The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-30
A BATTLE AT THE MINES.
FATAL FIGHT Between MINERS AND
DEPUTY SIERlFfS.

Five Miners Killed and Msoy Wounded
and Th.e eputie, Wou aided -Confll lct-
tns st ,r,cs as to the FirstsShot.
UNIoNTOWN, Pa, May 24.-This
morning the Stickler Hollow mines of
the Washington Coal and Coke Com
pany. midway between Fayette City
and Layton Station, was the scene Of
the bloodiest encounter sincs the strike
began. Both sides were IL fighting
shape, seyenty-ive armed deputies con-
tending with mob OF from 1900 to
1000 striksrs, about 200 of whom were
armed with all kinds Of guns. Five
strikers are dead and eight or more
wounded and three deputies were
wounded. The trouble had been brew.
ing all the week. The mines were the
only one in the fourth pool that were
running and men were at work.
Since Monday morning the strikers
have been collecting at Sickle Hollow
and the Monongahela and Youghio.
gheny river mines, and about 200 of
them remained there all last night.
Their threats of violence and the sight
of 80 many guns IN their possession
alarmed the company and the officials
wired Sheriff wilhelm at Unionto wn,
last night for aid and later sent man
on horseback with report of the seri-
Gus condition they were lD. The sheriff
could get no more aid to them at that
time and believed that the seventy five
armed guards under Capt. John NJ.
Richards would be able to hold posses.
sion of the property. The strikers
marched about the plant all night and
occupied all the roads leading to the
works. When the men began coming
to work at daylight today, strikers
stopped them and droYe them home.
One report says they also made a
charge upon the deputies with the in
tention of driving them off the works
and that precipitated the conflict. The
strikers were only about fifty yards
from the deputies when the latter
opened fire. The strikers returned the
fire promptly and stood their ground,
each firing as rapidly as possible, until
the strikers ammunition gave out and
they were forced to retreat. AS they
fed, the deputies followed them and
arrested a great many who had guns
in their possession aud now are prison
ers. The deputies were forcedto fight for
their lives and their shooting was most
effective. Five strikers fell dead and
eight were wounded, but it Is thought
that many more were wounded and
got away with the fleeing mob
unnoticed. Three of the deputies were
wounded. The plant is now thickly
guarded by deputies, but moro trouble
Is looked for az Sickle Hollow. The
strikers ran for home and in an hour
not striker was in sight. The mob
vas composed Of foreigners.
It was not one-sided battle, as at
first reported, but was fought with as
many guns on one side as on the other
and with as much firing by the strikers
as by the deputies. Among the wound
ed are three deputies, while the killed
are all strikers.
When the workmen came to the strik-
ers in the public road, they were asked
to 90 home. The workmen were about
to comply with the command when the
deputies rushed into the midst Of the
men, got possession Of the workmen
and escorted them to the pit. In this
part of the performance, adeputy sher-.
iff fired a shot, which opened up bat.
tie IN which volley after Volley was
fired by each side at close range. The
strikers stood their ground while their
comrades were falling, out their am.
munition gave out and they were forced
to give up the field and flee to escape
the rain of bullets from the Winchester
rifles.
1t is said the strikers were advancing
on the line of deputies when the latter
fred the first shot. Many who had
guns iE their possession were arrested
by the deputies and will be brought to
j jsil here this afternoon. The latest
news from the scene of the trouble says
that the strikers have all gone and that
the situation now is more peaceable.