The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-29
STRIKERS SHOT down.
Coal Miners Killed by Deputies in a
Bloody Affair at lattimer, PENN
THE MILITIA WAS ORDERED OUT.

the Riot Act Was Read to Them-The
Sheriff Thought He Was In Danger
and Ordered His Deputies to Fire-
Deadly volley Followed the Order.
HAzE1ToN, Penn. Especial. twenty-five
strikers were killed, thirty-six seriously
wounded and nearly forty more or less in,
lured near here Friday by deputy sherifs,
under command of Sheriff Martin. The en-
.ire region Is wildly excited over the affair,
and there was every indication that the
deputies would be assaulted by friends OF
The dead and wounded. .
Hazleton Is In turmoil. The streets are
crowded with citizens Of oil classes, and
are all talking Of what they consider
terrible outrage. An Indignation meeting
was held, at which resolutions were passed
denouncing the shooting OF the miners.
protesting against the sending Of troops,
on the ground that they are not needed,
and demanding the prosecution OF the
Sheriff and his deputies. The citizens also
ask that the deputy sheriffs concerned in
the affair be discharged from all authority
and disarmed. They say the local police
force is quite competent to take care OF the
strikers If any disturbance occurs.
Sheriff Martin, in giving his explanation
of the shooting, said: 81 fully realized
that the foreigners were desperate lot and
valued life at very small figure. 1 also
saw that parleying with such gang OF In
tion, as they were too excited to
listen to reason, and that myself and
deputies would be killed II we
were not rescued or If We did not defend
ourselves. Ithen called upon the deputies
to defend themselves and shoot ifthey must
to protect their lives or to protect the prop
erty that they had been sent to guard from
being demolished.
"The next second there were few scat
tered shots fired into the infuriated for
eigners, and a moment later the entire
force of deputies discharged solid volley
into the crowd. hated to give the com.
mand to shoot, and was awful sorry that
I was compelled to do so, but I was
there to do my duty, and did 1t as best
knew how and as my conscience dictated,
as the strikers were violating the laws OF
the Commonwealth and fatty refused to
obey the proclamation that I read to
them." !
The shooting OF the miners occurred
ASSs
the village Of Lattimer, small mining
town about FIVE miles from Hazleton. A
body of strikers, numbering about $50 met
early In the afternoon at the Harleigh and
Cranberry mines, not far from Lattimer,
and, after informal meeting, resolved to
march to Lattimer to induce the men to
Join their ranks. This has been their mode
OF procedure during the three weeks OF
the strike.
The men started about half-past two
O'Clock for Lattimer. They were not
having been discarded several days ago,
by order Of their leaders. There was not
even club among them, every precaution
having been taken to prevent violence.
Two hundred yards from the Lattimer
breaker they found their path blocked by
Sheriff Martin and ninety Of his deputies.
The strikers were marching along In or
derly array, with no shouting and making
no disturbance whatever. The Sherih or
dered them to stop. They obeyed his com,
mand and halted, still in orderly array and
about six abreast. The Sheriff walked up
to the head of the line. .,.
"You must stop marching and disperse,
he said. "This Is contrary to the law, and
you are creating disturbance. You must
90 back. won't let you 90 on to the col
liery." ~
The leaders expostulated with the Sheriff.
Finding that this words had no effect, Sher-
If Martin said that he would read the riot
act to them, and he proceeded to do 80:
Most Of the strikers did not understand
this, for few OF them can speak English,
and, thinking 1t was some sort Of warrant
for their arrest, they crowded around him.
The Sheriff, however, seemed to think he
was In danger, and he pushed his way out
Of the ring around him and tried to get
back to his line Of deputies. The strikers
made way for him, and just as he emerged
from their ranks voice was heard shout
ing "Firel Fire on them"
The next instant the deputies had lev
elled their rifles, and terrible volley was
poured into the huddled mass Of strikers at
close range. -
The effect was fearful. Dozens Of men
fell, and others shrieked and cried Tor
| mercy as they ran away, with many OF the
wounded hanging to their more fortunate
comrades, moaning and crying for help.
In that instant another volley was poured
into them, and they fell before 1t in heaps.
The smoke OF the rifles discharged 80
close to them hung over them In cloud,
and for some moments concealed the terri
BILE execution that had been done. On the
outskirts OF the cloud dozens OF the men
were seen running, and at these the depu-
ties fired another volley. More men fell,
and as the lucky survivors continued run
| ming q few Of the deputies fired chance
| shots after them. One OF these strucka
striker in the neck, killing him instantly:
The place was q veHitable shambles. The
quiet street was red with blood, and blood
was on the fences and tracked into many
of the houses into which the wounded had
run or crawled. The road was deep In dust,
and the dead and wounded were covered
with it, their faces. distorted with pain,
were black with it, and the hands that
| sought their wounds and tried to stop the
flow Of blood were muddy with the horrible
| mixture.
The residents OF Latimerwere quickly on
the scene and did all In their power to aid
| the injured and dying, but confusion and
| disorder rsigned supreme. Physicians and
clergymen were quietly summoned from
surrounding towns, and all assistance pos.
sible was hurried to Lattimer. The injured
were hurried to the Hazelton hospital, sew
eral dying on the way. Three died after
they were in the hospital.
Over a dozen strikers were killed out
| right, and fully forty were wounded, OF
whom many will die. They are Hungarians,
many OF them having large families. There
are now thirty-eight wounded persons at
| the Hazelton hospital, half Of whom are
| likely to die. The identified dead are twelve
| In number.
Just after midnight the Third Brigade,
General Goblin In command, was ordered to
Hazelton, and the First Brigade was or.
| dered to hold itself In readiness.