Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-09
THE FIGHT AT FORTY-NlNTH.
4 Few Dozen of the Second Illinois Do
Some Very Deadly Work.

Some Very Deadly Work.
CHICAGO, July 9.-"And it is further
ordered that if any act of hostility be conf
mitted, such as firing upon such railroad
trains or assaulting the trainmen, mar
shals or soldiers by throwing at them
stones or other missiles, those assaults
shall be repealed by the use of firearms"
This was General Miles order, that the
regulars should use their bali cartridges
under the conditions enumerated. But il
turned out that the>tirst to use lead was n
company of the Second regiment l. n G.
There were only about forty men, but
while they We're in action they showed
that they could defeat Il mob of thou.
sands.
j; will take long time to obtain full
list of the casualties. but besides some
dozens who are reported wounded in all
degrees from slightly to seriously-among
them Lieutenant Reed, Of Company c,
(the company in the fghD, who was
knocked down with brick before the
troops fired, and who is quite seriously
hurt-the following are The fatal cases:
John Burke, known as Engine Burke
bayonet thrust, instant death; unknown
man. shot through the breast Fatally
hurt: John kronberg, bayonet wounds in
the breast; Thomas Jackman, shot i'll the
stomach and through the back; John
schultz, snot in ri ght thigh: John Smidt.
shot through both legs: Peter Serbian ski
snot through the breast: unknown man
shot through the thigh; unknown man,
| shot through the liver
Inc fight occurred at the intersection of
Forty ninth street and the Grand Trunk
tracks, locality which has always had an
there early in the morning. Before 8
O'Clock mob gathered aud made threats
OF burning the roundhouse Aid was
asked and company c, Second infantry,
thirty-seven strong. commanded by Cap
tain MAR, was Hurried to the spot. The
militia was reinforced by Il number of dep
uties ana the mob WAS pressed back from
the rouddhouse. The mob, however in
creased in size until there were fully 8 600
howling rioters facing the troops. Noise
was not enough. however, to entertain tine
mob, so portion of it ran a freight car
into the pit of the turntable and later
pushed freight car on the track intend
ing to wreck it there SO as to block the
soldiers train.
captain Mair confG FRED with the police
and concluded to retire while he could,
as he did not want to b. put to the neces-
half his men to clear the obstruction
while the balance held the crowd back
Preparations for retreat of course en-
boldened the mob which immediately be-
gan more violent demonstrations ct had
been throwing stones and shouting abuse
all the time), and made rush after rush
at the troops each of which was met and
repuised. OF course this could not last
always; the mob began raining missiles
on the troops. Lieutenant Reed was
struck down as if dead and then u charge
was ordered.
The handful OF militiamen sprang for
ward with leveled bayonets John Burke
was standing in front of the mob throw
ing coal. One of the first soldiers in the
charge plunged his bayonet clear through
Burke's body, the point coming out at the
back. The mob broke before the charge
but quickly rallied, and after a short
pause came on again, sending a pattering
Of bullets before it. The troops, deputies
ana police waited for no orders, but rifles
came To level. revolvers were drawn and
the storm of leaden death swept into the
mob.
Men fell right and left, but the militia.
deputies and police pressed forward rapid
ly. driving tue crowd before them in the
widest confusion. 1t was all over in three
minutes, and the militia marched into the
train, and with the deputies returned to
the city. They looked as though they had
been through battle when they disem-
parked at Dearborn station. Uniforms
were torn. hats gone; they were covered
with dust and dirt, and many of them
were badly bruised.
As the train with the militia on board
moved off the mob crowded about the
handful of police left behind. From all
sides they rushed upon them, hurting
stones ahd iron in mad assault. The men
drew their revolvers and prepared for a
desperate battle. The mob set fire to n
car, broke switch and tore up rails. A
fire alarm was sent in with an urgent call
for police assistance. When it arrived
several patrol wagon loads-there was no
parleying. The wagons drove into the
mob and the police used revolvers first,
clubs next, dispensing the rioters.
The saddest features of the rioting were
the killing of girl of II during the melee
she was standing On the top of a house