Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-09-18


tain meeting was held and resolu-
tions passed forbidding any person to
carry weapons. This fact was verified |
by not finding any weapons on those |
who were killed or wounded. The dead |
were searched at the morgue and no
weapons were found on them.
The shcrIR's story.
Willesbarre, Pa, Sept. 11.-Sheriff |
Martin arrived home on the seven
o'clock train from 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 ne had. The
sheriff's detailed statement is as fol-
lows:
'1 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, 20 in number, to meet at
certain place. They were all armed. told
them to keep cool under all circumstances.
the marching column. l halted them and
read the proclamation. They refused to
pay any attention and started to resume
their march. Then 1 called to the leader
to stop. He ignored my order. 1 then at
tempted to arrest him. The strikers closed
in on me. They acted very viciously, kick
ing me, knockingi me down and tramplng
upon me. / called upon my deputies to aid
me and they did so. but they were unable
to accomplish much. / realized that some
thing had to be done at once or / would
be killed. called to the deputies to dis
charge their firearms into the air over the
heads of the strikers, as it might probably
! frighten them. 1t was done at once, but
1t had no effect whatever on the infuria ed
foreigners, who used me so much the
rougher and became fiercer and fercer
more like wild beasts than human beings
The strikers then made a still bolder move
force of deputies. l fully realized that tho
: foreigners were a desperate lot and valued
, life at very small figure. 1 also saw that
parleying with such a 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.
Ordered to Shoot.
IT 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 few scattered shots
fired into the foreigners and a moment
2 later the entire force of deputies dis
= charged a solid volley into the crowd 1
hated to give the command to shoot and
was awful sorry that 1 was compelled to
5 do so but was there to do nv duty and
r did it as best l knew how and as my con-
science dictated, as the strikers were vio-
lattng the law of the commonwealth and
fatty refused to obey the proclamation that
1 / read to them. They insisted on doing yio-
. lence and disobeying the laws.
A Terrible Scene.
"The scene after the shooting was simply
terrible, and l would have willingly not
!. had it occur, but as public official was
= there to see that the law was obeyed and
6 lived up to, and l merely did my duty
Some of the foreigners fell over dead and
: others badly wounded, some RUSHING
: hither and thither seeking a place where
4 they would be shielded from any more
= shots; others were aiding their wounded
d companions to a place of safety. The en-
+ tire crowd of foreigners as soon as the
p volley had been fired by my deputies turned
and started to retreat. They rushed off in
t all directions as fast as they could takins
: as many of their dead and wounded with
n them as they were able to carry in theil
hurried retreat. The excitement at the
e time was simply terrible, and 1 would mo-
d go through another ordeal of the kind for 6
fortune
Gives Another Version.
. In another interview Mr.. Martin wa.
o asked: when you met the men We're the,
= on company property or on the public
n road?"
He replied: mo: they were on the publ,
n road"
Were they marching toward Latimer' s p
Yes"
Had they up to that time committed an,
s overt act or acted otherwise than peace
r ably?"
- mo"
3 Why, then, did you order the deputie
+ 81 did not order the deputies to fire: SOM
q one else did that. First came single sho
% and then volley. 1 gave no order"
{ How many men were killed?"
l. There were II dead when left and abou
=, 40 wounded"
Were any of your men hurt?'
II "One of nv deputies was shot through tn
4 His Action Condemned.
II Sheriff Martin, when he reaches
o. Wilkesbarre, was badly scared. Though
n he claims to have been brutally as
,. saulted when seen he did not have
mark on his person to show that he ha.
v been roughly handled. All classes G
q citizens in this city and county unit
70 in condemning Sheriff Martins hast
"a action.
:. Troops Called Out.
i Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 11.-Gov. Has
- ings has received word from the sheri1
-, of Luzure county that he had eXhauste
8 all his powers in trying to suppress tn
= mob near Hazleton and now asks fo
4, military assistance. The sheriff fear
: that there will be much loss of life if II
70 attempts to cope with the rioters tc
re day. Col c. B. Dougherty, of Wilkes
10 barre, sent a telegram cor"oboratin
the sheriff's story and suggested tina
the First and Third brigades be sun
o. moned to the shsriff's relief. The go,
q, ernor has summoned Adjt Gen Stew
ts art and Gen. Goblin, commander of tn
,e Third brigade, and they reached her
Iv late at night. After a consultatio
,e Gov. Hastings issued a call for the Thir
" brigade, Pennsylvania national guart
' | 10 ,nrnnnod To tho cnnna Of the ,.intinrr