The record-union., 1894-06-07
Special to the REcoaD-UN1ox.


Militia.
Special to the REco2D-UN1oN.
PEKIN Qll.), June g. There was
bloody battle at Little's coal mine, five
miles down the Illinois River, to-day.
Word was received here that 900 miners
from the west Of the river were about to
attack the mine. Sheriff Fredericks
swore in posse and set out Tor the scene.
The strikers had assembled at Benton
vile and crossed the Illinois on ferries.
There was about 400 men and some
women. The Sheriff demonstrated with
the mob in vain. The leaders OF the
strikers, with revolver in each hand,
cried out: "FolloW me ~ and the crowd
cheered. The two LiJtles and their sons
and colored man retreated to the lower
shaft and opened fire on the attacking
party. The fire was returned and several
shots were fired INTO the shaft Little
hoisted white flag, but the firing did not
cease. The shaft was set on fire and it
was feared that the powder-house would
be fired. so the crowd retreated.
The killed are: Jack Johnson. colored
miner: Ed Bloom. one Of the strikers.
Wounded Ed. Porter and Peter Little,
of the besieged party, the former shot in
the breast, probably fatally, the latter in
the arm. Half a dozen were slightly
wounded.
There are number of miners in the
shaft, who it is feared are suffocated.
Among them are Gus and Fred Moritz
and John Hockey. The Sheriff and posse
have returned from the scene, unable to
cope with the mob.
A lot OF men who had buckets of oil
saturated the woodwork and applied
match. The beseged men were forced
to desert their place of shelter and make
q run for life. William Dickson, a col
ored man, was shot through the shoulder
and probably fatally injured. Peter Lit
tie had an eye shot away, and the engi-
neer was probably fatally wounded. a
negro miner employed by the Littles had
a hand shot oft.
The fire spread to the powder-house, a
short distance from the other buildings,
and it exploded with frightful roar.
After this the mob retired to its boats,
crossed the river and scattered among
the ravines and hills.
The early reports that number of men
were in the Little shaft when the build
ings were destroyed appeared to have
been unfounded.
STRIKERS KILL AN ENGINEER.
BRAZIL (Ind.) J, June 6.-This afternoon
a crowd of angry miners blockaded Van
dalia westbound freight train No. east
of here and stoned the trainmen. The
engineer, William Bars, was struck on
the head by heavy stone and instantly
killed. Brakeman n. j. Horseman was
hit on the neck and badly hurt. The
IL n1 CT at no
train until every window was broken.
The excitement is intense. Officers are
in hot pursuit Of the strikers. The dead
engineer and Injured brakeman live in
Terre Haute.
Early in the day crowd of strikers
stopped the mixed train carrying freight
and passengers between this place and
Clay City on the Evansville and Terre
Haute road. The train was hauling sew
eral cars of coal, taken from side track
near Clay City, and bound for Chicago.
The miners have been diligently guard
ing the coal, and quickly organized
crowd of several hundred to stop the
train. The train carried the United States
mail, and it was thought the miners
would permit the train to come to this
city, When aware of that fact they were
unruly and refused to allow the train to
move. The coal was sidetracked.
IEOUBLE ABOUT M hEESRORI.
McKEEsPoRT (Pa.), June 6.-The situa-
ton is critical, but no trouble is probable
as long as new mon or deputies are not
brought ln or all attempt made to Oper-
ate the plant
The strikers are SWarming around the
works and depots. Trouble will follow
any attempt to introduce new working
men or deputies. 1t is said the company
will not try to resume for the present.
About IL O'Clock some one went among
the strikers and announced that men
were working at the slack piles across
the river. A mad rush was made by 100
or 300 men. and the tipple of John Davitt
came down before the onslaught. From
there the crowd made break for the new
tipple being erected by John Mcintyre,
one mile above, which met the same fate.
These slack piles have not been made use
of for years, but the scarcity of coal has
made apparent their usefulness.
The city was half deserted this after
noon by the departure OF 1000 strikers
to Camden, three miles south, to destroy
the coal tipples, the object being to enlist
the striking miners in their cause.
Captain Mcintyre narrowly escaped
lynching at the hands of the mob which
destroyed the Port View tlpples. Cen
eral Manager Converse states that no
Deputy Sheriffs have been asked for. and
no men Will D0 llHpOTleu tO Slart IH0
works.
The strikers obtained thirty large can
non, two of which were used by the
Homestead strikers two years ago. They
were planted in commanding position
on the river bank, about 200 yards apart,
and manned by eight men each. One of
the guns is heavily loaded with railroad
iron.
There were probably 300 men hurt in.
the rioting yesterday. Lewis Manlin and
Joseph 5. kebsky sustained Injuries
which may result fatally.
Mayor Andre has issued proclama-
ton, cautioning the people not to congre-
gate on the streets or around the works.
At 2:30 o'clock several thousand strik
ers, carrying pit-lamps, left for Duquesne
to burn the tipples. They threaten to
cut all barges on the river as they march
down. Mayor Andre issued another
proclamation at 3 o'clock, commanding
all the unemployed to stop congregating
on the streets, under penalty OF arrest,
and ordering all saloons and wholesale
liquor houses to close until further or
ders The situation is most critical. The
strikers cannon command the bridges
and railroads, and the men will fire on
any deputies brought in sight.
When the mob reached Duquesne it had
increased to 5000 strikers and sympa-
thizers. With yells they attacked the
Uuquesne tube works, drove all the men
out of the plant dfew the fires and ran
the hot metal on the floor from the fur
naces. The reasons the strikers give for
their action is that the works were using
scab coal. AS the strikers left one Of the
men threw plank in front of the train,
nearly derailing IT, They left the mill on