The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-07
A TERRIBLE RIOT IN INDIANA.
Roughs Raise Disturbance at
Picnic.
armed With Knives and Clubs and Filled
With Whisky. While the German
Catholics Wero Quietly Enjoying
Themselves, They PrecipItate "a RIOT.
In Which Three Were Killed and
Over 100 Wounded.

ENGLISH, Ind. July GA desperate
riot occurred at Siberia, Berry county.
In which LOCO people took part. Siberia
Is Roman Catholic community and
yesterday the inhabitants were epiov-
ing great picnic in the woods, when
gang OF dissurbers appeared on tbe
scene. The priest, who was present.
counseled his people to avoid trouble IL
possible and to pay no attention to the
jeers OF the half drunken marsuders
Mistaking this tolerance for cowardics.
the.intruders became holder and preci-
pitAted fight. which, In few moments,
assumed the proportions of a desperate
riot, In which everybody took part
CLUBS, chairs and beer bottles were
Drought into play and the peaceful pic
MIC was Immediately transformed into a
great group. of struggling, cursing men
and screaming women.
The intruders were local roughs. and
came to the picnic inAamed with
whiskoy and armed with clubs and
knives. Many OF the injured are women
and children, for 1t seems that the in
truders spared neither age nor sex.
me district Is very wooded and
lonely. The little place boasts Of a few
dozen struggling houses and a Roman
Catholic church. the congregation OF
which Is composed of Germans, and
which Is now converted into o hospital.
Ihey sre simple, inotfensive people,
but have been greatly annoyed recently
by persons opposed to their religion.
On yesterday they planned to enjoy a
great picnic in the woods surrounding
the village. The entire population
turned out to attend. and all went
smoothly enough until the disturbers
appeared on the scene and began to
make trouble.
Samuel Wilson, the leader of the out.
siders, armed with huge knife, welded
IL on every SIDE stabbing or cutting
many persons. He WAS finally opposed
oy sturdy German, who was more than
match for him, until Wilson plunged
tne knife into him. AS the man fell,
oiood squirting from gbassly wound,
MS WIFE, rendered desperate by the
slght, sprang through the crowd to VIII.
son, and dealt him terrible blow ON
the head with beer bottle, which, with
MS other injuries, will probably cause
his death.
Women fought beside their husbands
ana screaming children were kicked
aside as they sought to save their par
ents from injury.
The attacking party soon found that
they would be annihilated IL the fight
continued and after their leader was
isio low they reiterated, leaving three Of
their mum Der on the ground for dead.
Three persons were killed and ffty
injured. mum Der fatally, and the scene
resembles q battlefield after O severe
encounter, with the exception that the
dead and wounded have been removed.
Broken bottles, clubs and splin,ered
chairs litter the ground for half sn acre.
Inc sod which was torn up by the
Struggling mass, Is tinged with blood;
bloody garments torn Oft in the desper-
ate encounter, are strewn everywhere.
UP to this time there has never been
serious outbreak between the German
Roman Catholics snd their opponents in
this vicinity, although thero have been
minor encounters indicating that the
Keeling OF bigotry was growing. The
tiot was largely the outgrowth of re-
ligious differences. Over 100 were more
or less seriously injured