Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-19
DESPERATE POLES RIOTING.
THREE HUNDRED OF THEM Ar
TACK A SHERIFF..
Several Are KILLED and Many More
wounded before They rake
FIight-The sheriff Terribly
ncnten-Others Are Injured.


Detroit Mich. April 1s.-Wayne
eountys sheriff lies in precarious
condition tonight. his body lacerated
by the shovels OF enraged rioters.
Two Polish laborers are dead and the
number injured is not yet definitely
known. These unfortunate clrcum-
stances are the result Of conflict
which occurred at noon today between
some 400 Poles and Sheriff Collins and
hve Of his deputies. The riot was
brought about by differences Of opinion
over wages TO paid laborers by the city
water commissioners for digging
trenches for pipe-laying in Crosse
Point township, Just east Of the city
limits, The commissioners decided to
pay by the cubic yard. but for the
past day or two 300 Poles had hung
about the vicinity, declaring that they
would neither work nor allow others
to unless paid $3.50 per day.
No outbreak was anticipated, but as
a precaution Sheriff Collins and five
deputies went TO the scene to protect
those who wished to work worl
progressed on q small scale during the
morning but Engineer williams be
coming alarmed at the aspect OF
things, consulted some OF the com
mlssioners shortly before noon and
was instructed TO quit work for the
time being. Before he returned. how.
ever rloting began. Sheriff Collins
and Deputy steyskal after telephon
Ing for achievements. began to ad.
dress the mob to paclfy them. One Of
the Poles began an opposition hnr
angue. The crowd thereupon started
TO annihllatc the officers and the
handful Of laborers at work. At the
advance the officers drew their re-
volvers and fired over the strikers
heads. but the mob came on, and the
next volley was discharged into the
crowd
Then the officers retreated slowly.
firing as they went. sull the mob fol-
lowed, one man dealing the sheriff
vicious blow on the head with Ills
shovel. The other officers, the workers
and an Evening News reporter os-
capped. all being more or less pounded
with shovels. But the helpless sheriff
was brutality attacked The mob then
scattered. leaving the sheriff uncon-
sclous on the field, Two Of the Poles
were found dead. John Pielat and
comrade, name unknown. The in
jured
Sheriff Collins.
Deputy Steyskal cut and bruised.
Michael Hanofsh shot, will probably
die
Unknown Pole.
Tony GerkewlalS, shot In the thigh.
Quadrapaki. shot in breast.
Detective W II. Burch. ribs broken.
Joe JacobowslSi. bullet wound in
breast.
John r. Fisher, an Evening News re-
porter badly bruised.
There are probably several other
Poles injured. Sheriff Collins regalned
consciousness shortly after . O'clock.
He had a bad cash on the head, several
painful cuts and bruises about the body
and almost bled to death from lCcer-
ated leg. His physician reported to-
night that he would probably pull
through
During the afternoon some twenty
Poles were arrested, which intensified
the bitterness and this evening the sit
uation is being discussed by Poles in
various parts Of the city 1t is ru-
mored that they will attack the Jail
tonight. but this is not believed, Extra
officers nre on duty to preserve order,
whatever may occur. Many more ar
rests are expected but 1t is difficult
to Identify the leaders in the riot. The
water commissioners will not probably
recede from their position. but work
will proceed, it at all. under strong
guard.
Another shooting affair took place
this evening In the rear Of the munich
pal court building. A group of Poles
had cougregated and Deputy Sheriff
Borneman recognized one OF them as
one OF the rioters He started to arrest
him, when some one in the crowd fired
n revolver, hitting the Pole in the leg.
At the hospital he gave the name Of
Toney Palsowsh. 1t could not he
learned who fred the shot. The com
pleted list Of dead and injured asoer-
tanned tonight are as follows;
The dead are; John Pielant. un-
known Pole.
The injured are; Sheriff Collins. bad
scalp wound in the back Of the head
severe wound in the leE. caused by
blow from pickaxe, two cuts in the
back. one on the left shoulder and
many small bruises and cuts about the
body; Anthony Gabschwicls. shot in the
right thigh, at hospital; VIM, II.
Rurch. policeman, ribs fractured and
bruised on head
Joe KobaslSie, shot in ribs. will die,
at hospital
Tony cowski. bullet wound in knee;
az hospital
John Kopperschmidt. bullet wounds
In arm, neck and thigh. viii probably
die; at hospital.
George Cathey. water ho.rd foreman
severe scalp wound. two eoptnses
wounds in the back and shoulder
Michael Ransfskl, bullet wou,Ns il,
neck and jaw and left breast; wni d,s
Andrew Boerslg. slightly wounded
Jos, Kubiak, two bullets in thigh
Fred Alfred, slightly hurt
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