The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-13
SEVEN MlNERSKlLLED
The Fight Began When a TrainlOad
Of Negro Miners Arrived.
4 BATTLE At THE ST0CKADE
The Entrenchcd Miners Opened Fire
on the Train Which the Negroes
Replied TO and Pitched Bat
tie Ensucd-ManyS said TO
Have Been Shot in-
side Stockadc.

VIRDEN, ILL. oct 12.-The little town
OF yirden IS comparatively quiet tonight
after a day Of riot of bloodshed, resulting
from the long-expected clash between the
union miners and imported negroes. AT
l2:40 o'clock this afternoon a Chicago and
Alton special train. bearing two hundred
negro miners from the South, arrived at
the stockade around the Chicago-Nirden
Coal companys mines and Immediately
:he nghting began. IT 10 o'clock to-
night the list stands seven dead ana thlr-
teen wounded
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Kined-Ed. Welsh Springfield; Frank
Billou. Springfield; Albert Smith, Mount
Olive: Joe Kutterly, Mount Olive; Ernest
Keutner. Mount olive; a. II. Breneman,
Girard; ID. IL. Kiley, Chicago and Alton
detective.
The Wounded-Ansk Ankle, Mount
Olive: Gustaye Giuseppe, Mount Olive;
I'd. Upton, Springfield; Thomas Upton,
springleld: Thomas Jennings, Joe
Haines, Girard. shot in leg; Joe Runk,
Girard shot in arm: George Runk. Gil
RAID shot in stomach; William Herman.
Girard, shot in hand; Joe Boston, Mount
Olive, shot In stomach; Joe Sprim, Mount
Olive. shot in arm Bart Tigar, engineer
&. & A., shot in arm; j. T.. Eister. su-
perintendent Climax Trading Company
shot and beaten.
INSIDE THE STOCKADE
II is said that six men were wounded
inside the stockade but this has not been
verified and those inside the stockade
refuse to communicate with outsiders.
For the past two weeks rumors have
reacher Virden that train having ne
,groes from Alabama would reach the
city, and the Chicago and Alton depot
has been surrounded day and night by
miners awaiting their arrival.
To-day the Chicago and Alton, limited,
due TO pass through here at 10 o'clock en-
route 20 Chicago. a hour late, displaying
flags on the rear end indicating that
special was following. Immediately the
word was spread end a dense crowd Of
miners Hired the station platform while
another crowd collected at the entrance
OF the stakade n half a mile north ef the
station. D. 3. Kiley n Chicago and
Alton detective. stood guard at a switch
~ the south end OF the station platform
90 see that 1t was not tampered with.
THE FIGHT BEGUN.
At 12:40 the special train passed the
station ana SlEnt S4lpls were iltl llpiil
the south end Of the train announcing
It's arrival. Immediately shots were fired
from the moving train and outside and
the batue was on. a few moments after
the train had passed the switch where
Kiey was stationed and while he was
talking with two citizens. he threw up
his arms and dropped dead with a bullet
through his brain. He was the first
man killed. The train continued to the
stockade the miners firing into 1t all
around the route and the negro passen-
gers returning the fire. The moment the
train reached the stockade the miners
opened desperate fire with Winches-
ters. revolvers and firearms of all dis
criptons The negroes on the train an
swered with steady fire. The miners
and the train were envcloped in cloud
of smoke and the shooting sounded like
a continuous voley.
ENGINEER SHOT.
Engineer Tgar received a bullet in the
arm and dropped from his seat His fire.
man seized the throttle, pulled it open.
and with a Jerk. the train was under
speed carrying a load Of wounded negroes.
The train stopped at the stockade but
two minutes. It's departure did not cause
the fehtng 10 cease. The tower Of the
stockade was filled with sharp shooters
armed with Winchesters and they kept
up q steady fire into the crowd of union
miners Eye Witnesses say the dead min
ers were killed after the train had depart
ed It is not known how many men are
stationed behind the walls OF the stock
ade hut an estimate places them between
twenty-five and forty. II IS claimed mat
six within the stockadc were wounded.
but those inside refuse 10 hold any COM
mynication with the outside, and nothing
authentic can be learned. Word was,
however sent from the stocKade to physi-
clans IN town that their services were
needed.
The supply and provision store OF the
Chicago-N -Nirden Coal Company, is known
as the Climax Trading Company, with
Superintendent J. r. Eister in charge.
A FURIOUS ATTACK.
At o'clock after the attack
on the stockade had subsisted. an
attack without parallel was made
upon Eister in his store, and he
was shot IN the leg. He was sitting in his
store when his telephone rang. and he was
instructed from the stocka6e 10 secure
physicians and hurry them 20 the place.
Eister Jumped into his delivery wagon.
and securing two doctors. rushed with
them to the mines lie returned 10 his
store. climbed out OF his wagon and was
lust entering the door when The cry was
raised tltl MdIdANl ilfA sIhtIef OF lle
mines. was with him. With a rush a
throng OF infuriated miners pressed to-
ward the store Elster ran behind a
counter with a revolver In each hand
TIE miners pressed hard after. and as
Eistcr sprang 10 stairs he AID the miners
began shooting simultaneously. He ran
10 the top OF his building and jumped be-
hind a chimney, wni.e the miners ran
into the street and opened fire on him
again Chips few from the orc6 chimney
and Eister ran from cover across the roof
OF another store. firing into the street be-
low as he ran. From there ne crossed 20
the roof OF the bank or Nirden. where he
reloaded his revolyers.
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
Blood was flowing from a wound In his
side but with dogged determination
against terrible odds. he continued his
fight. Jumping 20 the roof OF the Rae
and Gisch store ne halted behind pro-
lection on the roof OF the building he
had Just left and omptied both OF his G.
chambered rcvolVers. Then springins
from cover Tister dashed ahead amid the
rain OF bullets to the rough roof Of the