Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-01-19
moBBED THE MINERS.
Three Hundred and Fifty Men Force
Workm-n to Quit.
eoycoTTERs ARE ANGRY
At Other Workmen for Takiux TheIr Pl.oe
at the south Dakota Mining Com.
pany's Annie Greek Csratle.

The Deadwood Times Of the 11th
inst. contains the following account Of
most serious elimination OF the labor
difficulties in the northern hills:
The South Dakota Mining Company
started work upon ths aums in Spear
fish canyon last Monday morning with
nearly 1OU men. These men could not
he approached by the few strikers who
have bee ! over at the free grub camp
for some time, and the leaders Of this
persecution movement reSorted to other
means to stop the operations by the
company. A mass. meeting was held
Tuesday night, but what action was
taken is not known. Suffice 1T to say
the meeting authorized mub force to
t,e exercised to stop the progress of the
company's work. Yesterday morning
100 men from Lead, 105 from Central
and Terraville. about 40 from Terry
and q like number from Dsadwood
formed a line of march and walked to
the scene Of work. They rushed on to
the grade where the men were working
and compelled them to drop their tools.
The ln.ruders formed line complete
ly around the men and forced them to
leave the premises.
This mob ~as led by J. NJ. M. Bene-
dun and E. l.. Graham. The men
were not persuaded but forced to quit.
They were marched to Lead, sur.
rounded by the mob, each member of
which bad club and at the northern
end Of Main street the order was given
to break ranks when one of the {" abor.
ing mans Friends" yelled "Hsad for
Deadwood you s. of b." 1t is
needless to say they made good time in
this direction and were glad to get
away. They were not allowed to get
their dinners before they left the
camp, although it was about dinner
time. During the excitement f. w.
Martin was twice knocked down with
club by the strikers and says be was
struck FIVE times. Mr.. Lock was struck
on the hack of the head and knocked
insensible.
Three of the willing workers from
Heckert's crew called at the Times
Office and gave the following account
of the affair:
At about noon Just as we were
going TO dinner, a mob came running
on US along the grade shouting and
halooing. There seemed to be 800 or
400 Of them, their line stretching for
half a mile or mora. On reaching US
halt was made and one of them, q
fellow wearing light overcoat with
q FIVE cornered bronze button in the
lapel, announced himself as spokes-
man. He ir known as Benedum, an
ex-assayor and now local reporter for
Knowles evening sheet. He an
nounced that we must demand and re-
ceive g SO per day for our labor or
else we would be compelled to quit
and that he had force enough behind
him TO make us comply with his de-
mands. He gave us two hours or un-
til two o'clock to decide. When that
time came the crowd closed in on US
and marched US OF bodily, as we were
completely surrounded escape was i'm.
possible. We were perfectly satisfied
with the wages and accommodations
provided and we are ready to go to
work again on the same arrangements.
We recognized quite u number in ths
mob that worked with US last summer
and fall on the B. & M. grade for 81. go
per day. Our boss, Heckert, was
chased tothe commisssry where he
brought the mob to halt by pointing
a gun at their heads and threatened to
shoot the FIRST one that approached.
The mob then .urned and George Hop
kins was followed up. George with
his Winchester held his ground. and
shortly aftcr, both him and Hecker.
were placed under arrest BY Sheriff
Rem n, whose conduct in the affair is
severely criticised by all. The mob
conducted or forced MS to walk b Lead
where We were turned loose, without .
dollar in our pockets or ANYTHING to.
aat Or . place 70 sleep. though y man
called Graham promised 70 take care