The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-04-26
A RIOT IN DETROIT
Clash Betwsen strikina Poles ESd.sIshor
IFS Posse.

ihs Posse.
| DETROIT Mich April 18,-Trouble
has been brewing between the water
board and the Polish laborers engaged
TO lay the pipe extension east of the wa.
ter-Works near Connor's creek, four
mics from the city, over the question
or wages for some days. These men
were quarrelsome Yesterday and refused
to 60 to work themselves or allow any
one else to do so, but no serious out
break occurred.
Ats O'Clock this morning an angry
looking mob began to gather at the
scene and when O'clock arrived, more
than five hundred men CARVING pick.
axes and spades were patrollina the
roaq. -Four policemen were sworn III
as deputy sheritfs and q force of eigh.
Teen men were put to work. Tho stri
kers threatened to kill the first man
who dared attempt to do any work
and when one Of the men, more daring
than his fellow workmen, jumped into
the ditch, he was savagely assaulted,
Inc hand1ul OF deputies We're oyerpow-
cred and the strikers were left in nos.
session for the time being. AT 10 O'clock
thea mob fur ther armed itself with
kclubs and cudgels.
Sheriff Collins was telephoned for
and buried to the scene, taking with
him half dozen deputies. After q
| conference with the water board about
| work for the day and then the clash
came. Wnen Engineer Williams at
| tempted to withdraw his men peace
fully, the strikers became furious and
made an onslaught on one Of the men.
Sheriff Collins ordered the mob to dis.
perse, threatening to shoot If the order
was not obeyed. The mob appeared
maddened, however, and continued the
attack. Then the sheriff ordered his
posse 10 fire. He suited the action to
the words, and fired three shots from
his revolver in rapid succession. This
was a signal for volley from the dep
uttes, who emptied their revolvers at
the advancing mob. Two strikers were
shot dead, and at least fifteen others
are more or less dangerously wounded.
mob and it fell back. Police headquar-
ters were notified and large force Of
policemen were hurried to the scene,
and all the ambulances in the CITY.
The trouble commenced when Engi.
neer Williams gave the order for the
removal Of the suction pumps and tools
from a small excavation that had been
made at the end OF the pipe line In
preparation for the work. AS he spoke
In English, however, the mob did not
comprehend what he said. Sheriff Col
deputy. The deputy spoke German and
told the mob that the water board had
given in and 1t only wanted to remove
Its tools. Foreman Cathey then
jumped into the excavation and began
tale1ng up the pump. One Of the strik- |
ers yelled: care we going to stand |
this? Let us all strike together"
at this speech there was forward |
rush of the strikers, who held their |
shovels and picks aloft. CathY was
struck a blow on the head, which |
knocked him to the bottom of the exca.
vation. Sheriff Collins waved his arms
wildly and fairly shrieked to the mob |
to stand back, but his efforts were
wasted. No attention being paid to |
what he said. Instead Of retreating, he |
drew his revolver and aimed 1t point |
blank at the crowd. He fired three |
shots as rapidly as he could pull the |
trigger. Then q long-handled shovel |
upraised behind him. descended swiftly |
and corner of it pierced his skull |
lie was struck again and again aud |
Cathy is also fatally injured. One
member of the water works police was
seriously cut. The two strikers killed
and all the wounded are Poles.
The trouble really began yesterday,
when Engineer Williams Of the water
works sought to introduce a system Of
paying the men by the cubic yard Of
excavation instead Of daily wage
rate. The Polish laborers rebelled at
this and as result the water board de.
clded to suspend operations.
This afternoon and evening deputy
sheritfs secured the Polish quarter for
the rioters and by night fifty of the law
breakers had been gathered in. The
corridors of the jail cell block we're
filled with them. About @ o'clock a
group OF Polanders gathered about the
jail and made ugly demonstrations.
One of them was shot in the leg by q
deputy sheriff and carted off TO a hospi-
tai. The crowd about the jail, mostly
spectators, continued until midnight.
The Polish quarter Is all excitement
tonight. A meeting was arranged In
= Polish hall for tonight from which it
was declared the Polanders would
march to the jail and wreck it, but the
police we're watchful and the meeting
did not materialiZe.