Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-11
SHERIFF MARTINS STORY.


aures Had Failed.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Sept. 1o.-sheriff Martin
arrived here on the o'clock train from Ha-
xleton. He was cool and collected. He was
met at the depot by his legal adviser. The
two got into a cab and drove to the cpurt
house where they were closeted together
for some time. The sheriff was at first re.
luctant to say whether he had given ,taS
command to fire, but afterward ADMIT ed
that he had. The sheriff's detailed STATE
ment is as follows: a 'fH
81 heard early this morning that the
strikers were going to march to the break
er at Latiner and compel the men there to
quit work. 1 resolved to intercept them
and, If possible, prevent them from reach
ing the breaker. One of my deputies told
me that the strikers would probably. be
heavily armed. got my deputies. seventy
in number. DO meet at "a certain place
They were all armed. I told them to keep
cool under all circumstances. The trouble
column. halted them and read the procla-
nation. They refused to pay any atten-
ton and started to resume their march.
Then called to the leader to stop. He
ignored my order. then attempted to ar
rest him. The strikers closed In on me.
They acted very viciously, kicking me,
knocking me down and trampllng upon
me. called upon my deputies to aid me,
and they did SO, but they were unable to
accomplish much. l realized that some
thing had to be done at once, or would be
Irttl Had IvA1
charge their firearms into the air. over
the heads of the strikers as 1t might prob
ably frighten them. 1t was done at once,
but 1t had no effect whatever on the in
fuiiated foreigners, who used me SO much
the rougher and became fiercer and fiercer
more like wild beasts than human beings.
THE strikers then made a still bolder
move and endeayored to surround my en-
tire force of deputies. fully realized that
the foreigners were a desperate lot and
valued life at a very small figure 1 saw
that parleying with such a gang of in
furiated men was entirely out of the ques-
ton, 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. 1 then called
upon the deputies to defend themselves and
shoot, IL they must. to protect their lives or
to protect the property that they had been
sent to guard.
''The next second there were few scat
tered shots fired into the foreigners, and a
moment later the entire force of deputies
discharged solid volley into the crowd. I
hated to give the command to shoot, and
was awful sorry that I was compelled to
do 70; but was there to do my duty, and
] did 1t as best i knew how, and as my
conscience dictated. The strikers were vio-
lating the laws of the commonwealth and
fatty refused to obey the proclamation that
i read to them. They insisted on doing yio-
lence and disobeying the laws.
THE scene after the shooting was sim
ply terrible, and would have willingly
not have had it occur, but, as a public Of
fetal. was there to see that the law was
obeyed end lived up to, and I merely did
my duty.
Some of the foreigners fell over dead
and others badly wounded: some were
rushing hither and thither seeking a place
where they would be shielded from any
more shots: others were aiding their
wounded companions to a place of safety.
The entire crowd of foreigners, as soon as
the yolley had been fired by the deputies,
turned and started to retreat. They rush.
ed off in all directions as fast they could,
taking as many of their dead and wound
c with them as they were able to carry in
their hurried retreat. The excitement at
the time was simply terrible and 1 would
not go through another ordeal of the kind
for fortune
In another interview Sheriff Martin said
he first met the marching miners at West
Hazleton. He asked them where they were
going and they replied: 1--WE are going
TO Latimer and get the men out there"
Then the sheriff and seventy deputies,
armed with Winchesters and revolvers,
boarded trolley car for Latimer and,
marching down the public road. headed the
column OF Poles and Hungarians.
According to Martins story when the
strikers reached the line of deputies he
ordered them TO halt and disperse One
of the Hungarians said in broken English:
GO TO hell. you - -
Martin then attempted to arrest the man
who made the remark, and, as he claims,
was fiercely assaulted by the mans friends.
Then the firing began.
Mr.. Martin was asked: when Won met
the men. were they on company property
or on the public road?'
He replied: mo, they were on the pub
lie road"
Were they marching toward Latimer?'
Yes"
Had they, up to that time, committed
any overt act or acted otherwise than
peaceablye"
why, then, did you order the deputies to
fire."
Il did not order the deputies to fire:
someone else did that. First came single
shot and then a volley. gave no order"
How many were killed."
There were twelve dead when left, and
about forty wounded"
Were any of your men hurt?'
'one of my deputies was shot through
the arm.
Sheriff Martin. when he reached Wilkes
barre, was badly scared. Though he claim.
to have been brutally assaulted, when seer
he did not have a mark on his person ts
SHOW that he had been roughly handled
All classes Of citizens in this city ant
county unite in condemning Sheriff Mar
tins hasty action.
MILITIA ORDERED OUT.
Third Brigade Sent to Haxleton and