The Indianapolis journal., 1897-09-11
SHERIFF. MARTINS STORY.
Says He Simply Did His Duty After
Reading the Riot Act.

Reading the Riot Act.
WILKESBARRE, Pa, Sept. 10.-Sheriff
Martin arrived home on the o'clock train
from Hazelton. He was cool and collected.
He was met at the depot by his legal adj
WISER The two got into q. cab and drove
to the courthouse, where they were closeted
together for some time. The sheriff was at
first reluctant to say whether he had given
the command to fire, but afterwards ad-
mitted that he had. The sheriff's detailed
statement is as follows:
Il heard early this morning that the strik-
ers were going to march to the breaker at
Lattimer and compel the men there to quit
work l resolved to intercept them and, If
possible prevent them from reaching the
breaker One of my deputies told me that
the strikers would probably be heavily
armed. l got my deputies, seventy in num-
ber to meet at a certain place. They were
all armed 1 told them to keep cool under
all circumstances. The trouble began at 8
o'clock. I met the marching column.
halted them and read the proclamation.
They refused to pay any attention and
started to resume their march. Then
called to the leader to stop. He ignored my
order. 1 then attempted to arrest him. The
strikers closed in on me. They acted very
viciously, kicking me, knocking me down
and trampling upon me. l called upon my
deputies to aid me and they did SO, but they
were unable to accomplish much. l real
lied that something had to be done at once
or l would be killed. / called to the depu-
ties to discharge their firearms into the air
over the heads of the strikers and it might
probably frighten them. 1t was done at
once but 1t had no effect whatever on the
TIE,
the rougher and became fiercer and fiercer
more like wild beasts than human beings.
THE strikers then made a still bolder
move and endeavored to surround my entire
force of deputies. l fully realized that the
foreigners were a desperate lot and valued
life at very small figure. 1 also saw that
parleying with such gang of infuriated
men was entirely out of the question as
they were too excited to listen to reason,
and that myself and deputies would be
killed if we were not rescued or if we did
not defend ourselves. then called upon the
deputies to defend themselves and shoot if
they must to protect their lives or to pro-
tect the property that they had been sent
to guard The next second there We're a few
scattered shots fired into the foreigners and
a moment later the entire force Of deputies
discharged q solid volley into the crowd
hated to give the command to shoot and
was awful sorry that was compelled to do
So but / was there to do my duty, and
l did it as best l knew how and as my con-
science dictated, as the strikers were vio-
lating the laws of the commonwealth and
fatty refused to obey the proclamation
that I read to them. They insisted in do
ing violence and disobeying the laws.
'The scene after the shooting was simply
terrible. and 1 would have willing not had
it occur but, as a public official, I was
there to see that the law was obeyed and
lived up to, and 1 merely did my duty
Some of the foreigners fell over dead and
others badly wounded; some We're rushing
hither and thither seeking a 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
volley was fired, turned and started to re-
treat They rushed off in all directions as
fast as they could. taking as many of their
dead and wounded with them as they We're
able to carry in their hurried retreat. The
excitement at the time was simply terrible.
and / would not go through ordeal of
the kind FOR fortune"
In another interview Sheriff Martin said
he first met the marching miners at West
Hazelton. He asked them where they were
going and they replied: We are going 10
I.attimer to get the men out there" Then
the sheriff and seventy deputies. armed
with Winchsters and revolvers, boarded a
trolley car for Latimer, and. marching
down the public road headed off the
column of Poles and Huns. according to
Martins story. when the strikers reached
the line of deputies he ordered them TO
halt and disperse. One of the Huns said
Continued ON Fifth Page)