The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-09


was done inside of the Illinois State line,
and as soon as the Illinois militia arrived
on the scene the mob retired into Indiana
and jeered at the troops. About O'Clock
this morning a great crowd gathered again
about the Monon depot. Several freight
cars were overturned and the Michigan
Central tracks blockaded. The sheriff's dep
uties and the marshals were powerless TO
restrain the mob. and as there was no hope
of the Indiana militia arriving before late
this evening an appeal was made to the
federal authorities in Chicago. Company B,
of the Fifteenth Infantry, thirty-fve men,
was sent out at once. The troops were sta
toned about the Monon depot as that
seemed to be the center of the attack and
their presence quieted things for while
and the blockade on the tracks was finally
raised at l o'clock in the afternoon and sew
eral passenger trains pulled through. This
seemed to anger the mob, and with an in
crease of number its passions grew to
frenzy. The regulars were greeted with
oaths and shouts of derision, and volleys
of sticks and stones were showered on
them. The men stood their ground, how
ever, and kept the mob for several hours
from approaching the buildings. BY
o'clock fully five thousand rioters were as
sembled. They had been aroused by their
leaders to frenzy that made an encounter
with the soldiers certain. Several times they
rushed on the company of troops but were
met by fixed bayonets and driven back. At
last, however, the entire body of strikers
made determined rush toward the spot.
THE DEADLY RIFLES.
MAKE ready, Fire! was the command,
and the thirty-five Springfelds rang out
in hx,
volley. The first voIley staggered the riot
ers and the second stopped them as effectu-
ally as if they had run against stone wall.
Several men were seen to fall, but they
were taken away by their comrades, and
the extent of their injuries could not be
learned. Fleischer fell in the front rank or
the rioters He taken to the hospital,
where he died in short time. In the rush
that followed scores of women and chill
dren were trampled and a half dozen women
tainted on the tracks. The soldiers then
took up a position on the track at the
Russell-street crossing.
The news of the killing spread with re-
markable rapidity, and ten minutes after
wards the streets in the vicinity were filled
with a threatening mob Major HartZ left
his company for few moments to assist
the firemen and doctors in placing Vaseter
in the patrol wagon, and was Immediately
surrounded by crowd.
Kill himv' "Shoot him DOWN. were the
cries of the excited men, as the mob surged
around the Major. Hartz, however, did not
pay any attention to them, and not
molested.
The excitement by this time was intense.
Men ran from house to house, borrowing
shotguns, rifles and other firearms. ITO
armsp was the cry heard on every side,
and fully three thousand people responded.
Matters looked so threatening that a call
was sent TO Chicago for reinforcements and
two more companies were sent out
special train. These additional troops were
stationed at the scene of the trouble, and
effectually cowed the rioters for the time
being
Major Hartz arrested four of the leaders
of the mob and took them to Chicago with
a small detail Of troops While the train
was pulling out of the city crowd
gathered and stoned it, but quickly dis
persed on the approach of a company of
infantry.
special train on the Monon arrived late
tonight from Hammond, bearing a detail
of United States Infantry, under command
Of Major Hartz, having in custody four of
the ring leaders in this afternoons disor
ders there. Major Hartz was seen on ar
rival by an Associated Press representa-
tive and spoke very tersely of the trouble,
observing very significantly in conclusion:
Things have quieted down somewhat at
Hammond since the trouble this afternoon"
In reply to inquiries, Major Hartz said
I'VE succeeded in moving mail trains which
were being held by rioters at Hammond. In
moving one train we were confronted by Il
gang who lined up in solid mass in front
of the engine. They were warned to make
way, but no attention was paid to the ad-
monitiOn, and we gave ii TO them One man
was killed far as / know, and four or
more wounded; how badly l am not in
formed"
When asked for further information, the
Major referred all questioners to depart
ment headquarters