Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-09-16
STRIKERS SHOT DOWN.
A Score OF Men Killed by a Posse
OF Deputy Sheriffs.
Disastrous elimination of Strike Ina
Hazleton (Pa) Observation-Disclosures
Check Advance of Band
of Marchers.

SITUATION reacneu IL teTrlDle CTlSlS Oh
the outskirts of Latimer Friday after
noon, when 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 to 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 baffied.
The SheriT's story.
Wilkesbarre, 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 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 admitted that he had. The
sheriff's detailed statement is as fol-
lows:
"I heard that the strikers were going
to march to the breaker at Latimer and
compel the men there to quit work. / re-
solved 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.
got my deputies, 70 in number to meet at
certain place. They were all armed. l
told them to keep cool under all circum-
stances. The trouble began at three
O'Clock. I met the marching column. I
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. then attempted to 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 to aid me and they did
so, but they were unable to accomplish
much. ! realized that something had to
be done at once or I would be killed. I
called to the deputies to discharge their
firearms into the air over the heads of the
strikers, as it might probably brighten
them. 1t was done at once, but it had no
effect whatever on the Infatuated foreign
ers, who used me so much the rougher
and became fiercer and fiercer, more like
wild beasts than human beings. The strik-
ers then made a still holder move and
endeaVored to surround my entire force
of deputies. 1 fully realized that the for
life at very small figure. / also saw that
parleying with such a gang of Infatuated
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.
Ordered to Shoot.
II then called upon the deputies to defend
themselves and shoot if they must to pro-
tect their lives or to protect the property
that they had been sent to guard. The next
second there were a few scattered shots
fired into the foreigners and moment
later the entire force of deputies dis
charged solid volley into the crowd. /
hated to give the command to shoot and
was awful sorry that l was compelled to
do so, but was there to do my duty and
did it, as best l knew how and as my con-
science dictated, as the strikers were vio-
lating the law of the commonwealth and
natly refused to obey the proclama ton that
read to them. They insisted on doing vio-
lence and disobeying the laws.
Terrible Scene.
THE scene after the shooting was simply
terrible, and I would have willingly not
had 1t occur, but as public official was
there to see that the law was obeyed and
lived up to, and / merely did my duty
some of the foreigners fell over dead and
others badly wounded, some rushing
nther and thither seeking place where
MY "Oulu NC SulSlueu 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 had been fired by my deputies turned
and started to retreat. They rushed off 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 would not
go through another ordeal of the kind for a
fortune"
Gives Another Version
In another interview Mr. Martin was
asked: When you met the men were they
on company property or on the public
He replied mo; they were on the pub
. We're they marching toward Latlmer's? o.
Had they up to that time committed anv
overt act or acted otherwise than peace
Why, then, did you order the deputies
81 did not order the deputies to fire; some
one else did that. First came a single shot
and then volley. 1 gave no order"
How many men were killed.
AZ There ndg were y dead when left and about
Were any of your men hurt?"
"one Of my deputies was shot through
His Action Condemned.
Wilkesbarre, was badly scared. Though
heclaims to have been brutally assaulted
when seen he did not have a mark on his
person to show that he had been rough.
ly handled. All classes of citizens in
this city and county unite in condemn,
ing Sheriff Martins hasty action.
Troops Called Out.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. II. = Gov
Hastings has received word from the
sheriff of Luzerne county that he had
exhausted all his powers in trying tc
suppress the mob near Hazleton and
now asks for military assistance. The
governor summoned Adit. Gen. Stewart
and Gen. Goblin, commander of III,
Third brigade, and they reached her,
late at night. After consultation
Gov. Hastings issued a call for the Tbirt
brigade, Pennsylvania national guard
to proceed to the scene of the riotipy
Fate Unknown.
Constantinople Sept o-Con6rro