The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-09-18
STRIKERS SHOT DOWN.
4 Socre OF Mon Killed. by a Posse
o. Deputy Sherifs-
Disastrous Cuiminntion OF strike On,
HnzIeton Pa.) DIBtrict-Duilets
Check Advance of Dnnd
OF Aiarchers.


situation reached terrible crisis on
the outskirts OF Latimer Friday after
noon, when a band OF deputy sheriffs
fired into an Infatuated mob of miners.
The men fell like so many sheep and the
excitement since has been so intense
that no accurate figures of the dead and
wounded can be obtained. Reports run
from Is 20 20-odd killed and 40 or more
wounded One man counted 10 corpses.
-Four other bodies lie In the mountains
between Latimer and Harleigh. Those
who were not injured carried their dead
and wounded friends into the woods
and estimate is bafiled.
The sherin's story.
Wilkesbnrre. Pa, Sept. II. - Sheriff
Martin arrived home from the seven
o'clock train at Hazleton. He was
met at the depot by his legal adviser.
The two got into n cab and drove to the
courthouse, where they were closeted
together for some time. The sheriff
was at first reluctant to say whether he
Ind given the command 10 fire, but
afterwards admitted that he had. The
eheriff's detailed statement Is as fol-
lows:
60 march 70 the breaker az Latimer and
compel the men there 20 quit work. re-
solved 10 intercept them and II possible
prevent them from reaching tho breaker.
Ono OF my deputies told me that the
strikers would probably be heavily armed
got my deputies, 20 In number 10 meet at
a certain place. They were all armed. ]
told them 10 keep cool under all circum-
stances. The trouble began az three
o'clock. i met the marching column.
halted them and read the proclamation
They refused 20 pay any attention and
started 10 resume their march. Then ]
called TO the leader 10 stop. lie ignored
my order ] then attempted 10 arrest him.
The strikers closed IN on me. They acted
very viciously, kicking me. knocking me
down and trampling upon me. called
upon my deputies 70 aid me and they did
so, but they were unable 10 accomplish
much. I realized that something had 20
be done az once or / would be killed. !
called TO the deputies 10 discharge their
firearms into the air over the heads OF the
strikers, as II might probably brighten
them. 10 done AZ once, but Il had no
effect whatever on the Infatuated foreign
ers, who used me so much the roughcr
and became fercer and nercer. more like
wild beasts than human beings. The strlk-
crs then made n stillf bolder move and
endeavored 10 surround my entire force
or deputies l fully realized that the for
eigners were a desperate lot and valued
life az very small figure. / also saw that
parleying with such gang OF Infatuated
men was entirely out OF the question, as
they were too excited 10 listen TO reason,
and that myself and deputies would be
killed II we were not rescued or II we did
not defend ourselves.
Ordered 90 shoot.
II then called upon the deputies 10 defend
themselves and shoot N they must to pro-
tect their lives or TO protect the property
that they had been sent 10 guard. The next
second there were few scattered shots
fired Into the foreigners and a moment
later the entire force OF deputies dis
charged a solid volley into the crowd. /
hated 20 give the command TO shoot and
was awful sorry that ] was compelled 20
do so, but was there 60 do my duty, and
did a.. as best ] knew how and as my con-
science dictated. as the strikers were vlo-
latlng the law OF the commonwealth and
natly refused 10 obey the proclamation that
read 10 them. They insisted on doing vin-
lence and disobeying the laws,
Terrible scene.
The scene after the shooting was simply
terrihle. and i would have willingly not
had e occur. but as a public official / was
there 10 see that the law was obeycd and
lived up 70, and ] merely did my duty.
some or the foreigners fell over dead and
others badly wounded, some rushing
hither and thithor seeking place where
they would be shielded from any more
shots; others were aiding their wounded
companions TO place Of safety. The en-
tire crowd OF foreigners as soon as the
ana started TO retreat They rushed on IN
all directions as fast as they could taking
as many OF their dead and wounded with
them as they were able to carry In their
hurried retreat The excitement at the
time was simply terrible. and 1 would not
go through another ordeal OF the kind for a
fortune"
Gives Another version.
In another interview AIR Martin was
asked when you met the men were they
on company property or on the public
10 REPLIED mo; they were on the pub
Were they marching toward Latlmer's7"
Had they up to that time committed any
overt act or acted otherwise than peace
"No."
- Why, then. did you order tho deputies
Il did not order the deputies 10 IRE: some
one else did that First came single shot
and then a yolley gave no order
=, There were y dead when left and abou,
Were any OF your men hurtq"
one q my deputies was shot through
miIItiamen ON Duty.
Hazlcton, Pa, Sept. 13-Ncarly 1000
members OF the state militia are on
duty in Hazleton and Lattimer, and
their presence has prevented an ont
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 30 others
by Sheriff Martins posse at Lattimer
on Friday.
Warrants sworn out.
Warrants have been sworn out
against the sheriff and all his deputies
who took part in the firing upon the
strikers, the charge against them be-
ing murder. A citizens committee has
been appointed 70 raise money for their
prosecution. The bitter feeling against
the officers has been intensified by the
knowledge that all except five Of the
dead and wounded men wsrc shot IN
the back while running away from the