.-A battle
was fought at daybreak between strik-
ing miners and,deputies in the Sickle
Hollow.
At least five strikers were killed and
many wounded.
A FIERCE CONFLICT.
The extent of the daylight battle at
Sickle Hollow is just becoming known.
There has not been SO fierce conflict
in the coke region since the Inaugural
ton of the strike. In fact it is the first
engagement in which both deputies and
strikers were shooting to kill.
The number of killed is five and the
wounded eight, and other victims of the
unfortunate affair may be found when
time can be had for a more thorough
investigation of the results. It was a
battle with as many guns on one side
as on the other and with as much firing
by the strikers as by the deputies.
Among the wounded are three deputies,
while the killed are all strikers.
CAUSE OF THE BATTLE.
When the workmen came to the
strikers in the public roads they We're
asked to go home. The workmen We're
about to comply with the command
when the deputies rushed into the
midst of the men, got possession of the
workmen and marched them to the pit.
In this part of the performance depu-
ty sheriff fired a shot, which opened up
the battle. There was volley after
volley fired by each side at close range.
The strikers stood their grounds while
their comrades were falling one by one,
but their
AMMUNITION GIVING OUT
and it requiring too much time to load
the shotguns, they were forced to give
up the fight and flee to escape the bull
lets from the fifty Winchesters.
1t is said the strikers were advancing
on the line of deputies when the latter
fired the first shot. A large number of
strikers were arrested by the deputies,
who had guns in their possession and
who were equipped with ammunition.
They are now held prisoners, and will
be brought to Jail here. 1t is now be-
lieved that the deputies had some prov
ocation for shooting when they did.
TROUBLE AT FAIR CHANCE.
A battle was narrowly averted at
Fair Chance Wednesday night. Sheriff
Wilhelm sent five men to the place to
do duty as deputies at the works of the
Fair Chance Furnace Co. It is the
custom of the strikers to assemble at
the station when train arrives to see
if any new men arrive and to take
charge of them as soon as they get off
the train. When the deputies got off
the train, having no guns, the strikers
thought they were workmen, and, sur
rounding them, took them to the camp.
They held the prisoners there until
the other deputies charged on the
camp and put the strikers to fight.
The town was greatly excited and the
strikers threatened an attack.
ALARM AT HILL FARM.
The situation at the Hill Farm mines,
where the company has been defying
the strikers and running full force un-
der the gaze of a camp of 300 strikers,
is decidedly alarming and an outbreak
is feared before night
At 2 o'clock 500 strikers from the
southern end of the region marched to
Hill Farm and joined the few men who
have been camped there, and are sup
posed to be planning an attack on the
works. The plants are guarded by
deputies and a conflict will result seri-
ously.
FOUR GATIING GUNS.
Rainey has ordered four Calling guns
for his plants, one of which will arrive
to-day and will be put in position at
once. The shells for the guns are al.
ready here.