The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-09-16
STRIKING MINERS SHOT TO DEATH.
TWENTY-0NE KILLED.
Deputies Ordered to Fire Upon Band Of
Rioting Miners

A riot in which half hundred strik-
ing miners were shot down marks the
end OF the two months of peace which
has thus far characterized the great
strike. Considering that a convention
was in progress at Columbus. o., for
the speedy settlement OF the strike, the
killing Of at least fifteen men Is most
deplorable.
The strike situation reached a terri
BILE crisis on the outskirts of Lattimer,
Carbon county. Pa, Friday afternoon.
when a band of deputy sheriffs fired
into an infuriated mob of miners.
Reports run from fifteen to twenty
odd killed, and forty or more wounded.
Many OF these will die. Four other
dead lie in the mountains between Lat
timer and Harleigh.
Those who were not injured carried
their dead and wounded friends into the
woods and estimate is baiiled. Troops
were called for and arrived on the scene
Saturday.
The list of killed as revised and iden-
titled follows: Michael Cheslok. of Har-
wood: Frank Cheka, of Harwood, John
Staniska. of Crystal Ridge; George ku>
lick. of Harwood. Stephen Horlick, of
Harwood: Jacob Kulscot, of Harwood :;
John Slevonick, of Harwood, leaves a
wife and four children; John Harska,
leaves wife and two children; An
drew Nishkushki: Andrew Slovonski,
John Script, leaves wife and two chill
dren: George Gashbush.
on Friday afternoon about 200 strik
ing miners left Hazelton. Pa, with the
intention OF going to the Lattimer
mines.
on hearing this the sheriff immedi-
Of a a
trolley car and dispatched them to the
Lattimer mines, where they arrived in
advance Of the approaching strikers.
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 listen
ed in silence until he had once more
read the riot act, This finished, low
muttering arose among the foreigners
and there was Il slight movement for
ward. Perceiving this the sheriff step
ped toward them and, in 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
bclchcd forth terrible volley. The re-
port seemed 10 snake the very noun
tains and a roar of dsmay 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 tenpins and the groans Of
the dying and Of the wounded filled 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
men and the others dropping to the
earth. they went to the aid of the ur-
fortunates whom they had brought
down.
Sheriff Martin was at first reluctant
to say whether he had given the com
mand to fire, but afterwards admitted
that he had.
Twenty three of the men shot at
Latimer were reported dead. Monday,
six more dying and nearly forty in the
hospital.