The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-29
LED BY ANARCHISTS
Riotous Pennsylvania Miners Gre
ate Sad Havoc.
MINE BUILDINGS BURNED DOWN.

n CATHOLIC Clergyman Declares That the
Rioters Are Led by nm Organized Body
Opposed TO American Law-Ons Of the
Rioters Killed.
PITTsBURa, Jan. GA wave OF anarchy
in whose train followed bloodshed, arson
and the destruction of property, passed
over the Mansfield coal region Saturday
1t began at dawn, and at dusk IL was esti-
mated that 800 900 worth of property had
been destroyed. Made wild by financial
grievances and liquor a mob OF several
hundred foreigners, Hungarians, Slavs,
Italians and Frenchmen swept over the
country surrounding Mansfield and
through the valleys of Toms and Paint
er's run. They attacked mine owners,
miners and the few scattered deputy sher-
ifs, burned tipples, wrecked cars and de-
stroyed railroad property. The working
miners were put to flight, and in one in
stance man was robbed Of his clothes
and thrown In a creek.
Until noon the mob met hardly any re-
sistance. When they reached the mines
of the Beading Bros, near Federal, on
the Pittsburg, CHARTERS and Youghio-
gheny railroad, the rioters met deter
mined resistance and were checked. With
repeating Winchester rifles In their hands
Thomas, William and Harry Beading
stood their ground and opened fire upon
the mob as it advanced. They fired four
volleys in quick succession, fatally wound
ing one and injuring half dozen others.
The man fatally wounded was Frank
6tepitz, a Frenchmap. .".
After the fourth volley the rioters
turned and fed precipitately down the
hill. At this moment q train bearing
Sheriff Richards and forty deputies
pulled into Beading, and the officer
quickly alighting. started in pLVuit Of
the rioters, firing as they ran. The chas,
was long one, but finally sixteen wer,
overtaken and captured. They were
marched to the Mansfield Jail at the point
of revolvers On the way the party wa
met by a posse of citizens of Dridgevill,
under command of Squire Cooper Mey-
ers. After the rioters were locked nj
rumors Of an attempt to rescue were rife
and as matter Of precaution the prison.
ers were brought to this city and are now
safely lodged in the county jail. They
will be held for riot and arson.
The foreign element of the mines III
that region have been making threats for
several days. They have been incensed at
the fact that some English diggers have
been working for fifty and sixty cents per
ton, when they themselves want the
former seventy cent rate to prevail. The
Huns, Slavs and Italians formed the
major portion OF this discontinued horde.
The quiet Of Sunday prevailed yester-
day throughout the Mansfield coal region.
By many, however, the calm was regarded
as preceding the storm. There are well
grounded fears of another outbreak, and
the law abiding citizens are preparing to
meet 1t. Trusted foreigners, who were
supposed to be in sympathy with the
rioters, were seat ont by the coal opera
tors. They circulated freely with the
strikers, and last evening returned with
the information that preparations were
being made to attack the works Mt Bridge
vile, Rosevalc and Beading. The feeling
among the rioters is very bitter against
i the Beading brothers for the killing OF
Frank Stepitz, and they assert that they
J will have revenge. ..
| II another attack is made on the Bead
ling works the foreigners will meet with
still warmer reception than that &C
corded them Saturday. There are twelve
men in the Beading family and every one
is as determined and brave as the three
who on Saturday put to flight a mob OF
several hundred. -.....
] Thomas Beading says he and his two
brothers fired at least hundred shots Oh
Saturday, and he is satisfied that If @
search OF the strikers houses was made
at least score Of wounded men would be
found. Stepitz, who was shot through
the b ody, died yesterday. He was a mem
Der of the Sons of st. George, and his
2 F,... IA -
| 81, 800.
store was attacked by the mob, made in
formation against sixteen men, whom b,
recognized among the rioters.
| At present there are over 100 armed
/ deputies on guard throughout the region
and this number will be doubled.
There are strong reasons for believing
that the anarchists hereabouts are re
sponslbe for the disaster. 1t is known
that the bulk came from Bower Hill, ant
upon the authority of Rev. Father jacob
Wertz, pastor of st. Joseph's German
/ Catholic church. at Mansfield, there ar,
at least 100 families on Bower Hill who
openly avow anarchism. In conversation
! Father Wertz said:
81 have been unwilling to speak on thi,
subject, but now feel that | should M
longer remain silent. 1t Is my firm con
! viction that the movement was of an an
archistic origin. Not less than one hun
dred families in this region avow teach
ings of anarchy and do not seek to dis
guiSe it. had hoped to bring back thes'
people into the church, but 1t now SEEM
hopeless task. There is really no religion
among them. To reform them is almost
impossible. They have no regard for law
as they are too ignorant to understand it,
meaning, and are ripe seed for the agi
tator."
Father Wertz said further that they hat
a secret organization opposed to American
law, but none but members could secur,
admittance, or learn anything of the pro
Ceedngs.