Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-25
STRIKERS IN CONTROL.


La Sale. Ill, was last night in the hands
of a mob Of striking miners. All day long
they had their own way. and when Sheriff
Taylor and his handful of deputies sought
to put a restraining hand upon their actions,
they turned upon him and gave battle.
Not ono Of the deputies escaped injury. and
Sheriff Taylor and Deputies Walters, Hooli-
| han and Devere were dangerously, If not
| fatally, injured. Last night, when another
force of deputies arrested three of the ring
leaders. the jail was threatened by the in
furiated horde and the release of the men
accomplished.
presence of Sheriff Taylor and his deputies.
WHO were on guard at the different mines
all day.
Attacked by Foreigners.
About 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon the
strikers held a meeting in the east end of
La Sale, and an hour later marched to the
La Sale shaft, where. without cause, riot
ing was commenced by the Poles and Ital-
ians. The foreigners were armed with all
kinds of deadly weapons and carried arms
full of rocks and clubs. They attacked the
sheriff and his posse of forty deputies The
strikers opened fire. and II was returned by
the sheriff and deputies. the latter holding
their own until all their ammunition was
rsed. when they were forced to fly for
safety.
1t is not known how many of the rioters
were injured Some of them, 1t is thought
were fatally shot, but they were carried
away by their friends.
Sheriff TayIor's Nerve.
Sheriff Taylor displayed wonderful nerve.
When all the deputies had been forced back
from lack of ammunition the sheriff stood
HIS ground against 800 maniacs. With a re-
vclver in each hand he poured lead into the
mob until he had been knocked down twice
and every inch of his body bruised. He was
rescued by friends and hid in a nearby
house.
Attacking the Jail.
The success Of the strikers in their riot
seemed to infuriate them until they lost
their heads completely. About 7:15 last
evening two OF the ringleaders were put
under arrest by deputy sheriffs. hurried
through the Harrison House and taken to
Jail through the back alleys. In five min
utes mob of loo men had surrounded the
hotel and threatened to blow it up unless
the prisoners were produced. The widest
kind Of excitement prevailed, and all the
guests of the house left for safer quarters
Landlord Byrne made an effort to explain
10 the rioters that the prisoners had been
taken to Ottawa. but they would listen to
no argument, and would not be satisfied
Until they searched the entire building
themselves.
While this was going on. a third ring
leader was arrested and quietly put in jail.
Word was quickly passed among the strik-
ers that the leaders were in JAIL and the
mob started wildly toward the Jail. Mayor
Matthiessen, who had been on the scene all
day long, sent orders to release the prison
ers, and this was done. The mob then de-
manded the return ana release of the two
prisoners sent to Ottawa or they would take
the town.
Late at night the miners again marched
to the hotel, filling the air with shouts de-
mandatory of the authorities. At the hotel
n mass meeting was held. and after being
addressed by Mr.. Byrne, they decided to
dispense for the night. Yet some Of the
men seemed loath to dispense.
A rumor was current that 500 miners from
Spring Valley were coming to La Sale and
the sheriff, after consulting with Mayor
Matthiessen and City Attorney Haskins, de-
cided to ask the governor for the militia.
Ringleaders I'm Custody.
Deputy Sheriff Hanley arrived at Ottawa
from La Sale at o'clock, having in custody
two Hungarians. supposed to be ringleaders
of the strikers. Chief of Police Yokey and
a posse~of officers met Sheriff Handley with
his prisoners a few miles west of the city
and took them to the county Jail Two I'M
known men on horseback followed the car
rage containing the prisoners all the way
from La Sale. 1t is feared the mob will
ira mp across the country and endeavor to
release their leaders. Considerable excite
luent prevailed.