The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-13
GOV. TANNER HOT.

ne Aeeusss tho Mae opsEaiors ofPrOeip-
itaung the Riot, After Having Been
warnsd-says They Are Guilty of
Murder.
SPRINGFIELD. MIS-, oct. 12.-1n IN
interview with Governor Tanner this
evening, regarding the vlrden riot le
said:
"AIr. Il. c. Louck, president, and NJ.
Luken, superintendent Of the Vlrden
Coal Company. at 1890 to-day made
good their threats to land train load
Of imported laborers from the south and
attempted to put them to work in their
mines at the point of the baVonet and
the muzsle Of the Winchester, such la
borers being drawn largely, II not en-:
tireiy, from the criminal class, ex-con-
VlctS, who learned their trade while do
ine terns "a the penitentlarles OF Ala
banna, after having been fully advised
and having full knowledge that the
landing OF such imported lAborera
would precipitate q riot,
IT had wired them that II they
BROUGHT these imported laboFers they
did so at their own peril, and under the
circumstances, would be morally rec
BponsIble and crlminally liable for any
thing that might happen. AS to what
happened after the stopping Of the
train In front OF the coal shaft, my In
formation Is based on telegraphic and
telephone communications, and from
those coming from the scene Of the con-
hlct. From the Information can
gather at this time the very minute
the train stopped IN front of the coal
shaft where the doors OF the stockade
were thrown open for the imported la
borers to enter, the firing began. As to
who fired the first shot, am at this
time unable to determine, but all re-
ports agree that a general battle was
preclpltated within Just a few moments,
and the firing became general from the
guards on the train, called deputies, es-
tlmated at fifty or sixty, and was re-
sponded 10 by the idle miners lying
back on the other side OF the track.
The battle lasted several minutes, after
which time the train pulled out. The
reports vary as to the number killed
and wounded. The sherlh telegraphed
that one hundred were killed and the
battle was still on. However, from
conservative estimates, and from all
the information can gather, l would
estimate the number OF killed some
where from nine 10 fifteen, and possibly
quite as many wounded The killed
ana wounded are largely idle minerg
who were on the outslle. The others
we're the hired guards who were
brought along By the coal company.
Most, II not all Of them. were non-res.
ldents Of Illinois. There Is no means Of
learning their names or wherea bouts,
for the reason that they declined to
give them out, knowing, perhaps, that
they are criminally liable for murder,
as they had no permission from any
officer IN Illinois, auhoriztnR or -deplttlz-
ing them to act as deputy marBhals or
deputy sherifts.
'InstantlY on learning Of the trouble.
directed Adjutant General Reece to
order Captain Craig, OF the Galesburg
battery, and one company OF the Sons
OF Veterans regiment, now stationed at
Pana to proceed at once by the quick.
est route to the scene of trouble.
IT learned later that Craig met with
serious difficulties In securing q train
With coaches to bring his command, and
directed the adjutant general to i'd
wise him to load his troops upon
freight trains and come at once, to
Springfield by the Baltimore & Ohio,
and secure train on the Alton to car
ry the command to Virden. These ar
rangements were made and Captain
Craig arrived here at half-past six and
at Vlrlen by 7:30. General Reece ac-
companied Captain Craig, and I have
Instructed General Reece to select
camping ground, more suitable for the
occasion, to quell the riot and maintain
order, protect life and property, to dis
arm 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 q body.
"These avaricious mine owners have
so far forgotten their duty to society,
as to bring about this blot upon the fair
name OF our state, having gone far
enough, yes, too far, as they had fair
warning from me, by wire and tele.
phone, that the importation Of labor
which brings to our state an undeslr-
able class Of citizens had to stop. And
say now to such, and all others, that
this Is thing Of the past, that II shall
not be tolerated In Illinois while ! am
governor. These men, the president
and officers OF this company pFecipita-
ted this riot by the bringing in OF im-
ported labOr-are guilty Of murder, and
Hhould be, and / believe, will be In
dlcted by the grand jury OF Macoupln
county, and tried and convicted for thls
helnous offenEe"