Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-09-18
STRIKERS SHOT DOWN.
Terrible Effect of VOlley Fired BY
Deputies.
FwEETY-THREEMEE MET DEATH

70 Nh0 CCOu0e 1
ERzleton. Pa. Sept 1S.-The strike
situation reached a terrible crisis on
the outSlsirts OF Lattirner on Frtday af-
when a band OF deputy sherins
nred into an Infatuated mob OF miners.
The men fell like so many sheep. IL
being killed instantly. while fve others
have since died OF their wounds. In ad-
dition there are IS wounded In the hos
pital. and several OF these may die. The |
dead and injured are all Poles. Slava
and Lithuanians.
The list OF dead thus far Is as fol-
lows: Andrew Nickowslxi. John Cho-
benslxi. Steve Urich. Andrew Yerhman.
John Frankie. John Zernawick, Frank
Kodel. John ZaElack. John Sheka. An
ton Greeluo. John Turnasvich, Andrew
Yurick. Andrew zimenslki. Adam Zim-
osli. John Buski. Stanley Zagdrski. Sc
bastian Bozostosld. John Futa. Adel-
bert GAIA. Andrew Collick. Rafael
Rekewicz, Jacob Tomashsntos and
Clemerius Plotack,
The strikers left Hazleton at $3.50
o'clock Friday afternoon. ennounc-
ing their intention to 20 to Lattimer.
AS soon as this became known . band
OF deputies was loaded on 4 trolley car
and went whirling across the noun
tain TO the scene where the bloody con-
fict followed. After reaching Lattimer
they left the car and formed into three
companies. under Thomas Hall. Z. A
Hess and Samuel B. Price They drew
Hp In line at the edge OF the village.
with fence and line OF houses In
their rear.
Sheriff Martin was In command. and
stood 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 ana listened In silence until
he had once more read the riot act
This finished, \ low muttsrinE arose
among the foreigners and there was q
slight movement forward
Perceiving this the sheriff stepped
toward them and In a determined tons
forbade the advance One man struck
| the sheriff's revolver from his hand, and
the next moment there was n command
| to fire. Then the guns OF the depu-
ties Instantly belched forth . terrible
volley. The report seemed to shake
| the very mountains. and q roar OF dis
may went ND from the people. The
/ strikers were taken entirely by sur
| prise. and as the men toppled and Eel
over each other those who remained
unhurt etampeded. The men went dowr
before the storm OF bullets like ten
pins and the Rroans OF the dying and
Of the wounded filled the air.
The excitement that followed wa,
simply indescribabla. The deputies
seemed to be terror stricken at the
deadly execution OF their guns, and see
ing the living strikers fleeing like wilS
and tbs others dropping to the earth
they went to the aid OF the unfortunatel
whom they had brought down
| The people of Lattimer rushed pei
nell to the scene. but the shrieks OF tn
wounded drowned the cries of tn
sympathizing and half crezed inhabi
tants-
A reporter who soon afterward
reached the scene found the road lead
ing to Lattimer filled with groups o
frightened Hungarians. Some sur
rounded dying companions. and other,
fearful of pursuit, chung to the new
conner and begged his protection.
Along the bank OF the trolley roal
men lay In every position. some dead
others dying. Three bodies, face down
7 ward. lay along the incline, and thre
2 others were but = short distance ava,
< On the other side OF the road as man
more bodies lay.
J, The schoolhouse was TRANSFORMS
= into q temporary hospital. and some c
2 the wounded were taken there. tn
e colliery ambulance was summoned I
the place as soon as possible, and fir
e mediately upon it's arrival two meI
{ both shot through the legs, were load
q ed into the wagon. All along the hill
g side wounded men were found-on III
n green. on the roadside and in the field
d Citizens meetings were held in val
ious parts OF the city last night Opir
= lon was divided about the responsible
ity for the shooting. AT one meetinl
o held In Van Wickle's Casino. attende
II by bankers. coal operators and prom
o nent business men. resolutions wei
adopted calling on Governor Hastinl
It TO send the militia here immediatel.
i At other mass meetings. attended h
thousands OF people. the sentiment Wa
J. against bringing the troops here, an
a 1t Is asserted by these that there wa
no necessity for having the deputi,
Il here When. at a late hour. 1t wa
y announced that the governor hs
/. were many conflicting opinions an
W the wisdom of the move.
J. In the office OF the LehiKh Tractic
ii company is brown cutaway coz
Is which one OF the men. now dead, wo
e on Friday last. There are three bull
n holes in Ii. one through the front, OF
10 through an arm and the third throuf
1, the tails. In an inside pocket was four
it cheap revolver. This had not BET
'e used in the riot, because the chsmbe
contained neither empty nor load,
g shells. and it could not have been mr.,
a before the man was shot, because
/. would have had no time to unload
-e This is the only weapon contained
If the whole mob OF miners, and the CO.
t. ditions Indicate that the first sh
could no. nave come from their side.
:. n,WEIVE NIc-rrAra nnprrn