The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-15
HOW 1T OCCURRED.

HOW 1T OCCURRED.
Strikers March ON the Mines and Re-
fuse to Disperse.
HAZELTON, Pa. Sept. 1O.-The strik
ers lef: HazeltOn at $3.50 o'clocl
this 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 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 a 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 COM
ing across the ridge and Martin went out
to meet them.
The men drew up sullenly and listened
in silence until he had cnce more read the
riot act. This finished, d low muttering
arose among the foreigners and there
was a slight movement forward. Per-
ceiving this the sheriff stepped toward
them and in a determined tone forbade
advance Some one struck the sheriff and
the next moment there Was command to
the deputies to fire. The guns of the depu-
ties instantly belched forth terrible vol
ley. The report seemed to shake the very
mountains and cry of dismay went up
from the people.
The strikers were taken entirely by sur
prise and as the men tOppled and fell over
eacn 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 filed the
cir. The excitement that followed was
simply indescribable. The deputies seemed
to be terror-stricken at the deadly execu-
ton of their guns, and seeing the living
strikers fleeing like wild and others drop
ping 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 shrieks of the
wounded drowned the cries of the sympa-
thizng and half crazed inhabitants. A re-
porter who soon Afterwards reached the
scene. found the road leading to Latimer
filled with groups of frightened Hungar-
fans Some surrounding dying compan-
ions, and others. fearful Of pursuit, clung
to the newcomer, and begged protection.
At Farley's hotel there were two men
lying on the porch. Both had been shot in
the head.
One had three bullets in him. His groans
and appeals for adoctor or death were
heartrending. All along the road the
wounded men who were able to leave the
field of battle scattered themselves and
sought the shade of ,rees for protection,
but there was no need of that then. APP
preaching the place where the shooting
occurred people were met Wringing their
hands and benoaning te catastrophe. They
could not talk intellgently, and it was
with the greatest difhculty that 1nfOrma-
ton could be CLEANED.
Along the bank of the trolley road men
laid in every position, some dead, others
dying. Three bodies, face downward lay
along the incline, and three others were
but short distance away. On the other
side Of the road as many more bodies lay
The SchOOlhOuSe was transformed into q
temporary hospital and some Of the wound
ed were taken there. The cOlliery ambu-
lance was summoned to the place as soon
as possible, and upon its arrival two men,
both shot through the legs, were loaded
into the wagon. All along the hillside
wounded men were found, on the roadside
and in the fields. Many others who had
been carried to a distance could not be
found.
AS soon as the news of the shooting
reached HaZletOn there was CONSERVATION.
Within ten minutes the streets were block
ed with excited people. The Lehigh Trac-
tion company Immediately placed a num-
Der of extra cars on the Latimer line and
doctors and clergymen responded promptly.
The rush Of people to Latimer was so
great that the progress of vehicles along
the road was impaired.
Amid the excitement the deputies turned
their attention to the wounded and car
ried many Of them to places where they
could be more comfortably treated.
Martin Roski an intelligent Hungarian
from Mount Pleasant who was shot in
the arm. was seen by reporter and gave
this version of the affair:
I'VE were going along the road to Lati-
mer and the deputies were lined across
the road barring our progress We tried
to go through them and did not attempt
to hit or modest them. when they fired
upn us. We ran, but they kept on shoot
Ing at us while we ran. 1t is all their
fault"
Citizens meetings were held at various
parts OF the city tonight. Opinion was
divided about the responsibility for the
shooting. At one meeting held In Van
Wickle's casino attended by bankers, coal
operators and prominent business men, res
olutions were adopted, calling on Gov.
Hastings to send the militia here imme-
diately. At other mass meetings, attend
ed by thousands of people, the sentiment
was against bringing the troops here. and
1t is asserted by these that there wa no
necessity for having the deputies here.
1t IS estimated that when the strikers be-
gan marching the Hazelton mines they
numbered about 200. Many Of the men quit
work anG joined in the march on the Lati-
mer mine. The body did not move with
an. precision and traversed the highway
entirely. keeping off private property. All
along the road they seemed jubilant over
their success at the Hazelton mines.