Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-10-20
T|CK|NGS OF THE TELEGRAPH
News of the Day as Told Over the
Slender Wires.
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN NEWS
striking Coal Miners MT yirdcn, Ill, Have
Bloody Battle with a Train Load
OF Imported Negro Laborers and
Railroad Detectives.


The strike Of coal miners which has
been on in the Fourth district of I'LL.
nois since last April has at last resulted
In terrible bloodshed. Pana has been
the scene of excitement all summer,
put at the town of Virden everything
nad been quiet until about a month
ago, when the Chicago Virden Co., inn
ported 100 Negro miners from Birming-
nam, Ala. The train was met by a
large body of armed union miners who
threatened to shoot the first Negro
that stepped from the cars. These
Negroes were finally induced to return
TO the south and the mines were not
opened.
Inc mine operators strengthened the
stockade about their property and
made preparations to open their mines
at all hazards. Gov. Tanner refused
70 send state troops to protect Elm
ported convict labor against citizens of
the state, and when the vigilant strik-
ers learned that a special train on the
Chicago & Alton railroad was coming
with 200 Negroes they gathered in
force at the depot and at the stockade.
armed with Winchesters and revolvers.
AS soon as the train reached the town
hring was begun by the miners and by
large force of railroad detectives on
the train and continued all along the
route TO the stockade. The moment
the train reached the stockade the
miners opened desperate fire with
Wlnchesters, revolvers and firearms of
all descriptions. The armed men on
the train answered with a steady fire.
Inc miners and the train were envel-
opeo In cloud of smoke and the shoot
ing sounded like a continuous vollev.
Engineer Burt Tigar received bullet
In the arm and dropped from his seat.
HIS fireman seized the throttle, pulled |
II open, and with jerk the train was |
under speed. toward Springfield. The |
tram stopped at the stockade but two |
It's departure did not cause
the hrlng TO cease. The tower of the
stockade was filled with sharpshooters
armed with Winchester, and they kept
up steady fire into the crowd of union
miners. Eye witnesses say the dead
miners were killed after the train had
departed.
The list of the dead is as follows:
EDWARD Welsh, miner, Springfield:
rank 81 yeu. miner, Springfield; AL
pert Smith. miner, Mt. Olive; Joe Kit
erly, miner, Mt Olive: Ernest Keut-
Ter, miner, Mt Olive; Ed Gree, miner.
VT. Olive; A ii. Breneman, miner. Cir
nd; A. w. Morgan. guard inside stock
Ioe; VIM. W. Carman, deputy sheriff"
N the train; ID. Ii. Kiley, Chicago &
alton detective. Six others on the
ram were wounded, one of whom.
N. ii. Clarkson, of Leavenworth.
las., will die j. f. Eyster. superin.
endent of the mine companv's store
vas fatally shot and beaten by the in
nriated strikers because he attempted ,
take medical aid TO the wounded
aside the stockade. who number eight.
here were 10 strikers wounded besides
hose killed
After the battle Gov. Tanner ordered
loops to Virden to disarm all armed t
ersons and TO prevent imported miners a
eng taken into the s.ockade. The
iiitia fired on group of strikers who 5
ent too near the stoclxade and killed |
ON Preston. Chicago detective in the
nploy of The mine company John n
Hunter, president of the Illinois :
strict, United Nine Workers. was
lrown from moving train by rail.
'ad deputy and was probably fatally ,
jured a
ne names of three other miners
I'VE been added to the death roll of L
e battle Ernest Long. OF Nj Olive: n
m Harmon. of Girard. and Ed Webb.
Spring field h
he militia took full control of af. CO
IRIS on arriving at Virden and the
mmanding officers said they would Il
event imported Negroes from enter fc
2 the mines If they had to sacrifice Sc
cry man under them, Warrants n.
IRE sworn out by officers of the Min h,
union charging the officers of the
al company with conspiracy TO -.
lroer, but on advice of the militia y.
lcers they were not served. -
Later advices regarding the loss OF -
steamer Mohegan off the Lizard. ";
the coast of England, places the loss
life at los. The Mohegan was fully
zen miles north OF her course. but re
one IS able TO tell why There was WI
'og and the gale was not strong od
ough prevent her answering her y,
IN. III