The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-11
l6 Dead and More Than 40
Wounded Near Hazleton.
RIOTOUS MINERS CHECKED.
Gov. Hastings Calls Out the
Militia at Midnight.


Almost the Entire Lehish valley Stepped
on the oatshirts OF Hssieteu BY the
sheriff aud seventy Deputies me
Riot Act Read and tho Mob Or
dcred to Di-perse = The sheriff Attsckes
and Bcntea-The Order TO Fire IL Given and
Two Voiieys Ring O. The Dead
Ideniaed-Four o:hers KNOWN 20 ne Dead
Many OF the wounded Expected TO Die-
The Rioters Were Mostly Fere,Euers.
H,zLEroS, Pa, Sept. 10.-Riot was rampant
to-day among the striking coal miners at Lnti-
ME-, and as u result sixteen men are known to
be dead and more than forty are wounded more
or less seriously. For some time q strike of
miners. nachinists. and mine laborers has been
In operation in the Lehigh Valley.
beginning with the employees OF the Lehigh
and wlkesbarre Coal Company. It gradually
extended itself until within the last few days Ii
included almost every mine in the extensive
Lehigh Valley. Most of the strikers are foreign.
ers, many OF whom do not sneak the
English language. and the methods they
adopted in conducting the strike were such as
to spread terror among the peacefully disposed
residents OF the valley and to entail the employ.
ment Of hundreds Of armed deputies by the coal
companies
This morning n large number OF the strikers.
composed mostly of HunEarians, met at q place
called HARDWOOD. where they held an impromptu
meeting and were addressed by several OF the
leaders OF the strike. The speeches were evil
IDENTIFY Of a nature to infiame the minds Of the
ignorant foreigners.
As a result they started out to t~errorizc and
coercv the few miners engaged in the strippinGs
that were at work to-day. At Crystal Ridge
and other places other strikers Joined the band.
whose numbers were considerably augmented
BY stragElers picked up on the line Of march.
The first trouble began when tho army of
strikers reached Hazel Mines, where the strip
pings OF Cuyle BroIhers are situated. Here o
stop was made and a few men sent forward to
induce those at work to throw down their tools
In this they were unsuccessful, and then fol-
!crci rc1d ckrcge = the strikers upon tie
workers.
9About a score of deputy sheriffs was on hand.
and Immediately u fierce hand-to hand conflict
ensuod. The strikers used stones, bricks. pieces
OF old iron. and other missiles. The deputies
refrained from firing and used their rifles as
clubs to keep their assaiIants at bay.
One OF the strikers was seriously injured In
the mSle . receiving q broken arm. He was cut
and bruised about the head and face. A ply
sicia, was called to attend To h s injuries. He.
together with another injured companion. was
arrested and brought to the 5 atioa house.
The strikers then marched on. intending to
reach Latt:mer ana Milnesyille before nishtfall.
The DEPUTIES were hurried forward with ali pos-
sihle haste in that direction by way Of the trac-
ton cars ana reached Lattimer in advance of the
strikers.
At about 80 o'clock word was brought to the
waiting deputies that the advance guard OF the
strikers was coming over tho turnpike. Ehree
companies of deputies wenD than d1,gn M
across the roadway. barring furshs- moeress OF
the strikers.
Sheriff Martin was in Command. with Thomas
Hall. s. b. Price. son q, ex.Jud1s samuel r..
Price OF Carbon county. and z A. Hess az AZ
Sistants. They stood in front OF the line when
the strikers appeared.
When the strikers had approached In force
the Sheriff read the Riot act and commanded
them to disperse and return To their resnactfve
homes.
This the strikers refused to do. and. urged on
By their leaders, CHARGED upon the sheriff and
the posse of IDENTITIES. In n momen, tn, order
to fire was given. by whom tr ia not quite clear.
and was PROMPTLY obe we'd NV the dennti.a
The report seemed to shake the hillside.. and
q cry of dismay went nm from the strixers
They scattered. those of them who couId move
and another valley was Aired into the rrtrsatinq
an disorranized hand Killing and voundine
sev.-el.
The means of the dying filed the air. while
the relatives o: the dead men rushed frantically
ABOUT Streaming at the top Of their voices. In
the outer edge Of the strikers crowd were q
number OF women and some children. who i'm
nediately became panic-stricken.
After the irst two volleys the strikers were
completely .isorganized and most OF the crowd
ne. leaving the dead and dying on the hillside.
Along the trolley road and In the woods ada.
cent men were lying here and there.
The firing OF tho deputies had been so sudden
and its results 80 terrible that those who had
assembled with the Sheriff could scarcely real
lie he extent Of what had occurred.
When the excitement that prevailed had
Quoted somewhat, the col!iery ambulance was
suinmoned and the schoolhouse was transformed
into a temporary morgue and hospital.
The residents Of Iatimer were uuicKlv on
the scene and did all In their power to
AID the injured and dying. but confusion
and disorder reiGned supreme. Physicians
and c%lergymen were quietly
from Hazleton and surrounding towns, and all
assistance possible was hurried to LAtimer. Tho