The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-08
SPRING VALLEY RIOT
1T HAS TURNED OUT LIKE THE
REPORTED INDIAN MAS
SACRE.
THE NEGROES WERE NOT KILLED


Only Two of Them Were Seriously
Beaten by the White Miners Every
thing is Now Quiet and State Troops
VIII Not Be Sent to the Scene Unless
There is Another Outbreak--AR In-
vestigatSOn is Being Held and Miners
are Ready TO Resume Work.
CHICAGO, Aug. IA special from
| Spring Valley, H., says It now begins
to look like another "IndiSn massacre"
story. After cross examining nearly
every negro and Italian claiming or ao-
knowiedging to have heard of the fracas
Of last Sunday, the actual results sim
mer down to two negroes slightly in
jured and one Italian shot The @race
war" exists only in the imagination Of
the Princeton newspaper correspondents,
from whom the sheriff of Bureau county
also obtained his information. And un-
less some unforeseen accident happens
to create bad blood, or the dearth Of alb
solute news leads to a repetition of
groundless stories, there is no reason
why Spring Valley or its people should
obtrude longer on public notice.
Miners Pass Resolutions.
SPRING VALLEY, Ill, Aug. State
troops for the present, at least, will not
be ordered to this turbulent town. Peace
has been declared. This was brought
about through the efforts Of Col. Hugh
E. Bayle, Assistant Adiutant- General,
sent here by Gov. Altgeld.
Gov. Altgeld sent me here" said Col.
Bayle, "to investigate the trouble and
ascertain where the blame lies. He also
instructed me to bring about a settle
mentif possible without the aid of troops.
The Governor told me that all American
citizens, regardless of color or race, were
to be protected. If, upon investigation,
l find that the local authorities are un-
able or unwilling to maintain law and
order, then troops will be sent here.
Law and order must be enforced at any
cost"
Colonel Bayle was informed by Sheriff
Clark, Superintendent Dalzell and other
citizens, miners and public officers, that
no one had as yet been killed. All ad-
mitted, however, that 100 citizens, all
colored, had been driven from their
homes by a mob, composed of Italians,
Poles and Hungarian miners. Many
shots were fired and some Of the eolored
miners were wounded and brutally beat
en-. These negroes, men, women and
children had been assailed and ruthless
ly driven from their homes and forced
to go to Seatonville. AS to this outrage
all were agreed; but that any one had
been killed or fatally wounded was de-
MED.
Col. Bayle was then informed that the
miners were to hold mass meeting on
the public square at o'clock, at which
the following resolutions were to be pre-
sented for adoption:
"WHEREAs, a race conflict has taken
place in this city within the last few
days, resulting in no loss of life, but in
serious hardship and inconvenience to
considerable section of this community;
"Resolved That we, the miners of
Spring Valley, in mass meeting assembled,
declare it to be our belief that all men
regardless of race, color or creed are
born with the same equal rights and
should enjoy the same opportunities in
the pursuit of their happiness.
"Resolved, That we denOunce any at
tempt at the suppressing OF these rights
as unjust and barbarous, and pledge our
selves to maintain law and order as far
as lies in our power.
"Resolvcd That we are ready now to
resume work, provided the Spring
Valley Coal Company is ready to start
their mines"
The resolution then went on to de-
nounce sensational reports sent to the
Chicago papers.
at the appointed hour about 600
miners assembled in the public square at
a mass meeting. 1t was curious
gathering. Every nation in Eastern and
Southern Europe was represented. Every
motion that was made and every speech
had to be repeated at least six times and
each time in different language The
vote on the resolution was about tie,
but the chairman declared it carried.
The meeting then adjourned.
Notwithstanding the miners resolution
it is generally believed that il the ne
groes return to work there will be
trouble.
Negroes in Chicago Arming.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Aug. 7.-The police this
afternoon received information which
leads them to believe that the colored
men of this city have perfected an or
ganization, and are arming with tie in.
tention of attacking the Italian miners
at Spring Valley. The information came
from a number of pawnbrokers who sta
ted that they had.heen approached during
the day by ooldrWmen who were anXi-
Gus to purchase Winchester rifles. In
several instances, purchases were made,
but as a general thing the pawnbrokers
did not have enough of the RIFLES to
make a deal with the colored men. One
of the would-be purchasers said when
asked what he wanted to do with num-
Der of rifles, "Oh; we will show the
'dagos' what we want with them"
NEW YORK, Aug. AT the offices of
4lo D!avt GvSknyv, -, fhso r;try ,o,,Dvfas