The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-09-17
MINERS KILLED.
Shot Down In Pubic Way by
Sheriff and Deputies.

teen to twenty Killed and a Large
Number Wounded.
Hazeton, Pa, Sept. linear LatimeT
has occurred the most serious encounter
during the strike between the law as
represented by the sheriff and the strik-
ing miners. There have been brushes
heretofore in the effort of the men to
transcend the legal barriers erected on
the AAsnm avs by Judges in injunction
PROCEEDINGS on petition of the operators,
but aside from slight wounds little harm
befell the contenuing forces. The Crisis
in the marching movement was reached
when the sheriff gave the signal to his
deputies to use their guns. This they did
without hesitation, and as a consequence
the entire district given up to mining Is
in a state of mind that BODIES serious
trouble. How many fell beneath the
deadly discharge, which took place at
close quarters, and how many were in
jured cannot be told with any degree of
accuracy. Rough estimates place the
number as high as Is who will do no more
mining, and 40 who were wounded.
Some of those know for a certainty to
garded principle are: Michael Chesloll,
Frank Cheka, Stephen HorriCk and
George Kulick of Harwood; John
Staniska Of Crystal Ridge.
Some of those known to be dead are:
Mike Chesloll HarWood; Frank Cheka
Harwood; John Staniska, Crystal Ridge;
George Kulick, HARDWOOD; Steve Hor-
rick, HARDWOOD
The strikers left HazIeton at $50
o'clock, announcing their intention to
go to Latimer. AS soon as this became
known, a band of deputies boarded a
trolley car and went across the noun
tain to where the conflict followed
After reaching Latimer they left the
car and formed into three companies
under Thomas Hall, E. 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 command, and he walked
up and down in 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
up sullenly and listened in silence until
he once more read the riot act. This
finished, a low muttering arose among
the foreigners, and there was a slight
movement forward. Perceiving this,
the sheriff stepped toward them, and in
a determined tone forbade the advance.
Someone struck the sheriff, and the next
moment there was a command to the
deputies to fire.
The guns OF the deputies instantly
belched forth terrible volley. The re-
SCANNED 70 chaIa 10 ,pr1,
tains, and roar of dismay went up from
the people. The strikers were taken en-
tirely 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 bull
let's like ten-pins, and the groans of the
dying and of the wounded filed the air.
The excitement that followed was
simply indescribable. The deputies
seemed to be terror stricken at the dead
ly execution of their guns and, seeing
the living strikers fleeing like wild men
and others dropping to the earth, they
went to the aid of the unfortunates
whom they had brought down. The
people of Latimer rushed pell-mell to
the scene, but the screams of the wound
ed drowned the cries of the sympathi-
zing and half crazed inhabitants.
A reporter who afterwards reached
the scene found the road leading to Lat
inner filled with groups of frightened
Some surrounded dying
and others. fearful of pur-
suit, chung to the newcomer and begged
his protection. At Farleys hotel there
were two men lying on the porch. Both
had been shot in the head, and one had
three bullets in him. His groans and
appeals for a doctor were heartrending.
All along the road the wounded men
who were able to leave the scene OF
battle scattered themselves and sought
the shade of the trees for protection, but
there was no need of that then. Ap
the place where the shooting
occurred, people were met wringing their
hands and bemoaning the catastrophe. !
They could not talk intelligently, and it
was with the greatest difficulty that in
could be glean ned.
Along the bank of the trolley road
men lay in every position, some dead, |
others dying. Three bodies, face down |
ward, lay 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 sum
moned to the place as soon as possible. |
and Immediately upon it's arrival two
men, both shot through the legs were
loaded into the wagon. All along the |
hillside wounded men were found, I
the green, on the roadside and in the
fields. Many others who had been car
ried to a distance could not be found.
AS soon as the news of the shooting
reached Hazleton there was conster- |
nation. Within 10 minutes the streets
were blocked with excited people. The
Lehigh Traction company Immediately
placed a number of extra cars on thy. |
Latimer line, and doctors and cIergymen
promptly. The rush Of TIL
people to Latimer was so great that
vehicles along the road were impeded.
Amidst the excitement the deputies
turned their attention to the wounded
and carried many of them to places |
where they could be more comfortably |
treated.
PugiIists to Meet.
New York, Sept. 15.-Arrangements |