The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-18
MURDERED BY STRIKERS.
FATAL RIOTS IN THE PENN
SYLVANIA COKE REGION.

j. H. Paddock Set Upon by Strikers
While Inspecting tho Davidson
Works and Brutally Killed-A
Running Chase for Miles-Several
Rioters Are Shot Down.
Adispatch from Uniontown, Penn, says
Anarchy is running riot throughout the en-
tire coke region Of this section OF Pennsyl'
yania. More than two-thirds Of the thirty big
coal mines and OF the 1900 furnaces in
which their product is turned into coke
are deserted. OF the $1,000 miners and
eokers who should be in the pits and at
the ovens, more than 10000, mostly Hun
parians and Slavonians, whose ideas are as
foreign to America as their language, are
tramping over the country in bodles OF 50O
and upward, forcing those who have not
joined them in their strike against the mine
operators to do so.
Crazed by liquor and by the ince ndiary
speeches poured into their ears hour after
hsur by dozen demagogic leaders, these
MODS know no license, recognize no law,
have no mercy and seem to be devoid OF
reason. 80
Three hundred deputy sherifIs have been
sworn in and armed with Winchester rifles
for the protection of life and property. The
strikers are prepared to go to any length to
gain the point of having every mine and
oven in the section abandoned. Nine per.
sons, 1t Is said, have been killed and several
wounded. ~
The actions of the foreigners, and espe-
eially the killing Of an official OF the Friek
Coke Company. so incensed the better class
OF people that there was talk OF lynchinS the
men who did the killing.
The war began at daylight at the Trotter
plant. About 1000 men camped in the woods
during the night and at daybreak marched
on the men who had refused to join them.
One after another plant was raided and the
workers driven from the ovens and forced to
fee FOR their lives. The deputy shertfs
.eou.,l do nothing with the mob.
Several OF the non-unionistS were badly
beat N and left for dead. The wives Of the
strikers Joined them and led in the assaults.
AT ouly one place did the rioters meet with
much resistance. This was at the Davidson
plant of the Frick Coke Company. About 8
O'Clock mob of 500 strikers gathered at the
plant and demanded that the non-unlonists
throw down their tools.
Chief Engineer Joseph Fl. Paddock or
dered his men TO stand firm. This order
was the sequel for a fusilade of stones. slugs
and pieces OF iron. Paddock was struck in
n dozen places. and fell sense!ess. Then one
OF the mob shot him through the back of the
head. Having scared the "o"-unionists
away from the plant, the mob treated to-
ward Connellsville.
A posse was hurriedly formei md started
In pursuit Of the rioters. The latter passed
around Connellsvilie and were met on the
Youshingheny River bridge and were or
derad to halt.
They refused and the posse opened fire.
One ofthe Hungarians fell. .mortally wounded
and died In few minutes.
A terrible hand to hand struggle took
place. Guns, revolvers, blackjacks and
cIuts were used, Three more men were
killed and forty-three of the rioters were
cluobed into submission and were taken
badly wounded to the Connellsvllle jail.
Among the prisoners Is the man who shot
prisoners removed to Uniontown.
Assistant Chief Engineer Cole, OF the Fr1cE
Company, took part in the defense OF the
Davidson plant and was badly injured, but
will recover. He assisted the deputies on
the bridge, although badly wounded.
Several small battles took place in different
parts Of the region, and In these, 1t is said
two persons were killed and many wounded.
Several Of the rioters arrested on the bridge
will not recover.
At 10 O'Clock p. m. there were sixty-!oul
rioters in the Uniontown jail. Outside wild
mob clamored for their release.
:. Appeals were made to the Governor Tor
troops. There are several companies OF the
Tenth Regiment around Connellsville, and
they. as well as the Pittsburg regiment, were
hourly expecting to be ordered out.
Camped In Everson Grove, near Scottdale
were 1900 strikers, mostly Hungarians
Poles and Slavs. They were huddled
around a hundred large wood fires, and sym
pathizers supplied them with provisions.