The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-13

Eirden. HIS Oct. 12.-Tne little town
of Virden is comparatively quiet tonight
after day of riot and bloodshed, re-
sulting from the long expected clash be-
tween the union miners and imported
negroes. At 1910 o'clock this afternoon
a Chicago and Alton special train bear
ing 200 negro miners from the South ar
rived at the stockade around the Chica-
go-Virden Coal Company's mines and
Immediately the firing began. The list
at 10 o'clock tonight stands seven dead
and eighteen wounded.
THE DEAD.
The dead are: Ed Welsh. Springfield;
Frank Bilyeu. Mt Olive; Joe Kitterly,
Mt. Olive; Ernest Keutner. Mt. Olive;
A. Ii. Breneman, Girard; ID. III. Kiley,
Chicago and Alton detective.
THE WOUNDED.
The wounded are: Ansk Ankel, Mt.
Olive; Gustav Wevsiep. Mt. Olive; Ed
Upton. Springfield; Thomas Upton,
Springfield: Thomas Jennings, Spring
field; Joe Haines, Girard, shot in leg;
Joe Runk, Girard, shot i'll arm; George
Runk. Girard, shot in stomach; William
Herman, Girard, shot in hand Joe Bas-
ton. Mi. Olive. shot in stomach; Joe
Sprin, Mt Olive, shot in arm; Bart
Tigar. engineer C. and a, shot in arm;
J. Il. Eyster. superintendent Climax
Trading Company, shot and beaten.
1t is said that six men were wounded
inside the stockade. but this has not
been verified, and those inside the stock
I ade refuse to communicate with out
siders.
For the past two weeks rumors have
reached Virden that a train having ne
groes from Alabama would reach the
city and the Chicago and Alton depot has
been surrounded day and night by min
ers awaiting their arrival.
Today the Chicago and Alton limited,
due to pass here at 10 o'clock Ell route
to Chicago, came through an hour late.
displaying flags on the rear indicating
that special was following. lmme-
dately the word was spread and dense
crowd of miners lined the station plat
form, while another crowd collected al
the entrance of the stockaGe. a half mile
north of the station. ID. Il. kiley, a
Chicago and Alton detective, stood guard
at a switch at the south end of the sta
ton platform to see that it was not
tampered with.
At 1910 the special passed the sta
tlOn. anu SlSlldl SllolS NtiC hltu lioII
the south end of the train announcing
its arrival.
THE BATTLE OPENS.
Immediately shots were fired from the
moving train and outside, and the battle
was on A few moments after the
train had passed the switch where Kiley
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 it all along the
route and the negro passengers return
ing the fire. The moment the trair
reached the stockade the miners opened
desperate fire with Winchesters. re
volvers and firearms of all descriptions
The negroes on the train answered will
a steady fire. The miners and the traiI
were envelOped i'll cloud Of smoke, ant
the shooting sounded like IL continuous
volley. Engineer Tigar received a buI
let in the arm and dropped from hi
seat His fireman seized the throttle
pulled it open and with jerk the rrail
was under speed, carrying load o
wounded negro passengers 10 Spring
field How many were wounded iS no
known. The train stopped at the stock