New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-11
SHERIFF MARTINS STORY.
HE SAYS HE ONLY DID HIS DUTY. BUT
HIS HASTY ACTION rs GENERALLY
DENOIrNCEn

HE SAYS HE ONLY DID HIS DUTY. BUT
HIS HAsTY ACTION is GENERALLY
DENOUNCED
Wilkesbsrre. Penn. Sept 1O-sheriff Martin
arrived here on the o'clock train from Halle
ton. He was cool and collected. He was met
at the station by his legal adviser. The two
got into cab and drove to the courthouse
where they were in conference for some time
At first the Sheriff refused to say anything
but finally consented y talk He was at first
reluctant to say whether he had given the COM
mand to fire, but afterWard admitted that ne
had. The Sheriff's detailed statement is as fol-
lows:
II heard early this morning that the strikers
going to march to the breaker at Latmer
and compel the men there to quit work. re-
solved to intercept them, and. Il possible pre-
vent 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 certain place.
They were all armed. told them 70 keep cool
under all circumstances.
LIVES OF THE POSSE IN DANGER
The trouble began at 3 O'Clock met the
marching column. I halted them and read the
proclamation. They refused to pay any atten-
I called to the leader to sop. Fe ignored my
order 7 then attempted to arrest him. The
strikers closed in on me. They acted very
vciousy striking and kicking me- knocking me
down and trampling on me. called upon my
deputies to aid me, and they did so, but they
were unable to accomplish much. 1 realized
that something had to be done at or
would be killed I called to the deputies to dis
oh haI- iptO he a ir no heads
of the strikers. as it might probably frighten
them. 1t was done at once. but 1t had no effect
whatever on the infuriated FOREIGNERS. who used
me so much the rougher and became fiercer and
fiercer. more like wild beasts than uman beings.
The strikers then made a still bolder move and
endeavorei t. surround my entire force Of
deputies | fully realized that the foreigners
were a desperate lot. and valued life AT very
small figure. | also saw that parleying with
such a gang Of lnfuriated men was entirely out
OF the question. as they We're too excited to
listen to reason and that myself and deputies
would be killed II we were not rescued, or II we
did not defend ourselves. then called on the
deputies to defend themselves and shoot II they
must to protect their lives or to protect the
property that they had been sent 70 guard from
being demolish ii. The next second there were
a few scattered shots fired into the infuria:ed
foreigners and a moment later the entire force
OF deputies discharged a solid voey into the
crowd.
Il hated to give the command to shoot. and
was awful sorry that was compelled to do so.
but there TO do my duty, and did IT as
best knew how and my conscience dictated.
az the strikers were violating the laws OF the
Commonwealth and fatty refured 10 obey the
proclamation that | read to them. They instead
insisted on doing violence and disobeying the
laws. -
MANY VICTIMS CARRIED OFF.
The scene after the shooting simply ter
rbe. and would not willingly have had II oc-
cur. but as a public official was there to see
that the law was oheyed and lived up to. and l
merely did my duty.
Some of the foreigners fell over dead and
others 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 wounded companions to places
OF safety while here and there could be seen
men carrying away some one who was badly in
jured or dead The entire crowd of for
eigners as soon as the volley had been fired by
my deputies. turned and started to retreat.
They rushed off in all directions as fast as they
could run. taking as many Of their dead and
during their hurried retreat The excitement
at the time was simply terrible, and would not
care IN go through another ordeal of the same
kind for fortune"
In another interview Sheriff Martin said he
first met the marching miners at West Hazeton.
He asked them where they were going. and they
replled We are going TO Latimer To get the men
out there"
Then the Sheriff and seventy deputies. armed
with Winchesters and revolvers boarded troll
ley-car for Latmer and. marching down the
public road headed off columns Of Poles and
Hungarians.
According 10 Martins story. when the strikers
reached the line Of deputies he ordered them TO
halt and disperse one Of the Hungarans said
in broken English: GO TO HI you!'
Martin the attempted 10 arrest tho man who
made the remark. and says he was lercely as
sauIted by the mans friends Then the firing
began.
Mr.. Martin was asked during tho interview
when you met the men were they on company
property or on the public road?"
He replied. NO, they were the public
road"
We're they marching toward Latimer?"
Yes"
Had they up to that time committed any
overt act acted otherwise than peaceabIy!
No"
why. then. did you order the deputies to
hrey'
NOW SAYS HE GAVE NO ORDER.
II did not order the deputies 10 fire; some one |
els. did that First came a single SHOT, and |
then volley. gave no order"
How many men were killed.
There were twelve dead when I left and |
n about forty wounded
Were any of your men nurt?'
"One of my deputies was shot through the |
arm.
Sherry Martin when he reached Wihesbarre |
,yas badly scared. Though he says he was |
brrtalIv assaulted. he did not Rave mark on |
,hn that he had been roughly |