The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-06
Strikers Search the Buildings for De-
fenseless NOnuni0nists and Beat
Them Numerically.
MEN HUNTED LIKE RATS
And dubbed and Kicked Into In
sensibility When Caught.
City Authorities P0werless i'm the Face
of Thousands of Maddened Rioters
-Thirty-fiye Badly Hurt.

MKEESPORT, Pa, June 5.-Never has
this city witnessed such scenes Of defiance
of law and the inability of the authorities
to cope with the lawbreakers to the ex-
tent Of REFRESHING lawlessness as have been
enacted here to-day and are in progress
Tonight. At this hour the strikers are
practically in command Of the situation.
The trouble grows out of the strike at the
tube works. and the strikers have, since
nightfall. outwitted the police. broken into
the mill yards. and are making systematic
tours of the works and their surroundings.
plant resumed in two departments to-
day and about twenty-five men went to
work The news quickly spread, and by
noon a mob of nearly ten thousand had as
sembled about the gates. awaiting the ap-
pearance OF the workmen. Most Of the men
remained inside. but a few attempted to
go TO their homes and were caught by the
mob and terribly beaten. They were finally
rescued, however, by the police and taken
back into the Enclosure. The mob then
dispersed in part, but towards evening re-
ssemble and by 6 o'clock probably five
thousand men were massed in front Of the
entrance on Fourth. avenue. and it was
said that fully three-fourths of the num-
Der were foreigners. They were disappoint-
ed. At 6 O'Clock the day turn did not come
out and the night turn did not go in. There
was a great load OF provisions taken into
the mill by the company, and a lone Slav
workman came out of the back way and
tried to escape He was seen. and a sec
ton of the surging mob broke off the main
body and fell upon his trail, with yells that
must have given him speed, If it was in
him. The race covered several squares be-
-
run any further. and as he fully expected
to be killed. he drew a knife and faced the
yelling pursuers, evidently determined to
die fighting. The foremost pursuer paused
a moment. but the rush came up behind
them, and a dozen men with clubs sprang
upon the painting fugitive. He was down
IN an instant. but officer Singer was close
on the heels Of the leaders of the race, and
ne jumped into the middle of the melee,
with the fearful odds against him, without
a moments hesitation. The officer and the
fugitfv~ were badly beaten, but help came
and they were rescued.
At the mills the rioters surged around
the entrances until z o'clock this evening.
when a rush was made and they broke
into the yards. The men were panic-strick-
en-, and 1t was the rule of every man for
himself. The rioters swarmed into the in
closure looking for hated nonunionists.
Hundreds of them were equipped with
clubs or weapons of some. description.
Then began a wild chase and pursuit of
the hunted workmen inside. Several
welders took to the river and made their
es pc to Mif1in township. pursued by
crt DIS Of strikers, and were finally chased
of into the darkness towards Duquesne.
Tn strikers were in complete possession of
the place. They ranged over the grounds
and finally routed ten hidden workmen.
The poor fellows made a dash for freedom.
but were cut off and surrounded, and the
mob set upon them in swarms and beat
them shockingly. In the crush to get at
the PROSTATE men one fellow was badly
stabbed II was the Homestead fight over
again. with variations
One man was found during the evening
still in hiding in the mill yard. which the
strikers were patrolling, in complete mas
terry of the works. The man made a dash
for the street, and got inside the yards.
He was pushed close by the pursuit and,
in desperation. sprang into an electric car
passing on the street. The strikers sur
rounded the car and the motorman tried to
force 1t through the crowd. The trolley
pole was pulled down and the car stalled.
Then the fugitive was dragged off the car
and beaten and kicked into insensibility.
Another stowaway was found. his cloth
ing stripped off, and he was kicked and
beaten until he was unconscious. Then
the assailants left him for a time and he
managed TO crawl into a store on Fifth
avenue. He was unable to help himeslf,
and is still there. where he sought refuge.
So far as the authorities are able to learn
nobody has been Killed outright, but
some of the victims of the mob's fury will
probably die.
Up to this hour the strikers have re-
Trained from destroying the machinery in
the mills. AS midnight approached the
crowd decreased and comparative quiet
now reigns. All the law-abiding people are
indoors with the exception of the curious
few who are willing to take the risks of
watching the mob's work. For the rest,
the strikers are virtually in possession of
the town.
Thirty-Ffve Injured.
MKEESPORT, Pa, June 6, 1 a. m.-The
situation at this hour is quiet but critical.
In obedience to the Mayors proclamation
the strikers have dispersed. They are only
under cover, however, and have every ave
nue. of approach to the city under surveil-
lance. as they are sure that new men for
the tube works and additional officers will
come in during the night. Pickets have
been posted east and west and men are
being strung along the river TO give the