The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-09-18
THE MINERS. STRIKE
REACHES BLOODY CRISIS
Deputies Fire on the Marching
Miners With the Most
Deadly Effect.
EXCITEMENT KNOWS NO BOUNDS
From Fifteen to Twenty Were
Killed and Many Were Wound
ed---Thc state Troops
Arc Ordered Out.

Hazclton, Pa, Sept. 13.--The strike
situation reached n terrible crisis on
Ii outskirts of Latimcr yesterday
afternoon when II band Of deputy
sheritfs fired into an Infatuated mob
OF miners. The men fell like SO many
sheep, and the excitement since has
been SO intense that no accurate fig
ures of the lead and wounded can be
obtained. Reports run from fifteen to
twenty odd killed and forty or more
wounded. One man who reached the
scene last night counted thirteen
corpses. -Four other bodies lie in the
mountains between Latimer aud Har-
leigh. Those who were not injured
carried their dead and wounded
friends into the woods, and all esti-
mate is bafflcd. Some of those known
to be dead are:
Mike Chesloll, HARDWOOD.
Frank Cheka, HARDWOOD.
John Staniska, Crystal Ridge.
George Kulick, HARDWOOD.
Steve Hortick, HARDWOOD.
Among the injured are:
George Krese, HARDWOOD, bullets
through leg, hip and knee.
John Kerlovish, shot in neck.
Andrew Shabolick, shot in breast.
John hulich, shot in stomach.
John %Damenisko, shot in both legs.
Geo. Nertischeck, shot in both legs.
John forti, shot in head; will die.
John kleshock, shot in hip.
haslme Dulis, shot in breast.
will die.
Steve Erskuki, shot in body.
john koti, shot in arm and left side.
Joseph Bobick, shot in back.
John Treble, a deputy, shot in
arm.
Three bodies were found last night
on the road near Latimer.
The strikers left Hazelton Mt $3.50
O'Clock in the afternoon. They an
nounced their intention of going to
Latimer. As soon as this became
known u band of deputies went whirl-
ing across the mountain to the scene
where the bloody conflict followed.
After reaching Latimer they left the
car and formed into three companies
under Thomas Hall, T.. A. Hess and
Samuel B. Price. They drew up in
line at the edge of the villnge, with a
fence and n line of horses in their rear
Sheriff Martin was in entire command
and stood in the front of the line until
the strikers approached. They were
seen coming across the ridge and Mar
TIN went out to meet them.
The men drew up sullenly and lis
tened in silence until he had once
more read the riot act. This finished,
II low muttering arose among the for
elsners and there was a slight move
ment forward.
Ordered to Fire.
Perceiring this the sheriff stepped
TOWARD them and in u determined tone
forbade the advance. Some one struck
the sheriff and the next moment there
was a command to the deputies to fire.
The guns of the deputies instantly
belched forth u terrible volley. The
report seemed to shake the very noun
tain and Il cry of dismay went up from
the people. The strikers were taken
entirely by surprise, and as the men
toppled and fell over each other, those
who remained unhurt stampeded. The
men went down before the storm of
bullets like ten pins and the groans of
the dying and wounded filed the air.
The excitement that followed was
simply indescribable. The deputies
seemed to be terror stricken at the
deadly execution of their guns and
seeing the living strikers fleeing like
wild beasts and others dropping to the
earth they went to the aid of the UNI
fortunates whom they had brought
down.
The people of Latilner rushed pell
nell to the scene, but the shrieks of
the wounded drowned the cries of the
vypnafhivi,, nrI l,lf ,.,..J :l.l:
tants. A reporter who soon after
wards reached the scene, found the
road leading to Latimer filled with
groups of frightened Hungarians.
Some surrounded their dying compan-
ions and others, fearful of pursuit,
chung to the newcomer and begged his
protection.
At Farley's hotel there were two men
lying on the porch. Both had been
shot in the head.
Ground Strcwn With Victims.
One of the miners had three bullets
in him. His groans and appeals for a
doctor or death We're heartrending.
Along the track of the trolley road
men lay in every position, some dead,
others dying. Three bodies face down
ward, lay along the incline and three
Nv WIZ u q nv u dlSJuIlSe AWAY.
On the other side of the road as many
more bodies lay. The school house
was transformed into a temporary
hospital and some of the wounded
were taken there. The colliery ambu-
lance was summoned to the place as
soon as possible and the wounded were
loaded into the wagon.
AS oon as the news of the shooting
reached Hazelton there was consterna-
ton. Within ten minutes the streets
were blocked with excited people. The
Lehigh Traction company immediate
~ placed q number of extra ears on
the Latimer line and doctors and cler-
gymen responded promptly. The rush
of people to Latimer was SO great that
the progress of vehicles along the road
was impaired.
Amid the excitement the deputies
turned their attention to the wound
ed and carried many of them to places
where they could be better treated.
Martin Roski, an intelligent Hunga-
rian from Mt. Pleasant, who was shot
in the arm, was seer by n reporter and
gave this version of the affair:
"We were going along the road to
Latimer, and the deputies were lined
across the road, barring our progress.
We tried to go through them and did
not attempt to hit or modest them,
when they fired upon Us. We ran, but
they kept on shooting at us while we
ran. 1t is all their fault"
Citizens meetings were held at var;-
parts of the city last night. Opin-
ion was divided about the responsible
ity for the shooting. At one meeting,
held In Van Wickle's Casino, attended
by bankers, coal operators and promi-
nent business men, resolutions were
adopted calling on Governor Hastings
to send the militia here Immediately.
At another mass meeting. attended by
hundreds of people the sentiment was
against bringing the troops here, and
1t is asserted by these that there was
no necessity for having the deputies
here.
yVD,oe xho CIn,.Ap c1u