The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-16

the men will resent any interference
with the disposition of their dead.
Ut. h.. t. Lewandoski of New York.
representing the Polish societies of that
city, arrived here today. He is empow-
ereu to assist the strikers in every posi-
bic way and to arrange for the prose
culion of the sheriff and deputies. He
said he had received word that a check
Tor SlOOO from the National Polish
Alliance had been sent on for the aid
OF the miners, and that he has promises
OF additional large subscriptions from
New York and other cities.
Inc funerals today made spectacle
OF tragedy that was almost sublime. AT
the head of the line there was a brass
band playing the dead march with
muffied drums. A heavy mist had crept
over the hills. chill drizzle of rain was
railing, and the scene. backed by the
line OF hills and looming coal breakers.
was weird and gloomy. There were but
Few carriages, but nearly 1000 men
were in line. After the first hearse
came closed carriage with FIVE little
children, none apparently more than
or years old. On either side of the
hearse three of the dead mans former
companions walked with bowed heads.
Inc same detail was observed with the
other hearses and after dozen carriages
ana grocery and beer wagons. loaded
with Hungarian women, came the long
line OF walking men and boys, marching
slowly in double file. The members of
st. Joseph's society were followed by
those of the Societa Italia Americana
Di Mutuo Sociorros Fendata. whose
badges bore the words SIN Memoriam.'
All these men wore the regalia of their
organization, red, white and blue suits
with badges of Grape pinned on their
breasts and with a man in the center
bearing a huge flag draped so completely
| in crepe that its nationality could not
be seen. t-.
The balance of the line was made up
OF grimy mine workers dressed in theil
| best clothes. ...
The funeral expenses are all paid from
the funds of the benevolent societies
named.
Stories of violence on the part of the
strikers long before the outbreak OF
Friday are coming to light. 1t is said
that in their marches from mine tc
mine they used brute force to make in
dividual workers join their ranks. Rev
DR.. David III. Shields said that as early
| as Tuesday of last week this had gone
SO far that people became frightened
| BY Thursday terror was in the air ant
| many persons were buying firearms an(
| hiding ammunition in their houses. DIR
Shields, himself one of the most con
| spicuous advocates of peaceful measure!
in the emergency. said he advised asking
| for state troops in the early part o
the week. He declared that the TRACED!
has been approaching for four years
Both sides were to blame, in his opin
ion, the opera tors in steadily reducin!
wages and refusing to meet miners com
| mittees, thus leaving nothing for thu
men but the marching; and the miners
| in going on strike. as they often had
over trivial causes.
| All was quiet in the camp Throughout
| the day.
One of the deputies. speaking of Fri
! days affair this afternoon, said !
could not be avoided.
For two weeks he said. "the com
munity has suffered from the lawles
acts of men who had no respect for Law
| and order and who. seemingly had n
respect for human life. Scarcely Il da
passed in which some one was not as
saulted, and one died Oh Thursday Il
the result of beating. How far thi
condition would have gone | can no
say had it not been suddenly stoppe
by the action of Sheriff Martin and hi
deputies at I.atimer. 1t resulted Onl
| after we felt that our lives were in dan
| ger. The strikers were far in excess o
us in numbers and came towards us i
an ugly. threatening manner Sheriff
Martin met them and he was assaulted
A shot then came from their ranks, an
one of lis was hit. | did not hea
Sheriff Martin give the order to fire, bu
it was given and we fired. but only be
cause our lives were in danger"