St. Paul daily globe., 1894-07-17
BIRM|NGHAM'S BATTLE.
PRATT MINERS TAKE THE LsW WT0
THEIR HANDS.
WOULD KILL OR BE KILLED.

Six Men Shot Dead-A Number
Wounded The Mob XIII a
Deputy-NeQro Workmen Shot
Down-Gov. Jones Orders Out
Il the dilitia-Saloons Closed
Time of Peril and Excitement.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, July 16.-A special
to the Commercial Appeal from Biz
mngham, Ala, says: A fierce battle oc-
cured this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock at
No. mine, at Pratt's, between mobs of
striking miners and deputies. in which
six men were killed and nearly score
wounded. The full list OF dead and
MANNED cannot be secured tonight. as
the bodies were carried off quickly after
the tight occurred.
This morning mass meeting of
striking miners was held on the creek
near Pratt mines, and it was decided
that the law be taken into their hands,
ana that they would kill or be killed.
About 80 o'clock, the time when the
employees of the mines quit work and
come out Of the mines, q mob of men
was Secreted In the woods near by. AS
the negroes would come out one by one
shot would be sent at them, and they
would drop to the ground either fatally
wounded or dead. After the third negro
had fallen, the deputies opened fire Oh
the mob, and fierce battle took place.
b. W. Tierce, the commander of the
deputies, fell to the ground. A Win
chester ball had pierced his body just
above the heart. Almost at the same in
slant one of the strikers was seen to fall,
but he arose again to his knees, and,
taking aim with his Winchester, fired
four times at the deputies. The depu-
ties kept relOadng their guns and firing,
and the mob began dispensing. The
deputies then made tour around the
wounded striker, who was still firing.
and after time they succeeded in 81
lencing his gun. He proved to be a
Frenchman. Another section of the
mob made an attack on train which
was carrying the negroes from Mine
No. to their homes. There were sew
eral guards on the engine, ana the at
tack was answered with a fusllade OF
bullets. The first shot from the strik.
ers went through the cab window oil the
engine and just missed killing the en-
gineer aud j. J.Moore, the superintend-
ent of the mines.
kilograms were sent to the town in
haste for help. and Sheriff Morrow sum-
moned twenty-five deputies. Gov.
Jones, who is still in the city, hastily
summoned the Bennington battalion of
the state troops.
AT noon today the Second regiment
was relieved FROM duty. The Eastlake
company was still in camp guarding the
tents, and they were marched to train
and hastily carried to Pratrs with the
deputies. The governor ordered the
Second regiment into camp, and closed
all the saloons In the county. Out at
Pratt's posses were hastily formed and
the woods were secured for miles. but the
miners had made good thir escape. The
work of hunting up the dead and
wounded then began. Ten men were
picked up, and six are dead. The
names of the negroes are net known.
The Frenchman's name was Juan Jaf-
lor. George Campbell had his leg
broken and bullet went through his
chin. He says that the striker came on
him after he was down and kicked him
and fired another sho1 into his nos e.
The negroes are terror:stricken and
are running wild. The streets
about town are crowded with
people and all sorts of rumors are flying
about. A courier has inst returned
from the scene and everything is we'll
guarded there for another attack. should
one be made. The bodies of the two
white men and one of the negroes have
jnst been brought to the city, and the
undertaking shops for blocks are
crowded with surging mass of hum
anity. The Third regiment of the state
troops has been ordered into camp
here, and by morning more than SEQ
soldiers will he ON the scene. Report
just comes that dead negro was found
one mile from the scene of the battle on
the Kansas Ciry track.