The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-07
FATAL BATTLE At A NINE.
One Man Shot Dead and Another
Fatally Wounded.

The Clash Brought on by an Attempt
of Miners to Close a Shaft Operated
at Wesley City, Ill.-Four Hundred
Men in the Ranks of the Miners.
Thirty Thousand Dollars Worth of
Property Destroyed.
Peoria, III, June 6.--One dead body,
several men on the verge OF the grave,
number of others seriously injured, S8O,-
coo worth of property absolutely de-
stroyed, and many homes made desolate,
was the result of an attempt made to-
day by the miners of the Peoria district
TO close the mine operated by Little
Brothers in Wesley City and many more
back of Wesley City
The dead man is Edward Blower, of
Bartonyille, married, shot in the side of
the neck and killed instantly.
The injured are:
James Little, shot twice in the body,
thought to be fatally injured.
Peter Little, secretary, shot in the left
eye and in the right arm, not seriously
injured.
Peter Little, Jr., shot in the left side
William Dixon, colored, shot in the
right arm and through the left shoulder;
may die.
Several miners were shot, but they
were taken away and no one could secure
any information from them about any
thing.
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
The tragedy was the sequel of the
meeting held at Bartonville the other
day, about which there was so much
SnpPppV No opR pould tha fa in
inkling Of what was done at the meeting.
Now eyeryb body knows. 1t was decided
at that time that the Little
Brothers mine must close. There could
be no equiyocatiOn, no quibbling,
no half way measure. IL mast close and
remain closed. In consequence of the
conclusion arrived at that meeting about
400 miners started out of Bartonville at /
o'clock this afternoon. They came from
nearly all the mines in the district. With
out anything having been previously
agreed on the subject, except in the ut
most secrecy; every man apparently came
armed. They were desperate, and were
ready to use desperate means to accom-
plish desperate ends.
THE SHERIFF PowERLEss.
Sheriff Frederick, of Pekin, Taswell
county, having been advised of the trou-
BILE, went to the mines with posse The
were met on the other side by the sheriff,
who commanded the peace and reasoned
with them in vain. Led by a stalwart
miner with a revolver in each hand, cry
ing; "Follow me" they charged on the
mine. The two Littles and
their sons and colored man
retreated into the tower over
the shaft and opened fire on the besiegers,
some of whom fell. The fire was re-
turned, and the men in the tower hoisted
a white flag for surrender. The firing
was hotly continued, and the tower was
riddled. The shaft was set on fire and
the air shaft closed. The crowds fed in
| dismay, as it was feared the powder
| house would be ignited.
FATE OF THE BEsIEGED.
Later accounts show that Of the party
besieged, John jackson, negro, was
killed. Ed Little was shot in the breast
and may die. There were eight or ten
miners in the shaft and il is feared all
were suffocated.
Among these are Gus and Fred Moritz
and John Rockey. Ed. Blour, one Of the at
tacking party was killed, and half q dozen
other strikers were wounded, 1t is be-
! lieved two more of the strikers will die
| The sheriff and his posse have returned
to Pekin. They were unable to handle the
mob. The widest excitement exists.