Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-09-16
STRIKERS SHOT down.
Terrible Effect Of a Volley Fired by
Deputy Sheriffs.
TWENTY THREE MEN MET DEATH,

NV hNT Y-THkEE MIN NIL DEATH.
Many Others Taken to the Hospital
wounded-State Troops Ordered to
the Scene. and All Is Now Quiet in
the Disturbed District.
Hazleton, Pa, Sept. 1S.-The strike
situation reached terrible crisis on
the outskirts of Lattimer on Friday af-
ternoon, when band of deputy sheriffs
fired into an infuriated mob of miners
The men fell like so many sheep, Is
being killed instantly, while five others
have since died of their wounds. In ad-
dition there are 3S wounded in the hos
pital, and several of these may die. The
dead and injured are all Poles, Slavs
and Iithuanians. The fact has been
demonstrated that none of the men
were armed.
The list of dead thus far is as fol-
lows: Andrew Nickowski, John Cho-
benski, Steve Urich, Andrew Yerhman,
John Franko, John Zernawick, Frank
Kodel, John Zaslack, John Sheka, An
ton Greel1io, John Turnasvich, Andrew
Yurick, Andrew Zimenski, Adam Zim-
oslxi, John Buski, Stanley Zagdrslxi, Sc
bastian Bozostoski, John Futa, Adel-
bert Czaja. Andrew Collick, Rafael
Rekewicz Jacob Tomashantos and
Clemerius Plotack
The strikers left Hazleton at $3.50
o'clock Friday afternoon, announc-
ing their intention to go to Lattimer.
As soon as this became known band
of deputies was loaded on a trolley car
and went .whirling across the noun
tain to the scene where the bloody con-
fiict followed. After reaching Lattimer
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 a 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 and listened in silence until
he had once more read the riot act
This finished, low muttering arose
among the foreigners and there was a
slight movement forward.
Perceiving this the sheriff stepped
toward them and in determined tone
forbade the advance. One man struck
the sheriff's revolver from his hand and
the next moment there was a command
to fire. Then the guns of the depu-
ties instantly belched forth a terrible
volley. The report seemed to shake
the very mountains, and roar of dis
may went up from the people. The
strikers We're taken entirely by sur
prise, and as the men toppled and fell
over each 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
of the wounded filled the air.
The excitement that followed was
simply indescribable. The deputies
seemed to be terror stricken at the
deadly execution of their guns, and see
ing the living strikers fleeing like wild
and the others dropping to the earth,
they went to the aid of the unfortunates
whom they had brought down.
The people of Lattimer rushed pell
nell to the scene but the shrieks of the
wounded drowned the cries of the
sympathizing and half crazed inhabi-
tants.
A reporter who soon afterwards
reached the scene found the road lead
ing to Lattimer filed with groups of
frightened Hungarians. Some sur
rounded dying companions, and others,
fearful of pursuit, clung to the new
conner and begged his protection
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 short distance away.
On the other side of the road as many
more bodies lay
The schoolhouse was transformed
into a temporary hospital, and some of
the wounded We're taken there. The
colliery ambulance was summoned to
the place as soon as possible, and i'm
mediately 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
green, on the roadside and in the fields.
Citizens meetings were held in var
ious parts of the city last night. Opin-
ion was divided about the responsible
ity for the shooting. At one meeting,
held in Van Wickle's Casino, attended
by bankers, coal operators and promi-
nent business men, resolutions were
adopted calling on Governor Hastings
to send the militia here Immediately
At other mass meetings, attended by
thousands of people, the sentiment was
against bringing the troops here, and
it is asserted by these that there was
no necessity for having the deputies
here. When, at a late hour, it was
announced that the governor had
ordered out the Third brigade, there
were many conflicting opinions as to
the wisdom of the move.
TWELVE VICTIMS BURIED.
The Strikers Disregard an Agreement
Made With General Goblin.
Hazleton, Sept. 14.-Twelve of the VIC
Tins of the bloody encounter between
the strikers and the deputy sheriffs
were buried yesterday, and there was
no violent demonstration. One of the
features of this incident, however, was
the breaking of a promise made to Cen
eral Goblin by representatives of the
strikers. 1t was agreed between them
that If the strikers would not wear mil
itary uniforms or carry arms they
would be allowed to go on with what
ever ceremonies they wished without
being restrained by the presence of the
troops. Keeping his end of the agree
ment, General Goblin did not send troops
to the cemetery or churches where the
services were held The strikers did not
keep theirs. A squad of men dressed in