Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-09-18
STRIKERS SHOT down.
Terrible Effect Of a Volley Fired by
Deputy Sherifs.
TWENTY THREE MEN MET DEATH.

tefnO0n, Wnen a pdfiu OF deputy SnerliIS
fired into an infuriated mob of miners.
The men fell like so many sheep, IS
being killed instantly, while five others
have since died of their wounds. In adj
dition there are So wounded in the hos
pital. and several of these may die. The
dead and injured are all Poles, Slavs
and Iithuanians. The fact has been
demonstrated that none of the men
were armed.
The list Of dead thus far is as fol-
lows: Andrew Nickowski. John Cho-
benski, Steve Urich, Andrew Yerhman,
John Frankie, John Zernawick, Frank
Kodel, John Zaslack, John Sheka, An
ton Greelxio, John Turnasyich, Andrew
Yurick, Andrew Zimenski, Adam Zim-
oski John Buski, Stanley Zagdrsld, Sc
bastian Bozostoski, John Futa, Adel-
bert GAIA, Andrew Collick, Rafael
Rekewicz, Jacob Tomashantos and
Clemerius Plotack.
The strikers left Hazleton at $3.50
o'clock Friday afternoon, announc-
ing their intention to go to Lattimer.
AS soon as this became known a band
of deputies was loaded on a trolley Car
and went whirling. across the noun
tain to the scene where the bloody con-
fiict followed. After reaching Lattimer
they left the car and formed into three
companies, under Thomas Hall, E. A
Hess and Samuel B. Price. They drew
up in line at the edge of the village,
with fence and a line of houses in
their rear.
Sheriff Martin was in command, and
stood in front of the line until the
strikers approached. They were seen
coming across the ridge, and Martin
went out to meet them. The men drew
up sullenly and listened in silence until
he had once more read the riot act.
This finished, a low muttering arose
among the foreigners and there was a
slight movement forward.
Perceiving this the sheriff stepped
toward them and in a determined tone
forbade the advance. One man struck
the sheriff S revolver from his hand, and
the next moment there was a command
to fire. Then the guns of the depu-
ties instantly belched forth terrible
volley. The report seemed to shake
the very mountains, and a roar of dis
may went UP from the people. The
strikers were taken entirely by sur
prise, 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
of the 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 see
ing the living strikers fleeing like wild
and tho 20
they went to the aid of the unfortunates
whom they had brought down.
The people of Lattimer rushed pell
nell to the scene, but the shrieks of the
wounded drowned the cries of the
sympathizing and half crazed inhabi-
tants.
A reporter who soon afterwards
reached the scene found the road lead
ing to Lattimer filled with groups of
frightened Hungarians. Some sur
rounded dying companions, and others,
fearful of pursuit, chung to the new
conner and begged his protection.
Along the bank of the trolley road
men lay in every position, some dead.
others dying. Three bodies, face down
ward, lay along the incline, and three
others were but short distance away.
On the other side of the road as many
more bodies lay.
The schoolhouse was transformed
into temporary hospital, and some of
the wounded were taken there The
colliery ambulance was summoned to
the place as soon as possible, and i'm
mediately upon it's arrival two men,
both shot through the legs, were load
ed into the wagon. All along the hill
side wounded men were found-on the
green, on the roadside and in the fields
Citizens meetings were held in var
ious parts of the city last night. Opfn-
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 other mass meetings, attended by
thousands of people, the sentiment was
against bringing the troops here, and
it is asserted by these that there was
no necessity for having the deputies
here. When, at a late hour, it was
announced that the governor had
ordered out the Third brigade, there
were many conflicting opinions as to
the wisdom of the move.
TWELVE VICTIMS BURIED.