Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-09-18
SHOTS FOR STRIKERS.
Deputies Fire Volley Into a
Band of Marchers.
From 10 to 20 Men Killed and Twice
MS Many WOunded-TrnEedy Oc-
ours mt Lntimer, PR. - state
Troops Ordered Out.

Hazleton, Pa, Sept. 11.-The strike
situation reached terrible crisis on
the outskirts of Latimer Friday after
noon, when band of deputy sheriffs
fred into an infuriated 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 ID 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 baffled A list of the
victims cannot be obtained at this time.
Rtvt Act Read.
The strikers left Hazleton at $3.50
o'clock Friday afternoon, announcing
their intention to go to Latimer. AS
soon as this became known band of
deputies was loaded on a trolley car and
went whirling across the mountain to
the scene where the bloody conflict fol-
lowed. After reaching Latimer they
left the car and formed into three COM
panies under Thomas Hall, Z. A. Hess
and Samuel b. Price. They drew up in
line at the edge of the village, with
fence and line of houses in their rear.
Sheriff Martin was in entire command
and stood in the front of the line until
the strikers approached. They were
seen coming across the ridge, and Mar
tin went out to meet them. The men
4 III 1;eE -. Ill
until he had once more read the riot act.
This finished, low muttering arose
among the foreigners and there was
slight movement forward. Perceiving
this the sheriff stepped toward them
and in determined tone forbade ad-
vance.
The Battle Begins.
Some one struck the sheriff, and the
next moment there was a command to
| the deputies to fire. The guns of the
| deputies instantly belched forth ter
rible volley. The report seemed to shake
the very mountains and cry of dismav
went up from the people. The strikers
We're taken entirely by surprise, and as
the men toppled and fell over each other
those who remained unhurt stampeded.
| ihCu NSliI lONh IL DGlOlG lllG SUI VI
bullets like ten pins and the groans CT
the dying and wounded filled the air.
The excitement that followed was sim
| ply indescribable.
Deputies Horrifed mt Their Work.
| The deputies seemed to be terror
stricken at the deadly execution Of
their guns, and, seeing the living strik-
i ers fleeing like wild and others drop
ping to the earth, they went to the aid
of the unfortunates whom they had
| brought down. The people of Latimer
rushed pell nell to the scene, but the
shrieks of the wounded drowned the
cries of the sympathizing and half
craZed inhabitants. A reporter who
soon afterwards reached the scene
found the road leading to Latimer filled
with groups of frightened Hungarians
Some surrounded dying companions
and others, fearful of pursuit, clung tc
the newcomer and begged his protec,
ton. AT Farley's hotel there were two
men lying on the porch. Both had been
shot in the head.
SOrrOwfuI Scenes.
One had three bullets in him. His
groans and appeals for doctor OF
death were heartrending. All along
the road the wounded men who were
able to leave the field of battle scat
tered themselves and sought the shade
of the trees for protection, but there
was no need of that then. Approach
ing the place where the shooting oc
Cured people were met wringing theil
hands and bemoaning the catastrophe
They could not talk intelligently, anc
it was with the greatest difficulty tha
information could be CLEANED. Along
the bank of the trolley road men laid il
every position, some dead, others dy
ing.
Three bodies, face downward, la,
along the incline, and three others wer
but short distance away. On tn,
other side of the road as many NOR,
bodies lay. The schoolhouse wa
transformed into temporary hospital
and some of the wounded were take.
there. The colliery ambulance wa
summoned to the place as soon as pos
sible, and upon its arrival two men
both shot through the legs, were load
ed into the wagon. All along the hill
side wounded men were found, on tn
roadside and in the fields. Many other
who had been carried to distanc
could not be found.
CONSERVATION nt HazeltOn.
AS soon as the news of the shooting
reached Hazleton there was consterna
ton. Within ten minutes the street
were blocked with excited people. TIL
Lehigh Traction company immediatel.
placed a number of extra cars on tn
Latimer line and doctors and clergy
men responded promptly. The rush o
people to Latimer was so great that tn
progress of vehicles along the road wa
impeded. Amid the excitement tn
deputies turned their attention to tn
wounded and carried many of ther
to places where they could be NOR
comfortably treated.