Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-09-14
Posse Of Deputy Sheriffs Under
takes to Check Advance Of q
Band Of Marchera
Men Refuse to Obey Orders to
Turn Back, and. It Il Said,
Attack the Sheriff
III. Aides Given Orders to Fire Upon
Them-volley Results in
Killing 20 or 80.
Many Others Injured-Terrlble scenes
Enacted-statement of Sheriff
i. Troops Called Out.

i. Troops Called Out.
Hazleton, Pa. Sept. 1.-THE strike
situation reached terrible crisis on
the outskirts of Latimer Friday after
noon, when band Of deputy sheriffs
fred into an infatuated mob of miners.
The men fell like SO many sheep and the
excitement since has been 80 intense
that no accurate figures of the dead and
wounded Gun be obtained. Reports run
from Is to 20-odd killed and 40 or more
wounded. One man counted 10 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 bnffled. A list of the
victims cannot be obtained ut 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 band OF
deputies was loaded on a 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.
lpanies under Thomas Hall, E. A. Hess
and Samuel b. Price. They drew up in
line at the edge of the village, with a
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. Yhe men
drew up sullenly and listened in silence
until he had once more read the riot act.
This finished, low muttering arose
among the foreigners and there was q
slight movement forward. Perceivine
this the sheriff stepped toward them
and in determined tone forbade ad.
vance.
The Battle Begins. -
Some one struck the sheriff, and the
next moment there was command to
the deputies to fire. The guns of the
deputies instantly belched forth ter
lIible Volley. The report seemed to shake
tine very mountains and 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
Ehose 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 mir
Ihe excitement that followed WINS sim.
ply indescribable.
Deputies HOrrihed 1t Their Work.
The deputies seemed to be terror.
stricken at the deadly execution Of
their guns, and, seeing the living strik.
ers fleeing like wild and Others dron.
ping to the earth, they went to the aid
lol the unfortunates whom they had
Drought down. The people of Latimer
rushed pell nell to the scene, but the
shr1eks of the wounded drowned the
cries OF the sympathizing and half
crazed inhabitants. A reporter who
soon afterwards reached the scena
found the road leading to La timer Allied
with groups of frightened Hunparians
Some surrounded dying companions
and others, fearful of pursuit clune ~
me newcomer and begged his protec.
ton. At Farley's hotel there were two
men lying on the porch. Both had been
shot In the head.
SOrrowful Scenes,
One had three bullets in him M.
groans and appeals for doctor ~
death were heartrending. All along
the road the wounded men who ware
able to leave the field of battle scnt-
fered themselves and sought the shade
of the trees for protection. nut thare
was no need OF that then. Approach
ing the place where the shooting oc-
CURED people were met wringing their
nands and bemoaning the catastrophe.
They could not talk intelligently. and
# was with the greatest difficulty that
information could be Cleaned. Along
fhe bank OF the trolley road men laid in
avery position, some dead, others DIV.
ing.
4 Three bodies, face downward, Law
along the incline, and three others were
but a short distance away. On the
other side of the road as many more
bodies lay. The schoolhouse was
transformed into temporary hospital.
and some of the wounded were taken
there. The colliery ambulance was
summoned to the place as soon as pos
Eible, and upon Its arrival two men.
both shot through the legs, were load
ed into the wagon. All along the hill
side wounded men were found, on the
roadside and in the fields. Many others
who had been carried to distance
could not be found.
CONSERVATION at Haxelton.
AS soon as the news of the shooting
reached Hazleton there was consterna-
ton. Within ten minutes the streets
were blocked with excited people. The
Lehigh Traction company Immediately
placed number of extra cars on the
Latimer line and doctors and clergy
men responded promptly. The rush Of
people to Latimer was so great that the
progress of vehicles along the road was
mpeded. Amid the excitement the
deputies turned their attention to the
wounded and carried many of them
o places where they could be more
comfortably treated.
Citizens meetings were held at vari-
us parts of the city Friday night.
opinion was divided about the respon-
Utility for the shooting. At one meet
lg, held in Van Wickle's casino, at
'nded by bankers, coal operators and
rhminnuf 1,usinecs vdpr rAsnlnflnnh !.