Rock Island Argus., 1897-08-18
ST0RMED THE TOWN.
Raiding Miners Invade coffeen,
IIIs., Regardless Of the Dep.
uty Sheriffs.
a0v. TANNER AGAIN APPEALED TO

in He Must Keep Order-That Omcer
Withdraws to the Mine Shaft for . Final
stand-"Gen." Bradley Arrested, Taken
Jackson Puts on Another Injunction
Screw in West Virginia.
Springfield, Ills, Aug. Ex-Governor
Tanner last evening received the fol-
lowing telegram from Coffeen, Ills,
dated Aug. II: "One word from the
governor will disperse the 500 or more
miners who are now besieging the VIII
lage Of Coffeen. Will you say that
word now or wait until the little town
Is in ashes and possibly lives lost? The
presence Of the state militia might serve
a good purpose at this time. The min
ers declare their intention Of disregard
Ing the proclamation this evening. What
shall do?" This is signed Henry n.
Randle. Sheriff."
The governor replied as follows: I'm
reply to your message Of today calling
for troops I will say that I am ad-
vised that SO far there has been no per-
sonal harm, no destruction of property,
and no infraction Of the law at Cof-
feen. shall not, on the vague anticipa-
tion of mob violence, send troops to
Coneen. In the meantime it is your
duty to preserve the peace and protect
life and property"
Cofeen People Wroth at Tanner,
st. Louis, Aug. 1s.-A special to The
Republic last night from Coffeen says:
Tonight the strikers are in possession of
the town and Sheriff Randle has mus
tered his handful Of men at the coal
company's shaft, which he says he will
protect at all hazards. The town au.
thorities are utterly powerless, as the
strikers can do as they wish. The people
feel very indignant towards the govern
or for the stand he has taken in regard
to Coffeen. 1t was by his orders through
his representative, Ray, that the force
of deputies was retired.
How the Town of Coffeen Was stormed.
Hillsboro, Aug. 1s.-Six hundred strik-
ing coal miners, eight abreast, invaded
Coffeen at $3.50 o'clock yesterday after
noon. throwing aside the deputy sher-
lifts doing guard duty and going through
the town pell nell. The officials or
dered the guards not to shoot, but they
began making arrests as fast as possi-
bic. General Bradley was the first
man placed under arrest and three
guards came to this city with him as
fast as horses could travel. He is now
in the county Jail. Other prisoners are
on the way here. No shots were fired
and no blood shed. The invasion was
for the purpose of Inducing the men
at work at the mine there to cease and
Join the strike. The sheriff will in
crease his force of deputies and the in
vaders will be compelled to leave the
town or there will be a conflict.
Refused Bail for the General"
The "Generaf' seemed to enjoy the
and when landed in the court
house here good naturedly demanded a
trial. Mayor Traylor, who had been
telephoned for, appeared at o'clock
and he and Judge Miller, Receiver Mills
attorney. were closeted together. A
voluminous complaint was prepared,
charging the general and others with
unlawfully assembling and refusing to
disperse when ordered. Ben Jones. a
sympathizer, had followed Bradley to
Hillsboro and offered to furnish bail.
but Deputy Sheriff Willoughby refused.
Bradley will be tried today, and it is ex-
pacted that large number of his SYM
pathizers will be here to see that he gets
a fair trial. The whole county is aroused
over the affair, and public opinion di-
vided. A telegram from Mount Olive
merchants to Bradley stated that they
would furnish all the bail required
Strike Loses Ground in Illinois.
st. Louis. Aug. 1S.-A special to The
Republic from Carlyle, Ills, says: The
striking coal miners at Clinton county
are losing ground rapidly. Monday night
the owners of the shaft in Breeze, nine
miles west Of here, notified their en-
ployes that they were compelled to hoist
coal for shipment or the cancellation Of
contracts would follow, and unless they
were willing to return to work the mine
would be closed down indefinitely. Yes
terday seventy men, one-half of regular
force, went below. The other miners
will probably so to work this morning.
Both shafts at Trenton were in opera
tion yesterday and a number Of ears Of
coal were loaded and shipped to st.
Louis. In the Consolidated Coal COM
pany mine thirty men worked. Superin-
tendent Ritchie says the number will be
doubled today. The usual force of min
ers dug coal at the other shafts
HEAVY BLOW AT THE STRIKE.