The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-25
Fight Near Uni0nt0wn in Which Four
Rioters Were Killed, Many Wounded
and Only Three officers Hurt.
TWO STORIES OF THE BATTLE
Both Deputies and Strikers
Charged with Responsibility.
Mine Partially Destroyed i'm Illinois and
One Hundred Marauding Strikers
Arrested-Other Disorders.

UNIONTowN. Pa, May 24.-The long
on the pits of the Washington Coal and COX,
Company at Sickle Hollow. in the Fourth
Pool district, on the Monongahela river
was made this morning, involving another
of the grim tragedies that characterize the
irrepressible conflict The fight one Cf
the fercest in the history of the mining
troubles in western Pennsylvania, and in
the section where it occurred. well as
throughout the whole coke region, the situ-
alton it has developed is ole Of the mest
intense excitement and dread lainty.
Tonight four strikers are lying dead, and
double that number badly wounded.
some of them mortally. Thomas Kenan, OF
Woods run. is the only American killed in
the encounter with the deputies The other
dead men are Slavs. Tie wounded mel
who fell under the frat volley were taken
off the field by the retreating strikers and
even now the actual number OF wounded is
not definitely known, their friends having
the strongest motives fer concealing them.
1t is perhaps too soon to attempt to place
the responsibility for the killings. In the
mass OF confused and contrs dictory state
ments there Is testimony to show that the
strikers, while threatening an attack, had
committed no overt act of lawiessness, be-
yond the possible offeIse of unlawful assem-
bly,; that the deputies fred on them abso-
lutely without provocation that would war
rant the use of deadly weapons, and that
some OF the killings were particularly cruel
and unjustifiable. Then there is equally
abundant testimony to show that the depu-
ties simply defended themselves and their
charge from the rushing assault OF an
armed and bloodthirsty mob. Tie strikers
furnished the dead men; not a deputy was
fatally hurt and only three OF them
wounded.
The fight occurred at daybreak in the
public road leading to the Sickle Hollow
plants. Two thousand strikers after camp
ing near the works all night came out there
to intercept the men on their way to work
to induce them to come out and help win
the strike. a few of them carried Win
chesters, while fully fifty others were
armed with shotguns, muzzle loading rifles
ing demonstrations and the fact that they
had given notice to the company that they
sary, there were bali cartridges in the VIM
chesters carried by the guards and the en-
tire outfit at the works was in general
readiness to receive raiders. The deputies
had specific orders and it Is admitted that
the company had conveyed to them direc-
tions TO shoot to kill
ly before midnight last night two thousand
strikers assembled at the Sickle Hollow
plants. coming from Lucyvllle. Fayette
City Freeport, Allenport and many other
points on the Monongahela river. Some OF
them were armed but the majority went
manned until O'Clock. when they ad-
iourned TO the public road leading to the
Save to ana pass to- the I Where they
1t was the intention of the strikers TO in
cept the workmen and and attempt TO get
them to return home. According TO their
plans the strikers stopped the first delesa-
ton of miners and by "a little persuasion
induced them to join the strike AS the IN
armed guards rushed from the plant, got
possession of the frightened men ami
the performance a deputy sheriff fired
shot which opened up the battle There
was volley after volley fired by each side
at close range; The strikers stood their
ground while their comrades were falling
one by one, but their ammunition giving
out, and it requiring too much time to load
the shotguns and rifles they were forced
to give up the fight and fee to escape the
rain of bullets from fifty Winchesters In the
strikers were advancing on the line of
deputies when the latter fired the first
snot
Sixty-six of the miners were placed under
arrest and taken back to the company's
ground, where they were closely guarded
during the remainder iof the day All
were later placed in box cars, which were
closely nailed up, and kept there until this
evening, when they were brought here 10
the jail, IN cnarBe OF twenty-five UepulieS.
The men arrested are nearly all native
born citizens, intelligent looking and sew
eral of them are known to be men of in
huence and good reputa ton in the Fourth
pool district. The situation ct the mines
tonight is alarming and more serious
trouble is expected within the next twen-
ty-four hours. Reports late tonight are
TO the effect that three thousand strikers
from the lower end of the Fourth pool
were marching Sickle Hollow thor
oughly armed for the purpose OF storming
the works, regardless of consequences.
But these reports have not been verified.
None of the dead except Kenan have been
identified. IT is impossible TO learn about
the others who are dead Fear muzzles
the children OF friends of the men in the
fght. They will not even claim their
dead and nobody has come forward 70
speak for the remains of the poor fellows
who are lying where they fell. John
and will die He is a prominent citizen OF
that place and was formerly a school di-
rector.
A battle was narrowly averted at Fair
Ave men to that place to act as deputies at
Fairchance furnace: as IL is the custom of
strikers TO assemble at the station when
passenger train arrives, TO see If any
them as soon as they get or the train.
When the deputies arrived, having no guns,
the strikers thought they were workmen
and. surrounding them. took them to the
other deputies charged the camp and put
ell the strikers to flight. The town was
greatly excited and the strikers threatened
an attack on the deputies and all citizens
taking sides with the company.
Rainey has ordered four Calling guns for
his plants One arrived to-day and was
nut in position. The shells for the gun are
already here