Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-10-06
WHITE AND BLACK MINERS AT
pANA. ILL, FIGHT.
NEGROES PUT TO FLIGHT
One Iolored Man kiiied and Several
Seriously Many Shots
,lrouule Started by
Quarrolsome Black Whose Com
radeS Tried 10 Rescue Him,

rama, Ill, Sept, ~, ~~ me StflklnS
union coal miners and imported ne
groes engaged III pitched battle in
the main street OF this city last night.
Several hundred shots were eX-
ranks of the union men, The ne
groes were driven from the city TO
their stockades, carrying with them,
Ii is believed II number Of wounded
comrades, one Of the negroes Is re-
ported to have died soon after reach
Ing the stockade. Desultory firing
continued up to midnight in the vicin-
ity OF the stockades.
The trouble which had been narrow
L. averted between the striking coal
miners If this city and the negroes
imported from the south to work In
the mines was precipitated at $50
last evening. AS usual, the negroes
from the stockades at Springside and
Penwell mines were making demon
STATIONS on Second and Locust
streets, principal business streets OF
the city, by parading heavily armed.
The union miners were In
session at their hall, where
IA Chicago labor leader
was speaking One OF the negroes
appeared at the foot of tho stairs lead
ing to the miners hall and engaged In
quarrel with union white miner,
Officer Samuel Smith Immediately ar
rested the black and was escorting
him to Jail, when he was closed In on
by posse Of negroes, who, pointing
their reyovors at Smith, threatened
to kill him II he did not release the
prisoner. Smith continued on his
way to the Jail with the prisoner, The
union miners and others meanwhile
went to Smiths assistance and
the negroes were driven back.
Smith later took his prisoner
to Operator George V. ponwell's store,
and upon Ponwell standing for the ne
groes fine he was released. Before
Smith had released the prisoner, how
ever, the negro posse had been rein
forced and assumed threatening at
tltude toward the white men. David
dubbed one OF the blacks over the
head with revolver, 1t IL said. For
half block McGayic forced the ne
groes to retreat and then n few shots
were fired. The negroes retreated
double quick to their stockaues, SO.
cured revolvers, returned to Locust
! street and challenged the miners for
a fight. The opposing forces lined up
on the street, the negroes with Win
chosters, and the miners with shot
guns, rifles and revolvers. The neigh
boring business houses Immediately
| closed. the lights were extlnguished
and the citizens generally sought their
homes The firing then commenced.
| The first volley, 1t is said came from
the negroes. The union men replied
with Il yolloy and heavy firing contln-
ued for five minutes. Much OF the
shooting was wild and entirely harm
less to the white men, who finally
drove the negroes In full retreat to
| their stockades. The negroes are
| thought to have carried several men
with them and one Is reported dead. A
second encounter between the whites
and blacks occurred 20 minutes after
the first battle, near the Penwell
stockade, but the firing was scattered
and it Is not believed to have been a
serious engagement.
Governor Tanner Will be asked to
send militia to protect property Inter-
ests and to remove the negroes.