Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-12

the depot. just as soon as it stopped it
was surrounded by crowd of strikers,
boys and women, and the engineer and
fireman were peremptorily ordered to
get down from the cab. Many Of the
mob were armed with revolvers. Many
more held rocks in their hands, and as
q consequence the two employees were
quick to obey. One Of the strikers then
took possession of the engine and the
train was siGe-tracked.
A telegram was sent to Chicago ask
ing for military assistance to get the
train out. There was no immediate re-
spanse, but 11.30 Co. d of the Fifteenth
Infantry, 35 strong, arrived in two
coaches.
REINFoRcEMENTs SENT FOR.
The regulars disembarked at the depot
and marched to the side track, where
the Monon train was stationed. The
mob fell back on the approach of the
military, but hooted and jeered, and the
scene was yeritable bedlam.
One half of the company took up its
position in front Of the engine and the
other half in the rear, and preparations
were made to move the train. Like
flash Of lightning, however, the crowd
increased until 1t was nearly 1000
strcng, and, realizing the fact that re-
Inducements were necessary, q detail
was sent to the telegraph office with in
strpctions TO wire to Chicago for more
troops.
In the meantime, Major Reilly ordered
Captain Hartz to clear the tracks to the
sidewalks with fixed bayonets. The
regulars advanced, the mob retreated,
and, for the time being, was held at bay.
A YELL OF DEFIANCE.
Shortly before l o'clock train of
empty cars was started from the yards,
the way being cleared by the soldiers.
Temporary quiet was secured while
Sheriff Fredericks read q telegram
which had just been received from
Governor Matthews, conveying advices
that large force of State troops would
reach Hammond tonight from Laporte,
Rochester and other points, with in.
structions not only to maintain law and
order at all hazards, but to cooperate
with the Federal troops.
The dispatch had it that the whole
force of the State would be sent to the
scene if necessary. The mob listened
to the reading Of the dispatch in silence,
but when the sheriff had concluded, it
sent up such yell of defiance as might
be expected to emanate only from an
army of redskins on the plains. The
mob went to the adjacent prairie on
either side of the tracks for awhile, but
becoming emboldened by the apparent
inactivity of the military, again closed
up ON the rails, only to be repuised.
This condition of affairs continued in
termittently until 4 o'clock, when the
train that had brought the second de-
tachment of regulars was run into the
Monon yards. Just as it was brought
toa standstill several box cars were
dumped on the track block and half
to the north. About the same time the
Monon mail train came in from the
south, carrying mail matter from In
dianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati and
Intermediate points.
THE FIRST voLLEY.
A company of regulars was ordered to
the State line, but had barely passed
before the mob assembled at the State
street crossing, when rope was thrown
around Pullman car standing on
side track a few yards north with the
evident intention of throwing it over on
the main track and preventing the fur
ther passage of the train.
There were regulars on the engine,
regulars on the roof and regulars at the
car windows, all of them waiting for
just such a condition as was now immi-
nent. An officer on the locomotive gave
the word, and toward west and toward
east volley was poured from engine,
roofs and windows. Some of the bullets
went overhead, many more ploughed
the ground, a few took effect.
A CHARGE.
Without waiting for further orders
the regulars made for solid earth, and,
with bayonets fixed, made dash for
the mob on both sides of the track.
This maneuvre, however, was hardly
necessary. Obscured by the smoke,
the mob had taken to its heels like
frightened geese. Not few threw
themselves headlong on the prairie,
where they laid fiat, so thoroughly
scared that it was matter of indiifer-
ence to them whether the soldiers
trampled them down in the charge or
not.
Many.of the bullets went wide of the
mark. Fleischer, who was not near the
Pullman cars, and, so his acquaintances
assert, took no part III any lawless act,
was shot dead on the tracks, over which
his lite's blood poured in stream.
Campbell and Seitor also fell when shot
and were unable to move. Miss Flem-
ing, who was not even spectator of the
melee, being simply in the act of cross
ing the tracks after visit to q neighbors
house, tainted when shot, was picked
up by some of the bystanders and carried
to the nearest house in the vicinity.
GENERAL MILES ORDERS.
The shedding of blood was in obedi.
ence to orders issued by General Miles
to shoot any person caught in the act of
blocking the highway of interstate com
merce pr of destroying railroad property
used in she carriage of United States
mails,
The man Fleischer was an innocent
victim. He had gone to the tracks
simplyto find and take home his son,
whom he had been told was looking on
in the outskirts of the mob. lie had
mounted to the box car in order to get
81 ceV'oi NiSM abu Spy MS Gullu, Wnen
he was struck by q bullet. Friends
carried the body to his house. His wife
was standing on the threshold, awaiting
his return with the child, and fell faint.
ing when she saw the men approaching
with the body of her husband.
lndiscriminate firing of the regulars
created intense rage and excitement
Hundreds of the mob rushed to their
homes and returned to the scene with
reVolvers and shotguns, vr filling the
air with oaths and imprecations, de-
clared their intention of killing every
man wearing an army uniform.
At IL O'Clock tonight the delegates