The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-17
FIGHT IN ALABAMA
COlOred Miners Attacked by
Strikers and Sympathizers.
Latter Opened Fire on the Negroes as
They We're Qritting Work and
Shot Several to Death.
ARMED DEPUTIES REPLIED
Six Dead Bodies Picked Up After
the Rioters We're Routed.
ARMED DEPUTIES REPLIED
Nearly Score of Persons Wounded
Train Also Attacked-Militia Hur-
ried to the Scene of Trouble.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, July ia fight
occurred this afternoon at 4:3O o'clock at
No. of the Pratt mines between mobs of
striking miners and deputies in which six
men were killed and nearly score wound
ed. The full list of dead and manned can
not be secured tonight, as the bodies were
carried off quickly after the fight occurred.
This morning a mass meeting of striking
miners was held on the creek near the
Pratt mines, and it was decided that the
law be taken into their own hands, and
that they would kill or be killed. About
4:3O o'clock. the time when the employees
quit work and come out of the mines,
mob of men was secreted in the woods near
by. AS each negro came out a shot would
be sent at him and he would drop to The
ground either fatally wounded dead.
After the third negro had fallen the depu-
ties opened fire on the mob and a fierce
fight took place. b. w. Tierce, the COM
mander of the deputies, fell TO the ground.
a Winchester ball had pierced his body
just above the heart. Almost at the same
instant one of the strikers was seen to
fall, but he arose again to his knees, and,
taking aim with his Winchester. fired four
times at the deputies. The deputies kept
reloading their guns and firing and the mob
began dispensing. The deputies then turned
their attention TO the wounded striker who
was still firing, and after a time they sue
ceeded in sencing his gun. He proved TO
be a Frenchman.
Another section OF the mob made an at
tack on a train which was carrying the
negroes from mine No. TO their homes
There were several guards on the engine
and the attack was answered with a fusil-
lade of bullets. The first shot from the
strikers went through the cab window of
the engine and just missed killing the en-
gineer and j. j. Moore, the superintendent
at the mines. kilograms were sent to
town in haste for help, and Sheriff Nor
row summoned twenty-five deputies. Gov.
Jones. who is still in the city, hastily sum-
noned the Birmingham battalion of the
State troops.
At noon to-day the Second Regiment was
relieved from duty. The East Lake COM
pany was still in camp guarding the tents,
and they were marched to train and
hastily carried to the Pratt mines with
the deputies. The Governor ordered the
Second Regiment into camp and closed all
the saloons in the county Out at Pratt's
posses were hastily formed and the woods
were secuted for miles and miles, but the
work of hunting for the dead and wounded
then began. Ten men were found, six of
them being dead. The names OF the ne
groes are not known. The Frenchman's 5
name was Juan Laflor. George Campbell,
colored, had his leg broken and a bullet
went through his chin. He says that the
strikers came on him after he was down
and kicked him and fired another shot
into his nose. The negroes are terror-strick-
en- and are running wild. The streets
about town are crowded with people, and
all sorts of rumors are flying about
\ courier has just returned from the
scene. He says everything is well guarded
there for another attack. should one be
made. The bodies of two white men and
one negro have just been brought to the
city, and the undertaking shops for blocks
and blocks are crowded with a surgine
mass of humanity. The Third Regiment of
State troops has been ordered into camp
here, and by morning more than five hun
dred soldiers will be on the scene Report
just comes that a dead negro was found
one mile from the scene OF the battle on
the Kansas City track.