The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-13
GOVERNOR TANNER TALKS.
His Account of the Fight, and His Eff
forts to Prevent Further Trouble.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Oct. I'm an in
terview with Governor Tanner this after
noon regarding the Virden riot he said
Mr.. r. c. Louck, president and Mr..
I.ukens superintendent of the Virden Coal
Company. at 1890 to-day made good their
threats to land a trainload of imported la
borers from the South and attempted to put
them to work in their mines at the point of
the bayonet and the muzzle of the Win
chester, such laborers being drawn largely,
if not entirely from the criminal class, ex-
convicts, who learned their trade while do
ing time in the penitentiares of Alabama.
after having been fully advised and having
full knowledge that the landing of such i'm
ported laborers would precipitate a riot.
had wired them that if they brought these
imported laborers they would do so at their
own peril, and under the circumstances
would be morally responsible and criminally
liable for anything that might happen. As
to what happened after the stopping of the
train in front of the coal shed my informa-
ton is based on Geographic and telephone
communication and from those coming from
the scene of the conflict. From the infor-
nation l can gather at this time, the very
minute the train stopped in front of the
coal shaft, where the doors of the stockade
ers to enter, the firing began. AS to who
fired the first shot l am at this time unable
to determine, but all reports agree that a
general battle was precpitated within just
a few moments and the firing became gen.
eral from the guards the train. called
deputies, estimated at fifty or sixty, and
was responded to by the idle miners lying
back on the other side of the track. The
battle lasted several minutes, after Whlcn
time the train pulled out.
The reports vary as to the number killed
and wounded. The sheriff telegraphed that
one hundred were killed and the battle was
still on. However, from conservative eSti-
mates and from all the informa ton / can
gather l would estimate the number of
killed somewhere from nine TO fifteen and
possibly quite as many wounded. The killed
and wounded are largely idle miners who
We're on the outside The others were the
hired guards who were brought along by
the coal company. Most, If not all of them,
were nonresidents of Illinois. There is no
means of learning their names or where
abouts for the reason that they declined
to give them out knoEing, perhaps, that
they are criminaIly liable for murder, as
they had no permission from any officer
in Illinois authorizing or deputizing them
to act as deputy marshals- or deputy
sheriffs
Instantly on learning of the trouble
directed Adjutant General Reece to order
Captain Craig, of the Gulesburg Battery
and one company of the Sons of Veterans
regiment, now stationed at Pana, to pro-
scene of the trouble. / learned later that
Captain Craig met with serious difficulties
in securing a train with coaches to bring
his command and | directed the adjutant
general to advise him to load his troops
upon freight cars and come at once to
Springfield by the Baltimore & Ohio and Sc
cure a train on the Alton to carry the com
mand to Virden. These arrangements were
made and Captain Craig arrived here at
$50 and at Virden by 1880. General Reece
accompanied Captain Craig and have in
structed General Reece to select a camping
ground most suitable for the OCCASION, to
Quell the riot and maintain order protect
life and property, to disarm all persons
bearing arms, making an inventory of such
arms and taking the name of the Individual
owner, his poStoffice address, such arm to
be held until further orders and to not allow
imported laborers to unload from any train
within the limits of the city nor to march
in body"
These avaricious mine owners have so
forgotten their duty to society to bling
about this blot upon the fair name of our
STATE; nave gone far enough. yes. too tar,
as they had fair warning from me- by wire
and telephone, that the Importation of labor
which brings TO our State an undesirable
class OF citizens. had to stop. And / say to
such, and all others, that this is a thing
of the past. that it shall not be tolerated
in Illinois while / am Governor. These men
the president and officers of this company
who participated in this riot by bringing
in imported labor are guilty of murder and
should be, and / believe will be- indicted
by the granu jury of Macoupin county. and
tried and convicted for this heinous Of
Tense"
Governor Tanner said TO a reporter at 10
o'clock tonight that he had no word of
further trouble at Virden and that he was
confident there would be no more rioting.
Il have asked the secretary of war TO place
at my command the Fifth Regiment Illinois
Volunteers, now at Springfield" he said.
land have ordered four companies Of the
Sons of Veterans Regiment to leave for Vir-
den early in the morning. | intend TO have
enough troops on the scene to disarm the
men who have caused this bloodshed and,
furthermore, l intend 10 take such action
as will prevent any further attempt TO Inn
Port labor into this State. ! don't intend
to have any more trouble of this kind. My