Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-14
FIRSTBLOODSHED
Strike Violence Begins in the
- s Oanville District.
"aUHs,' KNIVES AND CLUBS USED

STRIKERS Mako TIE Attack and the Men At
tackled Resist vigorously-Astempt t.
Wreck . Workmen's Train-One Man
reported Killed - Matters Growing
Threatening Also In Pennsylvania-OPe-
rators to Put in Machines and New Men,
which win Raise Riot.
Danville. His. July 14.-Strife between
the miners commenced in this district
last night. About 400 or 500 Belgian
strikers and other foreigners gathered
at the Pawnee mine. and when a cage
full Of colored miners who had been at
work reached the top of the shaft they
were assaulted with different kinds Of
weapons, some using knives and others
slaves. Reed. one of the colored miners,
secured bar of iron and a revolver and
defended his life. Shots were fired,
wounding several strikers This infu-
Rated the striking miners and they re-
taiiated by an exchange Of shots. at the
same time retreating to the woods.
The strikers piled ties on the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois tracks; also tried to
break switch and SO wreck the train
'.
They demolished the car windows with
stones and bricks Then the miners in
side the coaches opened on them. About
nifty shots were exchanged. 1t is re-
ported that one miner was killed.
The Calm Before the Storm.
Pittsburg. July 1.-THE proverbial
calm before the storm is likely to be
carried out in the miners strike situa-
ton. Throughout yesterday everything
in the district had a peaceful look, all
the mines but two or three were closed
down and both operators and miners
appeared to be resting on their oars, as
1t were. Last night, however it de-
Veloped that number of the operators
have been quietly planning a coup
which is expected to bring dismay to
the miners. 1t is the intention to at
once equip the mines with machines and
do away with a great many diggers
When the mines are ready to start min
ers will be imported and put to work
under heavy guard, and the premises
barricaded after the manner pursued
by the Carnegies during the great
strike Of 1892.
Tragedy OF 1894 May He Repeated.
With the cooperation of the other
operators, J. A. Beidler. Of the Webster
Gas Coal company, located on the Mo-
nongahela river, will take the initiative
The operators claim that this plan be-
comes necessary because the West Vir-
GINA people are gobbling all of their
contracts. 1t goes without saying that
the diggers will resort to every possible
means to prevent the carrying out OF
the proposed scheme. From present ap-
pearances the Sickle Hollow tragedy
OF 1894 when seven striking miners
were killed. is likely to be repeated soon
This mine is in the Washington Run
district and was reported Monday as
closed. The managers deny that it has
closed for an hour. They are deter
mined to continue work. and have made
preparations for trouble.
Getting Ready to March on the Mine.
1t was reported at the miners head
quarters here last night that 1900 min
ers in that district were getting ready
to march on the mine and bring out
the 500 men working there. The at.
tempt is to be made on Friday or Sat.
urday. This mine is shipping daily Ion
cars and is a menace to the success OF
the strike. A movement is also on foot
among the strikers along the Panhandle
to march to the Boone and Allison
mines and compel the miners there tC
quit work. If these threats are carried
out there will probably be a repetition
of the bloody scenes that characterized
the closing days of the strike Of 1894