The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-01
STRIKERS ATTACK WORKERS
1t is Stones and Cayenne Pepper Versus Tin
Dinner Pals

st. Louis, No, Sept. 30.-At an early
hour today, when the miners employed
in the Madison Coal company's shafts
at Edwardsville, ILL.,, were going TO work
they were attacked by a mob of strikers
who were egged on by thirty or more
women sympathiZers. The strikers
threw stones and cayenne pepper and
beat their opponents with clubs, but no
shots We're fired and nobody was killed.
One miner, 'Scotty' McAlister, had his
skull crushed and numerous others were
cut and bruised. A clerk Of the Madison
Coal company was blinded by pepper
The miners, who fought as best they
could with their tin dinner buckets, were
finally allowed TO go 10 work. After
the attack the strikers and the women
formed in line and marched through the
streets OF Edwardsville shouting and
singing. No arrests were made.
The strikers, more than 300 with the
women, far outnumbering the workers.
who were guarded by a force of deputy
sheriffs on their way to the mine. T.
w. McCune. deputy sheriff in the es-
cOrting posse, was disarmed and
dragged TO one side where a crowd of
irate strikers beat him with their CLUBS
until he was almost unconscious.
Many more of the workers and dep
uJy sheriffs were injured and several Of
the strikers, including the women &C
companying them, received wounds.
Though heavily armed, the sheriff's
officers took their drubbing withou max
iy,rr
were outnumbered ten to one, but they
fought with their fists. Had a shot been
fired. the consequences would have been
fearful. as the strikers were frenzied.
The riot resulted from a partially sue
cesful effort to work the Madison mines.
Last Friday Superintendent W. H.
Glass promised protection 10 those who
would go back % work Every morning
for nearly a week the miners have
marched 70 the mines under guard OF
Deputy Sheriff Dillon and a posse of
ten men. Last night the Edwardsville
strikers were reinforced by men from
Troy, Coninsville, Mount Olive and
Staunton. The delegates from Glen Car
bon brought thirty women with them.
and these were the leaders in the riot.
II was rumored that more strikers would
reach here during the night 10 help in
timidate the non-union men.
superintendent Glass OF the mines
said today tina; the force OF deputies
would be increased tomorrow TO a num-
Der sufficient TO protect the miners, and
that the workers would be escorted 20
the mines in safety
RELIEF GIVEN OUT
Spring Valley. Ill. Sept. 30-Relief was
given out 10 400 families a. the commie-
ers are more determined t1an ever They
are Al present regarded as the mainstay
of The great national strike. II they go
10 work al wages lower than the scale.
the miners OF Pennsylvania. il is claimed
Will have 70 accep; a relative reduction.
There are probably Ten operators in
northern Illinois that have broken away
from the Operators association and are
paying the scale. Ten per cen: % the
wages vii be KEEP: OF by the employers
and given 10 the support OF the strikers. |
II reports are true there vii he several
more breaks from he Operators associa-
ton in a day CT Two.
Chicago, Sept Sc-A-rangenents were
today completed for a conference be- !
tween Mayor Harrison and officials OF
the Chicago Ci;y Railway company iris |
evening. 10 discuss the threatened strike |
~ street car employees. The arrange /
nent was the result OF a telephone con- I
versa don between The mayor ana Pres |;
ident Wheeler. The latter appeared snx-
ious 20 confer with The mayor. notwith- /
standing tae reports tha; the railway Of I
hcials would refuse . take part in the 1
meeting.
Il was eviden, tha; tAere was not the /
unanimity among he employees mat had /
been claimed A secret meeting was held .
las; night, attended by 500 % the S75 1
men employed on The State street line.
a. which il was voted 20 neither strike 4
nor affiliate Win The proposed union. /
othe- meetings would be he'd tonigh. il
Vas said, with the same purpose in view
Chief % Police Ripley issued a general
order today commanding every member
o. the police department 70 De held In I
readiness until fur,he. orders for a call I
10 immediate duty in the even; o. a
Stree. car strike being declared. /