Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-11

CcICu W tAC ICducI " sup. lie lSAOl-
ed my order then attempted to ar
rest him.
"The strikers closed in on me. They
acted very viciously, striking and kick
ing me. knocking me down and tramp
ling upon me. l called upon my dep
uties to aid me and they did so, but
they were unable to accomplish much.
L realized that something had to be
done at once or 1 would be killed.
II called to the deputies to discharge
their firearms in the air over the heads
of the strikers, as it might probably
brighten them
at was done at once, but it had no
effect whatever on the Infatuated for
eigners who used me so much the
rougher and became fiercer and fiercer,
more like wild beasts than human be-
ings.
1.-THE strikers then made still bold
er move and endeavored to surround
my entire force of deputies. 1 fully
realized that the foreigners were a des-
perate lot and valued life at a very
small figure. I also saw that parley-
ing with such gang of Infatuated men
was entirely out of the question, as
they were too excited to listen to rea-
son and that myself and deputies
would be killed if we were not res
cued and did not defend ourselves.
Il then called upon the deputies to
defend themselves and shoot if they
must to protect their lives or to pro-
tect the property. that they had been
sent to guard, from being demolished.
THE next second there were a few
scattered shots fired into the Infatuated
foreigners, and moment later the
entire force of deputies discharged
solid volley into the crowd.
Il hated to give the command to
shoot and was awfully sorry that l was
compelled to do so, but l was there to
do my duty, and l did it as best 1
knew how and as my conscience die
tated, as the strikers were violating
the laws of the commonwealth and
fatty refused to obey the proclamation
that l read to them. They instead in
sisted on doing violence and disobeying
the laws.
THE scene after the shooting was
simply terrible, and 1 would have
gladly not had it occur, but as a pub
lie official, was there to see that the
law was obeyed and lived up to, and 1
merely did my duty.
Some of the foreigners fell over
dead and others were badly wounded:
some were rushing about hither and
thither, seeking a place where they
would be shielded from any more
shots; others were aiding their wound
ed companions to place of safety,
while here and there men could be
seen taking away some one that was
either badly wounded or dead. The
entire crowd of foreigners, as soon as
the volley had been fired by my depu-
ties, turned and started to retreat.
They rushed off in all directions as fast
a sthey could run, taking as many Of
their dead and wounded with them as
they were able to carry during their
hurried retreat. The excitemen at
the time was simply terrible and
would not care to go through another
ordeal Of the same kind for a for
tune"
Sheriff Martin was very nervous and
scared when seen tonight, and was at
once taken to hotel In a later in
terview he said he first met the
marching miners at West Hazleton.
He asked them where they were go
ing. and they replied: Eve are going
to Lattimer to get the men out there"
Then the sheriff and seventy depu-
ties, armed with Winchesters and re-
volvers, boarded a trolley car for Lat
timer and, marching down the public
road, headed off the marching column
of Poles and Hungarians. According
to Martins story, when the strikers
reached the line of deputies he Or
dered them TO halt and dispense. One
of the Hungarians sais in broken Eng
lish: GO to hell, you d -"
Martin then attempted to arrest the
man who made the remark and, as he
claims, was fercely assaulted by the
mans friends Then the firing began.
Martin was asked during an inter-
view: when you met the men were
they on company property or on the
public road?" He replied: "No; they
were on the public road
Were they marching toward Latti-
mer?"
Eyes"
Had they, up to that time. commit
ted any overt act or acted otherwise
than peaceably?"
NO
why. then, did you order the depu-
ties to fire."
Il did not order the deputies to
fire; some one else did that. First
came single shot and then volley.
l gave no order
How many men were killed.
There were twelve dead when I left
and about thirty wounded
Were any OF your men hurt?"
Zone of my deputies was shot
through the arm
Sheriff Martin, when he reached
Wilkesbarre, was badly scared.
Though he claims TO have been brutal
ly assaulted, when seen he did not
have a mark on his person to show
that he had been roughly handled.
All classes of citizens in this city and
county unite in condemning Sheriff
Martins hasty action