The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-29
BATTLE WITH STRlKBRS NEW YORK DEMOCRATS
Imported Negro Miners on the
j Aggressive
CHALLENGE QSIoKLY ACCEPTED.

Negroes on Ono Side of the Street an
White Strikers on the Other Fir
Several Hundred Shots--One Negr,
Reported Killed, Several Wounded
Pana, Ills. Sept 2s.-striking uniol
coal miners and imported negroes en-
gagged in a pitched battle in the mair
street of this city last night. Severa
hundred shots were exchanged. NJ
one was wounded in the ranks of the
union men. The negroes were driver
from the city to their stockades, car.
ryng with then it is believed, a mum.
Der OF wounded comrades. One of the
negroes is reported to have died soon
after reaching the stockade. Desul-
tory firing continued all midnight in
tne vicinity of the stockades.
The negroes from the stockades at
the Springside and Penwell mines were
making demonstrations on Second and
Locust streets, the principal streets in
the city, by parading heavily armed.
Inc union miners were in session at
thelr nall, where Chicago labor
leader was speaking. One of the me-
groes appeared at the foot of the
miners hall and engaged in a Quarrel
with union white miner. officer
samuel Smith Immediately arrested
the black. and was escorting him to
JAIL when he was closed in on by
posse OF negroes who. pointing their
revolvers at Smith. threatened to kill
him If he did not release the prisoner,
Smith continued on his way to Jail with
the prisoner. Union miners and others,
meanwhile, went to Smiths assistance
ana the negroes were driven back
Smith took his prisoner to Operator
Georc V. Penwell's store, and upon
Penwell's standing for the negro's
fine he was released.
Before Smith had released his pris.
oner however, the negro posse had
Deen reinforced and assumed a threat
ehing attitude toward the White men,
David McGarvic. leader of the union
miners, clubbed one of the blacks over
the head with a revolver. it is said. For
half block McGarvic forced the ne
groes to retreat, and then a few shots
We're fired. The negroes retreated in
double quick time to their stockades,
Ihey secured rifles, returned to Lo-
Gust street and challenged the miners
for fight The opposing forces lined
up on the street, the negroes with
Winchesters and the miners with shot
guns, rifles and revolvers. Neighbour
ing business houses We're Immediately
closed, lights eXtinguished and citizens
generally sought their homes. At the
word of command firing commenced
The first volley. it is asserted
was fired by the negroes. The
union men responded with a vol
ley. and heavy firing continued for FIVE
Much of the shooting was
wild and entirely harmless to the white
men, who finally drove their enemies
in full retreat to the stockades.
A second encounter between whites
and blacks occurred 20 minutes after
the first battle near the Penwel stock
ade, but the firing was scattered, and
1t is not believed to have been seri-
ous engagement. The miners had full
charge of the business streets all night
Desultory rifle reports could be heard
rom the Penwell and Springside stock
ldes. but no person would venture into
The streets near the mines, and very
few loitered about the business or
'esdence sections. The union miners
say the battle of last night is only a
of what may be expected to
'ollow. They blame Operator Penwell
or the trouble. and say they will swear
'ut warrants charging him with in {
'itng last nights riot. [