The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-11


resolutions were adopted calling on Gov
ernor 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.
SHERIFF TELLS HIS STORY
Making Himself Out Much Abused But
Duty Loving Man.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Sept. 10.-Sheriff
Martin arrived home on the o'clock
train from Hazelton. 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 court house, where
they were ciose5ed together for some
time. The sheriff was al first reluctant
10 say whether he had given the COM
,nand to fire, but afterwards admitted
that he had. The sherin's detailed state
,nent is as follows:
Il heard early this morning that the
strikers were g3ing 10 march TO the
breaker at Latimer and compel the men
there 10 quit work. / resolved 10 inter
cept them. and if possible, prevent them
from reaching the breaker One Of my
deputies told me that the strikers would
probably be heavily armed. l got my
deputies, seventy in number, 10 meet at
q certain place. They were all armed.
] told them TO keep cool under all cir
cumstances. The trouble began at 3
o'clock. 7 met the marching column. l
halted them and read the proclamation.
Ihey refused 10 pay any attention and
started TO resume their march Then 1
called to the lea!er TO stop. He ignored
my order. I then attempted to arrest
him. The strikers closed in on me. They
acted very viciously, kicking me- knock
ing me down and trampling upon me.
! called TO my deputies 10 aid me, and
they did 50. but they were unable 10 &C
complish much l realized that something
had TO be done at once or would be kill
ed called to the deputies TO discharge
1heir firearms into the air over the heads
OF the strikers, as it might probably
frighten them. II was done so at once.
but it had no effect whatever on the in
furiated foreigners, who used me rough
ly, and become fercar and fiercer. more
IKE wild beasts than human beings. The
strikers then made still boider move
and endeavored 10 surround my entire
force of deputies. I fully realized that
Inc foreigners were a desperate lot and
valued life at very small figure. I
realized that parleying with such a gang
cd
question, as they We're TOO excited 10 lis
ten TO reason, and myself and deputies
would be killed If we were not rescued
or If We did not defend ourselves. I then
called upon the deputies to defend them
selves and shoot, if they must, 10 pro-
tect their lives or 10 protect the propertv
mat they had been sent to guard The
next second there were a few scattered
shots fired into the foreigners. and a mo-
ment later the entire force Of deputies
discharged a solid volley into the crowd.
L hated 10 give the command 10 shoot
and was awful sorry that was comneu-
ed TO do so, hut I was there to 6n NV
duty, and l did it as best 1 knew how
and as my conscience dictated. as tho
Strikers were violating the law IF The
commonwealth and fatty refused 10
obey the proclamation that l read n
them.
The scene after the shooting was sim
ply terrible, and l would not willingly
have had il occur, but as a public Off
clal L was there 20 see that the law MAS
ooeyed and lived up to. and 1 merely did
my duty.
The entire crowd OF foreigners. as
soon as the volley had been fired nv NV
deputies, turned and started 10 retreat |
They rushed off in all directions a. fas.
as they could, taking as many of their
Gead and wounded with them as they
We're able to carry in their hurried re
treat The excitement at the time MS
simply terrible, and 1 would no- co
through another ordeal Of the kind for a |
fortune"
In another interview Sheriff Martin
was asked:
When you met the men were they on
company property or on the public road ," |
He replied:
NO, they were on the public road"
Were they marching toward La,i- !
mer?"
Yes"
Had they up 10 that time committed |
any overt act or acted otherwise than
peaceably?"
No"
Why. then. did you order the IDENTITIES |
60 fre?"
Some one else did that. First came q
single shot and then volley. gave no |
order"
How many were killed."
Ihe7e were twelve dead when 7 lsf, |
and about forty wounded"
Were any OF your men hurt9"
one or my deputies was shot tbrourb |
the arm
sherln Martin when ne reached N-frxas
barre was badly scared. Though ba |
claims % have been brutary assaulted \
when seen he did not have mark on his
person 10 show that he had been rough
~ handled AL classes OF citizens in tais
vicinity and county unite in denoun,ina /
Sheriff Marian for his action.
TROOPS ARE ORDERED orr