Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-11
THE sHERrFF,s ACCOUNT.
Strikers Insisted on Doing Violence.
His Life Threatened.

His Life Threatened.
WILKESBARRE, PA, September TO-
Sheriff Martin arrived home on the 7
o'clock train from Hazleton. He was
cool and collected. He was met at the
depot by his legal adviser. The two
got into cab and drove to the court
house, where they were closeted to-
gether for some time.
At first the Sheriff refused to say any
thing, but finally consented to talk The
Sheriff was reluctant to say whether he
had given the command to fire, but af-
terwards admitted that he had.
II heard early this morning" said he,
that the strikers were going to march
to the breakers at Latimer and compel
the men there to quit work. / resolved
to intercept them, and, If possible, pre-
vent them from reaching the breakers.
One of my deputies told me that the
strikers would probably be heavily
armed. / got my deputies, seventy in
number, to meet me at a certain place.
They were all armed / told them to
keep cool under all circumstances. The
trouble began at o'clock. met the
marching column. 1 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 viciousiy 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 accom-
plish much. / realized that something had
TO be done at once, or l would be killed. l
called to the deputies TO discharge their
firearms into the air over the heads of
the strikers, as it might probably frighten
them. 1t was done at once, but had no
effect whatever on the infuriated foreign
ers, who used me so much the rougher
and became fiercer-more like wild beasts
than human beings.
N'The strikers then made a still bolder
move, and endeavored to surround my
entire force. L fully realized that the
foreigners were desperate lot, and
valued life at a very small figure. i also
saw that parleying with such a gang |
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. / then called upon |
the deputies TO defend themselves, and |
shoot, If they must, TO protect their
lives, or 10 protect the property that they |
had been sent TO guard. The next Sc
cond there were a few scattered shots
fred into the infuriated foreigners, ana !
4 moment later the entire force dis
charged a solid volley into the crowd.
THE COMMAND TO SHOOT.
II hated 10 give the command t.
shoot, but l was there TO do my duty.
and 1 did il as best knew how, and as
NY conscience dictated. The strikers
we're violating the laws of the Common
wealth, and fatty refused TO obey the
PROCLAMATION that / read TO them. They
instead insisted on doing violence and
Iisobeying the law.
The scene after the shooting was
simply terrible, and / would will
ng have died had it not occurred. but
S a public official l was sworn to see
hat the law was obeyed and lived up TO,
nd | did my duty Some of the for
igners fell dead and others badly
Some were rushing about
eeking a place where they would be
hielded from any more shots. others
,ere aiding their wounded companions
} places OF safety, while. here and there
ould be seen men turning away from
)me one who was badly injured or else
cad.
'The entire crowd of foreigners as soon
: the yolley had been fired. started to
treat. They rushed OFF in all directions,
king as many Of their dead ana
ounded with them as they were able
carry"
I'm another interview Sheriff Martin
id he first met the strikers at West I
azleton. He asked them where they
re going. and they replied, I'VE are :
ing 10 Iatimer to get them men out !
ere" Then the Sheriff and his depu- i
- armed with Winchesters and re- a
lvers. took a trolley for l.atmer and q
,rching down the public road headed I
the column Of Poles and Hungarlans. :
according to another story, when the i
.ilers reached the lines of the depu- 3
:. the Sheriff ordered them TO halt a
q disperse. one OF the men rephed b
broken English. "Go TO -, you L
Martin again demanded that
~ disperse, and was fierceiy assault o
Martin was asked during the inter- =
~. "When YOU met the men, were a
~ on company property or on the +
tlio road?" He replied that they
re- on the public road.
We're they marching toward Lati-
~" q
Yes" II
Had they up to that time commit o
any overt act. or acted otherwise x
N peaceablyT Il
No" Il
Why then. did you order the depu- II
, TO fire?' el
I aid not order the deputies TO nre-
ne one else did that. First came "
,Ia shot and then a volley. j gave III
orders" ,, pl
How many men were killed."
There were twelve dead when ieii' &C
about thirty wounded" oi
Were any of your men hurt?"
one of my deputies was shot through
arm" a.
sHERIFF BADLY SCARED. IN IN
,er,fs Martin when he reached an
kesbarre. was badly scared. Though dil
claims to have been brutally ASSAULT at