The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-22


do shaft house and machinery are in
ashes and four innocent houscholders
are homeless as the result OF an attack
by parties yet unknown upon the Cor
Orado and Emmett mines In the dark
hours OF the early morning.
The first attack was made upon the
Coronado. which Is In the city. being
only half n dozen blocks from the post
Office and surrounded by residences. The
Coronado shaft house was built on n
large embnnkment enclosed by logs,
and the machinery Is flfty feet above
the street level. a heavy plank b0rrl-
rlde was erected around the machinery
and shaft house when the mine resumed
operations last month. and the house
was we'll stocked with provisions, Win
chesters and ammunition. Beyond as
ssults on workingnen seen coming
from the mine ut divers times no overt
acts OF violence had been attempted
against this mine until at one o'clock
this morning, when a few bullets struck
the barricnde and the men on guard
prepared for action. II was II night
attack upon the property. Judging
from the sounds OF the lighting. 1t came
from the east. There was no confusion,
nation which those down town received
n the trouble was n number OF shots.
The shots came scattered at first, then
faster and faster.
All the streets west OF the Coronado
were deserted weh the exception OF
three or four persons attracted by the
shooting. Suddenly after twenty-five
minutes Of firing q sheet OF flame burst
out, followed by 4 terrible detonation.
The attacking party were using dynA-
mite. The firing then seemed TO slack
up slightly. Occasionally bullet went
through the air and then n sheet OF
flame from Eighth or Ninth streets.
1t was evident that an attempt was be-
ing made to fire the property. East OF
the engine house are several tanks OF
fuel. and the attack was concentrated
on this point. There was a sheet NJ
flame and sputtering as though OF
blazing powder. The engine room was
IN flames.
Held Fir-men at Bay
a few moments later and the clang OF
the fire engines was heard coming up
the streets. But II was not for them
to save the Coronado. II was marked
for destruction. and armed men held
the tirsmen at bay. When the hose
cart reached the uorner. the hose wns
being unreeied and the marshal md his
men were getting ready for action when
three men appeared from around the
corner and compelled the tirrmen with
leveled rifles 10 stop work. Meanwhile
the flames grew flercer and fcrcer. The
men In the SHAFT house were finally
driven from their fort. but Tough; to the
last. As they ran over the high trcst!e
work dozen shots were fired. but the
men reached the dump in safety and eS-
capped.
BY this time large crowd had gath
cred, hundreds ready 10 assist. but held
al bay by the rioters and nrebugs wh1
we're concealed near the building. But
presently, as the sheets OF fame rollri
over the building 1t wus apparent tn
unless there was timely action the built.
!nrs in the vicinity were doomed The
tremen rallied. for by this time hun
dreds OF citizens. armed wiki rifles. ap-
feared and guarded the fire department
and volunteers. All attention was de-
voted to saving the houses In the vicln-
ity. but In spite of every effort four
dwellings, on East Eighth street were
destroyed.
But more terrible even than thu hol-
6Caust OF ilames vast he loss OF life.
Jerry O'Keefe. foreman OF Hose No. .
was turning on the water when a bullet
entered his side. He is mortally wound
cd and dying In a hospital An un-
known man was taken to Gl2 East
Eighth street dead, blown 10 pieces by
dynamite. Another unknown man was
mortally wounded by dynamite John
Mahoney. q miner al the Big Four. who
was near the Emmett. was shot In the
stomach. He died int he arms OF his
companidHG. One OF the mon who
brought the report had his clothes al
most torn or. but was not seriously
hurt.
At l0:30 Il M. an attack was made on
III" Emmett. There were over q hum
dFcd shots fired. but telephone mes
sage from the mine states that the at
tack was rrpuIsed. and that no lives are
known 10 hav. b"cn lost and no dam
az" 10 property had resulted.
Tho strike began on the 10th OF June
and therefore enters upon Its fourth
month to-day. II has paralyzcd husI-
r"ss. caused hunger and suffering In
hundreds NJ families and has cut down
the mineral output OF the camp more
man One-half. Last nights bloody bat
II" Is believed 10 be the last desperate
IN" nf the radical element OF the strlk-
'-S 10 force the StUppage OF all mines
mai are not paying the Increased scale
q. "hE"s demanded by the union. Many
-! N" strikers have asserted all along
'hhl tE"y would "Clean out the state"
ana even government troops IL brought
more rather than see outside lnbor come
I" me camp. The mine managers. who
~ htst refused to recognize the union,
Hhally offered compromise. but this
was rejected and all efforts by citizens
ana others 10 terminate the strike since
lh"n have failed.
quiet prevails here now and no FUR
'hrr r!0tInE Is anticipated. II lg gGu-
'rhily believed that the men who fired
In" Coronado SHAFT here this morning,
and who attacked the Emmett mine,
nut were there repulSfd. have fled 10
IN" mountains and will bH seen no more,
hry are salt to be miners from the
'Hcur d'Alenc country, who were en-
chrcd In the riots there several ycnrs
ago II looks ms II the backbone OF the
strike was broken and the outbreak OF
Violence this morning wus the final de-
mnrstra lion of the lnwlcss element.
Five llvcH Ht least were sacrificed in
th" lighting and the WORK OF destruc-
ton at the Coronado and IGmmet mines.
The Dead nnd Injured.
Following Is the list Of the dead and
l1Iurcd:
Dead: Bert Meier. James Bcr&nn.
Both were miners and wnro employ
~! NJ the Coronado and were killed by
I'll" explosion. They were identified
only by means Of papers on the bodies
Dying: William O'Kccfr, foreman Of
i,osc Company No. ., shot through the
stomach: j. Higgins. miner. employed
at the Coronado. shot eight times In
hrms' and stomach: John Mnhnncy,
miner. Hhnt through stomach. 8Sis
Injured: Frank nellie, Martin Scott
both were Coronado miners. Their
wounds are not believed 10 DO fatal.
MahOney. who was shot near the En-