The Forrest City times., 1894-07-20
THeY SHOT TO KILL.

All Directions. But the Fire of the Mur- l. .derersf is Returned with Interest by Armed Guards.
 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. July 11.-About , o'clock yesterday afternoon a large body of men armed with Winchesters were discovered near Slope No. 3, Pratt mines, of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Co., seven miles from Birming- ham. It was the hour when the men at work in the mines come out. The men at work were negroes, who had taken the places of strikers, and the at- lacking party were striking miners and their sympathizers.
 As the negroes came out the strikers, who were squatting behind bushes and benches, opened fire. The people who heard it supposed it was the gat- ling guns in the hands of the troops. Several hundred shots were fired be- fore the strikers retired Guards around the mines returned the fire, but they were few in number. 4 eet The casualties were: tN B. w. Fierce, white guard, killed.
 Negro miner. name unknown, killed.
 One of the strikers, Frenchman named La Flors. was badly wounded. and will die. Several on both sides were wounded. One of the wounded strikers was dragged off by his friends.
 1t was deliberate attack by the strikers on the negroes put to work in their places, and they shot to kill. The local military companies were hur- ried to the scene. and are in that neigh borhood now. All companies which had been here from other cities for q week on account of the railroad strike had been ordered home Sunday night and yesterday afternoon.
 The Montgomery companies were stopped en route and turned back, and all others will be here this morning for duty in the mining camps.
 The mining strike has been on since the middle of April. and the feeling is growing bitter, being accentuated by the railroad strike. Gov. Jones saw the miners committee yesterday after noon and urged them to accept the compromise lately offered, but they declined. The operators are offering to open all mines with such labor as they can get, and Gov. Jones. is of the opinion that the troops will be required here indefinitely.
 The attack yesterday afternoon fol lowed in less than two hours after the departure of the troops. The bitter ness of the strikers is Illustrated by the captured Frenchman. He was kneeling behind a coal pen fence. firing his Winchester. when bullet from a guard knocked him over He raised up and fired again. He can not speak word of English. The negroes scat tered in all directions when fired upon. Only a few had gotten out of the mines when the firing was commenced. which accounts for the smalltlo of life.
 A Second Battle with Many Casualties.
 BIRMINGHAM, Ala, July TIA sec ond battle was fought at slope No. of the Pratt mines simultaneously with that at No. 3, and the total dead reaches six, with at least score wounded Another mob of strikers had ambushed themselves near the mouth of No. f, whence the negroes came in box cars.
 The train was guarded by deputy sheriffs who were placed in the cars and on the engine. The train had pro- ceeded but short distance from the mine when the party in ambush opened the fire. The first shot went through the window of the engine-cab, licked some hair from the head of Mine Su- killed the engineer The deputies re- turned the volley with, vigor and in a short time the mob began it's retreat toward Center Point.
 Posses of scouts were hastily formed in the vicinity of the mines, and the work of searching for the dead and wounded was entered upon. The miners made their escape, except those unable to walk for their wounds. Ten bodies were picked up. of which six were lifeless. Many wounded were helped away by their comrades. The names of the negro dead are not known.
 George Campbell. one of the negro labOrers, has leg broken and bull let hole through his chin. He says the strikers came on him after he was shot down, beat and kicked him, and then fired the bullet through his face.
 The remains of the dead were all brought to Birmingham. Great excite ment prevails here, the streets being crowded with terror-stricken people.
 Every precaution has been taken to guard the mines against further depre- dations. The Third regiment of the State guard has been ordered into camp here and altogether there will be 300 soldiers in this vicinity this morn- iup