The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-05-25
-FOUR STRIKERS KILLED
Another Bloody Conflict in the
Coke Region.
THE DEPUTIES OBBYED ORDERS.
They Were Instructed TO Shoot TO XIII,
and Met the Mob with BulIets-Eight
Strikers wounded, Some OF Them Nor
tally-Thres Deputies Slightly Hurt.

UNIoSTowN, Pa, May 25.-The long
threatened attack by striking miners on
the pits Of the Washington Coal and Coke
company at Sickle Hollow, in the fourth
pool district on the Monongahela river,
was made yesterday, involving another of
the grim tragedies that characterize the
rrepressible conflict. The fight was one
Of the hercest in the history of the mining
troubles in western Pennsylvania, and in
the section where it occurred, as well as
throughout the whole coke region, the sit
uation it has developed is one of the most
intense excitement and dread uncertainty.
ur strikers are lying dead and double
'hat number are badly wounded, some OF
them mortal'y. Thomas Kenan, of Woods
Run, is the u'ly American killed in the
encounter with the Slavs The wounded
men, who fell under the first volley of the
deputies, were taken off the field by the
retreating strikers, and even now the ac-
tual number of wounded is not definitely
known, their friends having the strongest
motives for concealing them. They will
not even claim their dead, and nobody has
come forward to speak for the remains of
the poor fellows who were killed.
John Troy, of Fayette City, was badly
wounded, and will die. He is a prominent
citizen Of that place, and was formerly a
school director.
1t is perhaps too soon to attempt TO ap-
portion the responsibility for the killing
In the mass of confessed and contradic
tory statements there is testimony to show
that the strikers, while threatening an at
tack, had committed no overt act of law
lessness beyond the possible offense of un-
lawful assembly; that the deputies fired
on them absolutely without provocation
that would warrant the use of deadly
weapons, and that some of the killings
were particularly cruel and unjustifable.
Then there is equally abundant testimony
to show that the deputies simply defended
themselves and their charge from the
| rushing assault of an armed and blood
thirsty mob. The strikers furnished all
the dead men; not a deputy was fatally
hurt, and only three of them wounded.
The Fl ght occurred in the public road.
way leading to the Sickle Hollow plants,
Two thousand strikers, after camping
near the works all night, came out there
to intercept the men on their way to work,
induce them to come out and help win the
| strike. A few of them carried Winches-
ters, while ully fifty others were armed
with shotgUus, muZzle loading rifles and
| revolvers. Because of their threatening
demonstrations and the fact that they had
| given notice to the company that they had
come to drive off the deputies, if neces-
sary, there were ball cartridges in the
Winchesters carried by the guards, and
the entire outfit at the works was in gen.
eral readiness to receive raiders. The
deputies had specific orders, and it is ad
mitted that the company had conveyed to
| them directions to shoot to kill.
When the workmen on the way to the
pits came to where the strikers were gath
cred on the road they were asked to gc
home. They were about to do so when
the deputies rushed into the midst of the
crowd, got possession of the men and
marched them to the pit A deputy sher
iff in doing this fired a shot, which started
the battle There was then volley after
volley fired by each side at close range.
The strikers stood their ground Will,
their comrades were falling one by one
but their ammunition gave out and they
were forced to give up the fight and re
treat to escape the rain Of bullets from
the Winchesters. II is said the strikers
were advancing on the line of deputies
when the latter fred the first shot.
Sixty-six of the strikers were placed un
der arrest and are now in Jail, in charge o
twenty-five deputies. The men are nearly
all native born citizens, intelligent look
ing, and several of them are known to b.
men Of influence and good reputation il
the fourth pool district.
Mr. Rainey has ordered four Gatling
guns for his plants. One arrived yester
day and was put in position at once. Tn
shells for the guns are already here.
The situation at the Hill Farm, where tn
company has been defying the striker
and running full handed under the gaz
of a camp OF 300 strikers, is alarming
Strikers from the southern end of the re
gion marched to Hill Farm and joined tn
men who have been camped there and ar
said to be planning an attack on tn
works. The plants are guarded by fift
, deputy sheriffs. Tho strikers say the
: cannot expect TO win as long as som
plants are allowed 30 run, and are deter
mined to force all the plants 10 shu
down, regardless of the loss of life it ma
occasion.
The killing has had an effect on tn
strikers in the coke region that may dt
velop grave results. The region has bee
, full of marching strikers all day. At
Q O'Clock last evening a car load of new me
was run into the Kyle plant, The striker
4 gathered arouud the men and drove theI
/ from the works with . rush. The men b,
8 came confused and toSk 30 the country
e scattering in every direction, The striker
t are defiant, aggressive and eager to act.
i The foreigners are greatly enraged owe
. the killing Of their people and are show
5 ing a reckless disposition TO retaliate o
e general principles The leaders, too, al
changing their positions Early in I'll
: strike President Barr took stand again'
, the marching, and advised against it, r.
4 questing the men to remain away froI
J. the plants, and to stay at home Yeste
3 day he took different stand, and issue
9 an address calling on the strikers to kee
{ on marching, and advising them TO me'
Z frequently, A thousand strikers wer
: around the Jimtown plant yesterday, bu
\ did no violence, Four hundred of theI
i left last night and will march around I'll
Y southwest plants today,
GsOrgia's state Secret aryship.
I ATLANTA, May 25,--Judge Sampson v
Z Harris, who was appointed secretary
I \