The Yale expositor., 1898-10-21
T|CKINGS OF THE TELEGRAPH
News of the Day as Told Over the
Slender Wires.
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN NEWS
Bloody Battle with "A Train Load
of Imported Negro LabOrers and
Railroad Detectives.
IA Lives Lost in the Battle.

hNSS AsUoh III 'hN
The strike of coal miners which has
been on in the Fourth district of Illi-
nois since last April has at last resulted
in terrible bloodshcd. Pana has been
the scene of excitement all summer
but at the town of Virden everything
had been quiet until about a month
ago, when the Chicago Virden Co., inn
ported 100 Negro miners from Birming-
ham, Ala. The train was met by a
large body of armed union miners who
TIN eatened 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.
The mine operators strengthened the
stocliadc about their property and
made preparations to open their mines
at all hazards. Gov. Tanner refused
to send state troops to protect i'm
ported convict labor against citizens of
the state, and when the vigilant strik-
crs learned that 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 Winchcsters and revolvers
AS soon rs the train reached the town
Iirlng was begun by the miners and by
Il large force Of railroad detectives on
the train aud continued all along the
route to the stockadc. The moment
&C train reached the stockadc the
miners opened desperate fire with
WlnchcstCrS, rcvolvcrs and firearms of
oil descriptions. The armed men on
The train answered with "A steady fire.
I lac miners and the train were envcl-
opcd in a cloud of smoke and the shoot
ing sounded like continuous vollcy.
Engiucer Burt Tigar received bullet
in the arm and dropped from his seat
His fireman seized the throttle, pulled
IL open and with = jcrl, the train was
under speed toward Springfield The
train stopped at the stockadc but two
minutes It's departure did not cause
the firing To cease The tower Of the
stock AIDE was titled with SharpShootcrS
armed with Winchester. and they kept
up steady fire intcthc 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, Spring Gcld;
Frank Bilyeu, miner, Springfield; Al
bert Smith. miner, Mt Olive; Joe Kit.
trrly, miner, Mt. Olive: Ernest Kcut.
ucr miner, Mt Olive. Ed Gree, miner,
MI Olive: A II. Brcucman, miner, Cir
ard, A w Morgan guard inside stock
ado; WIN w Carman, deputy sheriff
on the train: d. II Kilry, Chicago e
Alton detective Six Others on the
train were wounded. one of whom,
WIN II Clurkson, of Leavcnworth II.
KaS., will die J T. EyStcr, supcrin.
tendcnt of the mine company's store,
was fatally shot and beaten by the in
fuIiatcd strikers because he attempted
to take medical aid TO the wounded
inside the stockade, who number eight
Thrre were 10 strikers wounded besides
those killed
After the battle Gov Tanner ordered
troops to Virdru tn lisarm all armed
persons and TO prevent imported miners
being taken into the Stockade. The
militia fired ON group of strikers who
went too near the stockade and killed
Tom Preston, Chicago detective in the
employ nt the mine company John
NJ Hunter. president Of the Illinois
district, United Mine Workers. was
thrown FROM a moving train by Il rail-
road deputy and was probably fatally
injured
The names Of three other miners
have been added to the death roll Of
the battle Ernest Long, Of Mt Olive:
WIN Harmon. of Girard, and Ed Webb,
OF Spring field
The militia took full control of af
fairs on arriving at Virden and the
commanding officers said they would
prevent imported Negroes from enter
ing the mines IL they had to sacrifice
every man under them Warrants
were sworn out 10y officers Of the Min
Crs' union charging the officers OF the
coal company with conspiracy to
murder" but on advice of the militia
officers they were not served
Later advices regarding the loss Of
the steamer Mohegan off the Lizard,
off the coast of England. places the loss
OF life at los. The Mohegan was fully
seven miles north of her course. but
no one is able to tell why There was
No fog and the gale was not strong
enough prevent her answering her
| helm.