The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-15

unoer all circumstances
;, Inc trouble began at o'clock. I met
the marching column. l halted them and
read the proclamation. They refused to pay
any attention and started to resume their
march. Then called to the leader to stop.
he ignored my order. I then attempted to
arrest him. The strikers closed in on me.
Ihey acted very viciously kicking me-
knocking me down and trampling upon me.
caiied upon my deputies to aid me and
they dld SO, but they were unable to ac-
compl1sh much.
realized that something had to be
uone al once, or would be killed I called
10 the deputies to discharge their fire.
arms INTO the air, above the heads Of
the strikers as 1t might probably frighten
tnem 1t was done at once, but it had
no erect Whatever on the infuriated for
e1gners. who used me SO much the rougher
ana became hercer and fiercer, more like
Wlld beasts than human beings The strik-
ers then made still bolder move and
endeavored to surround my entire force
of deputies
Il fully realized that the foreigners were
desperate lot and valued life at a very
small figure. I also saw that parleyinR
with such gang of infuriated men was
entirely out Of the question as they were
too excited to listen to reason and that
myself and deputies would be killed If we
were not rescued, if we did not defend
ourselves. I then called upon the deputies
to defend themselves and shoot il they
must to protect the property that they
had been sent to guard.
The next second there were a few scat
tered shots fired into the foreigners and
a moment later the entire force of depu-
ties discharged a solid volley into the
crowd. l hated to give the command to
shoot and was awful sorry that 1 was
compelled to do So and / was there to
do my duty and I did it as best I knew
how and my conscience dictated as
strikers no of
the commonwealth and fatty refused to
obey the proclamation that l read to them
They insisted on doing violence and dis
Obeying the laws.
"The scene after the shooting was sim
ply terrible and I would have willingly
not had it occur, but as public official.
l was there to see that the law was
obeyed and lived up to, and l merely did
my duty. Some Of the foreigners fell over
dead, and others badly wounded; some
were rushing hlther and thther seeking
place where they would be shielded from
any more shot; others were aiding their
wounded companions to place of safety
The entire crowd of foreigners as soon
as the volley had been fired by my depu-
ties, turned and started to retreat Thav
rushed off in all directions as fast as they
could, taking as many Of their dead and
wounded with them they were able to
carry In their hurried retreat The ex-
citement at the time was simply terrible
dHu L Woulu not go through another Or
deal OF the kind for fortune
In another interview Sheriff Martin said
he first met the marching miners at West
HaZleton. He asked them where they were
going and they replied: I'VE are going
to Latimer to get the men out there"
Then the sheriff and 70 deputies armed
with Winchesters and revoivers, boarded
trolley car for Latimer and marching.
down the public road, headed off the col
umn Of Poles and Hungarians
According to Martins story when the
strikers reached the line Of deputies he
ordered them to halt and disperse. One
of the Hungarians said in broken English
GO to hi, you -
Martin then attempted to arrest the
man who made the remark, and. as he
claims, was f1ercely assaulted by the mans
friends. Then the firing began.
Mr.. Martin was asked: when YOU met
the men were they on company property or
on the public road?"
He replied: NO. they were on the public
road"
Had they committed any overt act, or
acts otherwise than peaceable?"
= why; Why; then' did you order the deputies
II did not order the deputies to fire: some
one else did that. First came a signal shot
and then volley. I gave no order"
How many were killed?'
There were IL dead when I left and
about 40 wounded"
Were any of your men hurt?'
"One of my deputies was shot through the
arm
Sheriff Martin, when he reached Wilkes
barre, was badly scared. Though he
claims to have been brutally assaulted
When he arrived he did not have a mark
on his person to show that he had been
roughly handled. All classes Of citizens in
this city and county unite in condemning
Sheriff Martins hasty action.