The record-union., 1894-05-25
Special to the REcoRp-UN1oN.


Company at Stickney Hollow. in the
fourth pool district of the Monongahela
River, was made this morning, involving
another of the grim tragedies that char
acterize that irrepressible conflict. The
fight was one Of the fiercest in the history
OF the mining troubles in Western Penn
sylvania, and in the section where it oc-
Cured, as we'll as throughout the whole
coke region, the situation is one of ex-
element and dread uncertainty.
Tonight four strikers are lying dead,
and double that number are badly
wounded, some of them mortally. Thos.
kenan of Woods Run is the only Ameri-
can killed in the encounter with the
deputies. The other dead men are Slavs.
The wounded men who fell under the
first volley from the deputies We're taken
Oft the field by the retreating strikers,
and even now the actual number OF the
wounded is not definitely known, their
friends having the strongest motive for
concealing them.
Ut Is perhaps too soon to place the re-
sponsibility for the killing. In the mass
OF confused and contradictory statements
there is testimony to show that the strik-
committed no act of lawlessness; that the
deputies fired on them absolutely with
out provocation that would warrant the
use OF deadly weapons, and that the kill
ings were cruel and unjusBiiable. Then
there is testimony to show that the depu-
ties defended themselves and their
charges from the rushing assault of an
armed and bloodthirsty mob.
The strikers furnished all the dead men,
not deputy being fatally hurt. and only
three OF them were wounded.
The fight occurred at the public road
way leading 10 the Sickle Hollow plants.
The deputies had specific orders, but it is
admitted that the company had conveyed
to them directions to shoot to kill
Shortly before midnight 1900 rioters
assem- bled at the Sickle Hollow plants of
the Washington Company. Some were
armed, but majority were not.
They went into camp near the plant,
and at O'Clock they adjourned to the
public road over which the workmen
would have to pass. They stopped the
first delegation of miners. The workmen
were about to comply with the command
to go home when the deputies rushed
into the midst of the strikers, got possess
sion of the workmen and marched them
to the pit.
A Deputy Sheriff fired shot, which
opened the battle, and volley after voIley
was fired by each side at close range The
strikers ammunition gave out and they
were forced to flee.
1t is said the strikers were advancing
on the deputies, when the latter fired the
first shot.
The company officials say the strikers
served notice on them that they expected
to assault the works, and the deputies
considered the Interference with the
workmen the beginning of the assault.
The strikers had made demonstrations
all night, even threatening TO visit the
houses OF workmen and give them the
choice of quitting work or die.
Sixty strikers were placed under arrest
and taken back to the company's
grounds, where they were closely
guarded. This evening they were brought
here to Jail.
The situation at the mines to night is
alarming, and more serious trouble is
expected within the next tWenty-fOur
hours.
BENT ON DESTRUCTION.
CENTRALIA Ill.), May 24.-Five hun
dred striking miners from the Duquoin
and St. Johns mines arrived here to-day
on a freight train, and at the Big -Four
mine. operated by Potenger d Davis,
demolished the machinery, filled the
shaft with about fifteen feet of debris.
and smashed all the glass and sashes.
The total damage is estimated at s., 900.
The Big -Four mines have been run
ming with about thirty men. who yester-
day refused to come out at the request of
the local committee.
The strikers lett the city on foot for
Odln. eight miles north, to shut down the
mine there. The Sheriff swore in fifty
deputies, who were equipped with Win
cheSters from the armory here, and left
for Odin on special train. The miners
are armed with pistols and have plenty of
ammunition.
TROUBLE ANTICIPATED.
= OTTUMwA Iowa, May 4.-Ottumwai is
beginning to feel the effects OF the coal
strike. and unless the matter is settled
soon the city will suffer. a week will run
the coal supply nearly out. and the fac
tories will have to begin to shut down
All the coal workers, but about 100. in the
county are out. All is quiet at Muchaki-
mock, A thousand miners are calnped
there, determined to bring 200 men, the
rest remaining at work, out. Trouble can
hardly be avoided, as the men are all
and as fully determined to remain
at work.
UGLY FEELING AT CRIPPLE CREEK.
CRIPPLE CREEK Coli, May 24.-There
is very ugly feeling among the union
miners over the report that the owners
W al dLtcHipb " 1OOpei luc SOiu lnlneS
within few days with non-union min
ers, protected by armed Deputy Sheriffs.
The mood OF the striking miners was in
dicated to-day when John Thomas and
Thomas II. Jones, two miners from Vic
toria, arrived at Altman on their way to
Cripple Creek. They were suspected of
being non-unlon men and, notwithstand-
ing their protest that they were not, they
were set upon by the strikers, knocked
down and several shots fired at them.
Thomas and Jones took refuge in u
boarding house, which was Immediately
entered by half dozen union men, who
took them out and gave them a fearful
beating. At last Thomas escaped and
made his way into town. When he ar
rived here he was exhausted. He had
five bad seal p wounds and adepression OF
the skull. Jones is still missing, and it is
feared he is lying i'll some secluded place
dead or seriously injuaed.
AE BATTLE EXPECTED.
DENVER, May 24.-About 125 deputies
left this city early tonight for Cripple
Creek, and 100 more will leave before
morning to assist the miners in that To-
caliIy in resuming operations. The
strikers expect to give them battle at the
Victor Mine, about SIX miles from Grip
Pile Creek, where the turbulent element
has thrown up breastworks. About sixty
Deputy Sheriifs mounted and each armed
with Winchester rifle and q brace OF re-
have left Cripple Creek for the
Victor Mine, ostensiDly to protect rail-
road property, but undoubtedly to par
ticipate in the fgnt. The strikers will