The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-09-15
STRIKERS SHOT DOWN.
Deputy Sheriffs Fire Upon a Band
of Marching Miners.
Lntimer, Pa, the Scene Of the Array
Some 10 or 20 Miners Killed
Many Others Are Injured
The Troops Ordered Ont.


The Troops Ordered Out.
Hazleton, Pa, Sept. 1.-THE strike
situation reached n terrible crisis on
the outskirts of Latimer Friday after
noon, when band of deputy sheriffs
fired into an Infatuated mob of miners.
The men fell like so many sheep and the
excitement since has been so intense
that no accurate figures of the dead and
wounded can be obtained. Reports run
from 10 to 20-odd killed and 40 or more
wounded. One man counted 13 corpses.
Four other bodies lie in the mountains
between Latimer and Harleigh. Those
who were not injured carried their dead
and wounded friends into the woods
and estimate is baflled. A list of the
victims cannot be obtained at this time.
Riot Act Read.
The strikers left HaZleton at $3.50
o'clock Friday afternoon, announcing
their intention to go to Latimer. AS
soon as this became known n band of
deputies was loaded on trolley car and
went whirling across the mountain TO
the scene where the bloody conflict fol-
lowed. After reaching Latimer they
left the car and formed into three COM
panies under Thomas Hall, L. a. Hess
and Samuel b. Price. They drew up in
line at the edge of the village, with
fence and line of houses in their rear
Sheriff Martin was in entire command
and stood in the front of the line until
the strikers approached. They were
seen coming across the ridge, and Mar
tin went out TO meet them. The men
drew up sullenly and listened in silence
until he had once more read the riot act
This finished, a low muttering arose
among the foreigners and there was
slight movement forward. Perceiving
this the sheriff stepped toward them
and in a determined tone forbade adj
vance.
The Battle Begins.
Some one struck the sheriff, and the
next moment there was a command to
the deputies to fire. The guns of the
deputies instantly belched forth a ter
rible volley. The report seemed to shake
the very mountains and a cry of dismay
went up from the people. The strikers
were taken entirely by surprise, and as
the men toppled and fell over each other
those who remained unhurt stampeded.
The men went down before the storm of
bullets like ten pins and the groans of
the dying and wounded filled the air.
The excitement that followed was sim
ply indescribable.
strikers without weapons
One of the strikers, IN his dying state.
ment at the hospital, said that there
were no weapons of any kind among
the marchers, for before leaving Har-
wood on the tramp across the noun
tain a meeting was held and resolu-
tions passed forbidding any person to
carry weapons. This fact was verified
by not finding any weapons on those
who were killed or wounded.
The ShcriG's story.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Sept. 11.-Sheriff
Martin arrived home on the seven
o'clock train from Hazleton. He was
met at the depot by his legal adviser.
The two got into a cab and drove to the
courthouse, where they were closeted
together for some time. The sheriff
was ut first reluctant TO say whether he
had given the command to fire, but
afterwards admitted that ne had The
sheriff's detailed statement is as fol-
lows:
II heard that the strikers were going
to march to the breaker at Latimer and
compel the men there TO quit work 1 re-
solved to intercept them and IL possible
prevent them from reaching the breaker.
One OF my deputies told me that the
strikers would probably be heavily armed
] got my deputies. 20 in number. TO meet at
Fafta ,.1a 1.
them to keep cool under all circumstances
The trouble began at three o'clock. / met
the marching column. / halted them and
read the proclamation. They refused TO
pay any attention and started to resume
their march. Then l called 10 the leader
TO stop. He ignored my order / then at
tempted to arrest him. The strikers closed
In on me. They acted very vicously, kick
Ing me, Knocking me down and tr9mpling
upon me. / called upon my deputies to aid
me and they did so, but they were unable
to accomplish much. / realized that some
thing had to be done at once or l would
be killed l called to the deputies to dis
charge their firearms into the air over the
heads of the strikers, as 1t might probably
brighten them. 1t was done at once. but
II had no effect whatever on the Infatuated
foreigners, who used me so much the
rougher and became fiercer and fiercer
more like wild beasts than human beings
The strikers then made a still holder move
and endeavored to surround my entire
force Of deputies l fully realized thet the
foreigners were desperate lot and valued
life at a very small figure. / also saw that
parleying with such a gang of Infatuated
men was entirely out of the question, as
they were too excited to listen TO reason,
and that myself and deputies wou,d be
killed IL we were not rescued or If We did
not defend ourselves.
Ordered to shoot.
81 then called upon the deputies to defend
themselves and shoot If they must tc pro-
tect their lives or TO protect the property
that they had been sent TO guard The next
second there were a few scattered shots
fired into the foreigners and a moment
later the entire force of deputies dis
charged a solid voley into the crowd. I
hated to give the command to shoot and
was awful sorry that 1 was compelled to
do so. but was there TO do my duty and
did IL best / knew how and as my con-
science dictated, as the strikers were Yio-
lating the law of the commonwealth and
fatty refused TO obey the proclamation that
/ read to them. They insisted on doing yio-
lence and disobeying the laws.
Troops Called Out.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 11.-Gov. Hast
ings has received word from the sheriff
of Luzure county that he had exhausted
all his powers in trying to suppress the
Il n