Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-09-16
SAY 1T WAS MURDER.
Deputies Who Shot Down Miners 10
BE Arrested.

| DepuI1eS WI SnOt DOWh miheEb ~
BE Arrested.
Hazlcton, Pa, Sept. 13.-Neariy 1900
members of the state militia are on
duty in Hazleton and Lattimer, and
their presence has prevented an out
break on the part of either the strikers
or the citizens, who alike vigorously
denounce the killing of 81 miners and
the wounding of more than 40 others
by Sheriff Martins posse in Lattimer
on Friday.
Warrants have been sworn out against
the sheriff and all his deputies who
took part in firing upon the strikers,
the charge against them being murder.
A citizens committee has been appoint
ed to raise money for their prosecu-
ton. The bitter feeling against the
officers has been intensified by the
knowledge that all except five of the
/ dead and wounded men were shot in
the back while running away from the
deputies.
Only two men can be found who
will say there was provocation for the
slaughter. One of these is Sheriff Mar
tin, who is fitting between here and
Wilkesbarre under guard of troops and
policemen, and the other is Deputy A.
T. Hess.
slaughter declare that sharpshooting
deputies picked off the poor wretchcs
as they were scrambling over a rail-
road embankment and running through
field. A dozen men who were near
the scene of the shooting all declare
| that at least $50 shots were fired while
the miners were running away.
A reporter who saw the bodies in
the morgue says that of the 81 dead
only two had been shot in front, and
in the head of one of these were six
bullets. In the hospital, where 40 men
are suffering torture, he found only
three who had wounds that were re-
ceived while facing the deputies. They
had stood in the front rank of the
miners when Sheriff Martin read the
riot act, which, because they did not
understand English, they supposed was
warrant, and against which they pro-
tested.
Every one of the victims, dead or in
jured, was searched for weapons after
the shooting. One-nobody knows
who he was-had revolver; another
had tiny knife. This was all.
The survivors declare that on the
march from HARDWOOD some of the men
picked up stones and sticks, but that
the leaders easily induced them to drop
these weapons.
A big mass meeting was held here,
fully 5000 persons being present. 1t
was called to arrange for raising funds
for the prosecution of the sheriff and
hi deputies, and committee was APP
pointed for that purpose amid en-
thusiastic cheering.
Excitement and desperate desire for
revenge finds expression all over Halle
ton, Freeland, Audenreid and HARDWOOD,
but martial law prevails and riot would
be folly.
Under orders from Gov. Hastings five
regiments of the Pennsylvania nation
al guard are here and at Lattimer and
MacAdoo. Battery B, of Phoenixville,
is here also, and in it's equipment are
two Calling guns. In all there are
nearly 1000 men.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 13.-On ac-
count of the slaughter at Lattimer
in the coal region the governor issued
a proclamation in which he said:
81, Daniel Hastings, governor of the COM
monwealth, do hereby admonish all good
citizens and all persons within the eye and
under the jurisdiction of the common
wealth against aiding or abetting any such
unlawful proceedings, and do hereby no.
tify them that the lives and property Of
all citizens Of the commonwealth will be
protected; that the law will be enforced !;
that the humblest citizen will be protected
in his right to earn livelihood and in the
enjoyment of his home and family; and
that the safety of life and property will
be guaranteed to all occasions, at what
ever cost; and 1 do hereby command all
| persons engaged in riotous dem onstra lions
| and unlawful conduct threatening the
peace and dignity of the commonwealth
! of Pennsylvania to dispense forthwith to
| their respective places of abode, warning
| them that persistence in violence or un-
| lawful assemblage will compel such use
| of the military arm of the commonwealth
! as may be necessary to enforce obedience
| to the laws and the maintenance of good
| order"
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Sept. 13.-Sheriff
Martin insists that he was justified in
his action at the shooting at Lattimer.
He said:
| This is an unfortunate affair, but { think
! ninety-nine men our of one hundred would
! have done just as did. But now that the
| crisis has been reached do not propose to
shirk my duty. Some say my action was
| premature-that l should have jollied' with
| the knocking mob. l tell you that i had
| been parleying with them for four days
and it did no good. They were gradually
| getting the best Of the situation, and
think in "A hours more things would have
been worse"
The coal operators in this vicinity
are inclined to stand by the sheriff
They say they have confidence in him
and think he only did his duty.