The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-05
DEADLY COKE RIOTS.
Fatal Conflicts Between Dep
uties and Coke Strikers.
AR LEAST NINE MEN WERE KILLED.
Started by the Brutal Murder OF an
Engineer - Hundreds Rushed TO
Avenge His Death and BnlIets
Found Fatal Resting Places.

CNIoNTowN, Pa, April 5-It would
take columns 90 tell In detail the exciting
events of yesterday, the third of the big
coke strike now on in the Connellsville
'fegion. At least nine lives were sacri.
ficed. Unless the strong arm of the mil
ptary interferes, the dead will be counted
by scores instead OF tens. So much ex-
|citement was never known Ia the region,
and people everywhere are excited and
|spprehensive OF greater dangers.
The rioting began early In the morning
but the climax was not reached until
yesterday afternoon. when several hun
|dred strikers marched In the Davidson
works OF the III. c. Frick Coke company
at Connellsville. where men were work
|ing. When the strikers approached they
were ordered by the deputies to stop.
1hey came on and tried to get at the men
I'm the ovens. The deputies fired. The
strikers returned the fire and charged,
driving the deputies and men from the
|plant.
Chief Engineer Paddock of the Frick
company ran up in the tipple OF che
works. The strikers followed and shot
him in the back OF the head. They beat
him and crushed his head with stones,
and threw his body from a tipple window
60 the ovens. 40 feet below. They then
attempted to FIRE the tipple but left
when they saw the deputies returning
with large force from Connellsville.
Bullets Flew Thick and Fast.
Hearing of Pad,lock's murder, hundreds
wanted To avenge his death. The pursu-
ling party, In command OF Detective
Campbell, overlook the strikers half
mile from Davidson and opened fire on
them. The strikers fired in return, but
ran on. Three strikers fell; one was killed
INSTANTLY and two others were fatally
wounded. Another of the strikers, who
got the start on the main body, was shot
by deputy at Broad Ford, mile dis
tant. He was also killed instantly.
Eleven strikers were captured where
the first battle took place, and the pursu-
ling party kept up the chase until Dawson,
IN point seven miles distant, was reached,
where SO more of the strikers were cap
|tured. All the efforts of the deputies and
more level-headed citizens were needed
TO prevent the lynching of the IL who
were taken back To Connellsville.
The law-abiding element had their
way, and at 3 o'clock a special train ar
rived here with 46 OF those who were in
the mob that killed Paddock. A great
crowd greeted their arrival, and amid
cries OF lynch them the prisoners were
hurried TO Jail. A large body of the
strikers were present and made "a rush TO
rescue the prisoners, but were held back
by the big crowd and the deputies.
At the Jail Hugh Coll, assistant chief
engineer of the Frick company, identified
five of the prisoners as among those who
killed Paddock. Thirty more OF the
same band of strikers have been arrested,
and the deputies will return TO bring
them TO jail
Paddock was highly esteemed and was
widely known. His murder occurred in
sight of his home. All the officials of
the district organization Of the strikers
will be arrested for completely In the
Paddock murder, and inciting the riot
and murder Every effort will be made
to hunt down the guilty ones.
At the Mayfeld plant of the Mcclure
company two men were fatally shot dur
ling the day. The strikers charged the
men at work in the morning. but were
driven off by the deputies, after striker
was shot through the body. In the after
noon they returned and renewed the at
tack There was much fighting and a
deputy was fatally wounded.
Murdercrs Recognized.
One hundred rioters are now under ar
rest. Hugh Coll recognized nearly all OF
the Huns in jail as the ones who helped
commit the assault at Davidson when
Paddock was killed. The Frick and Ray
'ney companies are determined to fight to
the end, and have their works we'll
guarded by deputies.
Twelve hundred rioters are marching
on the Meyer works of j. w. Rayney,
where $50 deputies are on guard. A mas
'sacre of raiders will occur there if the
protected attack is made.
The latest is that an assault will be
made on the Jail here :, rescue the rioters
Hailed last NIGHT.