The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-09-15

Deputies Who Shot Down Miners 40
lie Arrested.

members of the state militia are on
duty i'm Hazleton and Lattimer. and
their presence has prevented an out
break on the part of either the strikers
OF the citizens, who alike vigorously
dcnounce the killing of 2l miners and
the wounding of more than 20 others
by Sheriff Martins posse in Lattimer
ON Friday.
Warrants have been sworn out against
the sheriff and all his deputies who
took part i'm 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.
L. Hess.
Men who witnessed the terrible
slaughter declare that sharpshooting
deputies picked off the poor wretches
as they were scrambling over n rail-
| road embankment and running through
a field 4 dozen men who were near
| tho 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 21 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
iured. was searched forsweapons after
the shooting. One-nobody knows
who he was-had revolver; another
had tiny knife. This was all.
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
! Iii deputies, and a committee was APP
pointed for that purpose amid en-
thusiastie 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 its equipment are
two Calling guns. In all there are
nearly 1000 men.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept 13.-On ac-
count of the slaughter at LattimeT
in the coal region the governor issued
proclamation in which he said:
az 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 aives 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 a livelihood and in the
! enjoyment OF his homo and family: and
! that the safety OF life and property will
! be guaranteed to all occasions, at what
/ ever cost; and l do hereby command all
! persons engaged In riotous demonstrations
! and unlawful conduct threatening the
peace and dignity of the commonwealth tn
| 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
| 10 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 men our of one hundred would
have done just as did. But now that the
crisis has been reached do not propose 10
shirk my duty Some say my action was
premature-that should have 'jolied' with
the hooking mob. / tell you that / had
been parleying with them for four days
and 1t 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.