Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-13
THE sHeR,ff's sroaY.
Tells Why lie Ordered Dep tiles 10 Fire ..
0eseEcciess Min RS.

Wilkcsbarre, Pa. Sept. 10.-Sber,n
martin arrived home on the o'clock
train from Hazleton. He was cool and
collected. He was met at the depot bv
his legal adviser. The two got into a
carriage and drove TO the court house
where they We're closeted together TO-
some time. At first the sheriff refnse,
10 say anything. but finally consented
The sheriff was at first reluctant -
say whether he had given the corr
mand to fire. but afterwards admitted
that he had. The sheriff's detailed
statement is as follows:
Il heard. early this morning. that tho
strikers were going to march IN Tho
breaker at Latimer and compel tho
men there TO quit work | resolved n
intercept them and if possible proven.
them from reaching the breaker. One
of my deputies told me that the strik-
ers would probably be heavily armed
| got my deputies, 20 in number ~
meet at certain place. They were al,
armed. told them to keep cool under
all circumstances.
The trouble began at 3 o'cIock
met the marching column. I ba,te5
them and read the proclamation They
refused 10 pay any attention ana
started to resume their march Tho,
! called to the leader to stop. He 10.
nored my order. / then attempted "a
arrest him. The strikers closed in on
me- They acted very viciously: kick
ing me, knocking me down and tramn-
ing upon me. l called upon my dep.
uties to aid me and they did so. but
were unable to accomplish much.
Il realized that something had 70 no
done at once, or | should be killed.
called to the deputies to discharge their
firearms into the air but it had no
effect whatever on the infuriatel
foreigners, who used me more like wild
beasts than human beings The strik-
ers then made a still holder move and
endeayofed to surround my entire
force of deputies. ! fully realized that
the foreigners We're desperate lot and
valued life at very small figure.
then called upon the deputies to defend
themselves and shoot If they must to
protect their lives or to protect the
property they had been sent to guard
from being demolished
The next second there We're a few
scattered shots fired into the infatuated
foreigners and moment later the en-
tire force Of deputies discharged a
solid volley into the crowd. hated to
give the command to shoot and was
awfully sorry that / was compelled to
do so and l was there to do my duty
and l did it as best l knew how The
strikers We're violating the laws of the
commonwealth and fatty refused to
obey the proclamation that / read to
them.
The scene after the shooting was
simply terrible and the entire crowd Of
foreigners as soon as the yolley had
been hred by my deputies turned and
started to retreat. They rushed off in
all directions as fast as they could,
taking as many of their dead and
wounded with them as they were able
to carry during their hurried retreat.
me excitement at the time was simply
terrible and l would not care to ever
90 through another ordeal of the same
kind for fortune
In another interview, Sheriff Martin
AID he first met the marching miners at
Vest liaZleton. According to Martins
tory, when the strikers reached the line
4 deputies he ordered them to halt and
isperse. One of the Huns said in broken
English: Go to he'll, you -" Martin
men attempted to arrest the man who
made the remark, and. as he claims. was
..erceiy assaulted by the mans friends.
men the firing began. Mr.. Martin was
sked during the interview:
When you met the men were they on
ompany property or on the public road?"
lie replied: mo. they We're on the pub
c road
Had they up to that time committed
ny overt act or acted otherwise than
eaceable?"
mo
Why then did you order the deputies
0 ire?'
Il did not order the deputies to fire.
ONE one else did that. / gave no order"
We're any of your men hurt?'
one of my deputies was shot through
he arm
Sheriff Martin. when he reached Wilkes
ARE, was badly scared. Though he
'aims TO have been brutality ASSAULTED
men seen he did not have a mark on his
erson TO show that he had been roughly
andled. All classes of citizens in this
NY and county unite in condemnng
hcrif Martins hasty action.