The Red Cloud chief., 1897-09-17
SHERIFF MARTINS STORY
says he ordered the Deputies to Fire
IN the Hungarians- BADLY Scared.

Martin arrived here on the 7 o'clock
train from Hazelton. He was pol and
collected. He was met nj the depot
by his legal adviser. The two got In
TO a cab and drove to the court house,
where they were closeted together for
some time. The sheriff vas at first re-
luctant 10 saw whether he had piver
the command TO fire, but afteward ad-
mitted that he had. The sherifs de.
tailed statement is as follows:
II heard early this morning that
the strik ers we're going to march to
the breakers at Latimer and compel
the men there to quit work. re-
solved TO intercept them, and, II pos.
sible. prevent them from reaching the
breaker. One OF my deputies told me
that the strikers would probably be
heavily armed. ! got my deputies,
seventy in number, to meet at a GER
tain place. They were all armed. |
told them to keep cool under all cir
cu,nstances. The trouble began at 3
oclock. l met the marching column.
halted them and read the proclama-
ton. They refused to pay any atten.
ton and started to resume their
march.
''Then | called on the leader to
stop. lie ignored my order. | then
attempted to arrest him. The strikers
viciously, kicking me, knocking me
down and trampling upon me. l
called upon my deputies to aid me,
aud they did so, but they were unable
to accomplish much. / realized that
something had to be done at once, or
| would be killed. ] called to the dep
uties to discharge their firearms into
the air, over the heads of the strikers,
rs 1t might probably frigbten them.
II was done ut once, but IL had no eff
feet whate yer on the Infatuated for
eigners. who used me so much the
rouRhcr and became fiercer and fiercer,
more like wild beasts than human
beings.
THE strikers then made a still
holder move and endeavorcd to sur.
round my entire force of deputies. /
fully realized that the foreigners were
a desperate lot and valued life at a
very small figure. l saw that parley-
ing with such a gang of Infatuated
men was entirely ont of the question,
as they were too excited to listen to
reason and That myself and deputies
would be killed II we were not res
cued. or IL we did not defend ourselves.
| then called upon the deputies to de-
fend themselves and shoot, il they
must. to protect their lives or to pro-
tect the property that they had been
sent to guard.
"The next second there were a few
scattered shots fred into the foreign
crs, and a moment later the entire
force Of deputies discharged a solid
volley into the crowd. hated to give
the command to shoot, and was awful
sorry that l was compelled to do so:
but l was there to do my duty, and |
did 1t as best l knew how. and as my
conscience dictated. The strikers
were violating the laws of the COM
monwealth and fatty refused to obey
the proclamation that l read to them.
They insisted on doing violence and
disobeying the laws.
THE scene after the shooting was
simply terrible. and l would have
willingly not had IT occur, but, rs a
public official, l was there to sec that
the law was obeyed and lived up to,
and I merely did my duty"
In another interview Sheriff Martin
said he first met the marching miners
at West Hazelton. He asked them
where they were going and they re.
piled: ave are going to Latimer and
get the men out there"
Then the sheriff and seventy dep
uties, armed with Winchcsters and re.
volvers, boarded n trolly car for Lat
liner and, marching down the pablo
road, headed the column of Poles and
H~ungarians
According to Martins story, when
the strikers reached the line of dep
uties he ordered the m to halt AMI dis,
persc. One Of the Hungariaus said
in broken English: 'Go to hell. you
Martin then attempted to arrest tn,
man who made the remark. and, as h,
claims, was fiercely assaulted by tn,
mans friends.
Thea the firing began.
Mr.. Martin was asked: "When yo,
met the men, were they on compan,
property or on the public road?"
lie replied: mo, they were on tn
public road"
Were they marching toward Lati
mer?'
"Yes."
Had they, up to that time. com
United any overt act or acted other
wise than peaceably"
mo"
why, then, did you order the depr
ties to fire?"
IL did not order the deputies to fire
some one else did that. First came
single shot and then u volley. l CAV
no order"
How many were killed."
There were twelve dead when
: left and about forty wounded"
IN