Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-09-17
FIRED UPON THE STRIKERS.
Over. 20 Men were Killed and
40 Wounded.

Awful Crisis OF the Coal Mine Troubles
Near HRLlttOn, PA .---the strikers Say
They Were Not Armed---Stnte Troops
Called Ont TO Preserve Peace.
The strike situation reached terrible crisis in
the outskirts of Latimrr, Pa near Hazletou Fri
day afternoon. when band of deputy sheriffs
fired into an Infatuated mob Of miners, killing u,
fatally wound ny several and more or less serious
~ wouuding 40 others. Earlier In the day the
strikers marched to the Hazel mines and sent a
small body of men forward TO induce those at
work to throw aside their tuo.s. In this they
were unsuccessful and then followed a mad
charge by the strikers upon the workers
About a score of deputy sheriffs hand,
and Immediately a fierce hand to hand conflict
ensued The strikers used stones bricks pieces
of old iron. and other missiles. The deputies re-
framed from firing aud used their rifles as clubs
to keep their assailants at bay. One of the strik-
ers was seriously injured in the melee, rec, living
brOkl arm.
The strikers then marched on intending to
reach Latimer and Milnesville before nghtfall.
The deputies were hurried forward with all pos.
sibe haste in that direction by way OF the trac
tun cars and reached Laiimer in advance of the
strikers. After reaching Latifner they left the
car and formed into three companies. They drew
up in line at the edge Of the village, with fence
and a line of houses in their rear Sheriff Martin
was Ia command and stood I'm the front of the
line until the strikers approached. They were
seen coming across the ridge, and Martin went
out to meet them.
The men drew M sullpnlv aud listened in 81.
lence until he had once more read the riot act
This finished, low muttering arose among the
forpigners-Siavs and Huugarian~-and there was
a slight movement forward. The sheriff stepped
toward them and in determined tone forbade
! the advance. Some one struck the sheriff, and
| the next moment there was a command to the
deputies to fire The guns of the deputies in
stantly belched forth terrible volley.
| The report seemed to shake the very noun
| tains, and roar Of dismay went up from the
! oil Nfr.sttH
prise. and as the men toppled aud fell over each
| other. those VIII remained unhurt stanpeded.
| The men Went down before the storm OF bullets
! like tcupns, and the groaus OF the wounded and
| dying filed the air.
| The deputies seemed to be terror stricken at
! the deadly eNecuti1n OF their guns. and, seeing
the living strikers fleeing wildly and others drop
ping to the earth. they went to the aid OF the un
| for'unates whom they had brought down. The
| people Of Latmer rushed to the scene, but the
shrieks of the wounded drowned the cries of the
| sympathzing and half crazed Inhabitants.
| All along the hillside wound' d men were found
| ON the green, on the roadside and in the fields.
| Many others who had been carried TO n distance
| could not be found.
AS soon as the news of the shooting reached
| Ha1leton there was CONSERVATION. Within ten
| minutes the streets were blocked with excited
| people. The Lehigh Traction company imme-
! diately placed a number OF extra cars on the
| Latiuer line. and doctors and clergymen respond.
| Ell promptly. The rush Of people to Latimer
was so great that the vehicles along the road
| were impeded. Amid the excitement the depu-
| carried many Of them to places where they could
be more comfortably treated.
| The situation Friday night was intense, and
| Saturday full of event and incident First
| and foremost the purpose these men had In view
! in Tn ir march was contaminated. The lDJ
| workers at the Iatmer mines, where they were
| bound in an effort L induce them TO join the
| strikers ranks. have laid down their picks and
| sworn to do no more work until all the demands
| of the men a. all the mines in the district have
| been conceded. Next ~ Importance was the issu-
ance Of warrants Friday afternoon for the ar
rest Of Sheriff Martin and the l0l deputies. These
| were issued AT the instance OF the United Hunga
| Ran societies
Saturday night there were fully 25,0 soldiers
| camping in the town Gen Goblin, commander
of the 81 brigade, Arrived early in the morning
! ana establsheJ headquarters in the office of the
division superintendent Of the Lehigh Valley coal
company, from which point he assigned the
| commands TO points on the outskirts ami III the
city.
an sorts of rumors were ahoat, one being to
the effect that 1900 strikers from the South side
mines were marching on Hazleton with the pun
pose of wreakIug vengeance for the shooting. II
was later reported that they had dispersed upon
| learning II the presence Of the troops. The arri
val Of the soldiers was not marked by any dem
oustration further than the gathering Of a large
and orderly crowd.
Citizens' meetings we're held in various part,
of HaIeltou Friday night AZ the meeting at
tended by bankers, coal operators aud business
men resolutions were adopted calling on Gov
Hastings to send out the militia At other meet
ings the sentiment was against calling out the
troops. The strikers claim that they simply tried
ranks of the deputies, but they did not attempt
to hit or modest them that they were suddenly
fired upon, and that the shots were continued
when they fled. Sheriff Martin says that wheI
he finished reading the riot act the strikers started
forward He called on the leader to stop. but n,
ignored the order. He then attempted TO arrest
him Tie strikers closed in on him, striking anC
kicking him, and knocking him down. He called
upon the deputies to aid him. but they no
able to accomplish much Firing over the heads
of the strikers brought no change and the strikers
began to close around the officers. He then called
upon the deputies to defend themselves and shoe
il necessary to protect their lives or to prevent
the demolition Of the property they he'd been SEN
to guard. In another interview Mr. Martin i
quoted as aging he did not give the order TO fire
The strikers claim they were not armed, and say
that most of the men who fell were shot IN the
back.
Since Saturday Hazleton and vicinity hav,
been practically under martial law, with the ThrC
Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard en-
camped on the ground aud in control of the situa
ton under command of Gen. j. p s. Gobin. War
rants were issued Saturday at the instance of th'
! United Hungarian societies for the arrest oil
Sheriff Martin and l02 deputies They were moi
served. however, as Gen. Cob n peremptorily de
cared that no interference with the sheriff or hi;
deputies would be tolerated so long a state Of
war practically existed
Monday was the day set for the funeral of tn,
dead miners. In the morning, by order of Gen
Goblin, the Polish priests, who have leading in
tiuence with the miners, and other citizens. mel
him at brigade headquarters. He told them h,
had no objection to the funeral procession, bu
that under no circumstances must there be any
thing about it in the nature OF military process
sion or demonstration to show large numbers
! They could bury their dead with all the show o.
mourning natural and no religious services Of any
kind would be interfered with, but they woulC
not be permitted 10 carry flags, banners, sid,
arms, or to have music in any form. on his par
he promised not 10 send troops to the churches Of
the cemetery. provided order and quietness wer,
maintained. The saloons were closed, and their
We're no violent demonstrations but the striker
did not keep their part OF the compact that nj
military uniforms should be worn nor weapon
carried in the procession.