Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-10-20
FIRED ON NEGROES.
A Serious ARRAY at virden, ILL.,,
Caused by Imported Labor.
Tho Sheriff Tries TO Protect tho Negroes
but 1900 Striking Minera OvOrpowor
Hlm-ssvSral Lives Lost on
Both Sides.

Virden, ILL.,, Oct. 10, --The little town
of Virden was comparatively quiet
last night, after day of riot and
bloodshed, the long expected clash be-
tween the union miners and imported
negroes having taken place In the
afternoon Chicago Sc Alton special
bearing 200 negro miners from the
south arrived at the stockade around
the Chicago Virden Coal company's
mines and Immediately terrific firing
began. The list ut 10 o'clock last night
stood seven dead and IS wounded.
The stoclSade surrounds about 20 acres
OF ground in square and is made of
pine boards an inch thick set edge to
edge, about IL feet high. On each OF
the four sides about midway is a small
watchtower containing q guard armed
with Winchester. There are three
entrances, which are closely guarded
by half dozen armed sentries day
and night The fight occurred ut the
east entrance.
For the past two weeks rumors have
reached Virden daily that train hav-
ing negroes from Alabama would
reach the CITY, and the Chicago 81
Alton depot has been surrounded day
and night by vigilant miners deter
minedly awaiting their arrival. Yes
terday the Chicago q Alton limited,
due to pass here at ten o'clock, shot
through en- route for Chicago an hour
late, displaying flags on the rear, in
dicating that special was following.
Immediately the word was spread and
dense crowd of miners lined the sta
ton platform, while another crowd
collected at the entrance Of the stock
AIDE, half a mile north of the station.
D. b. Kiley, a Chicago s. Alton detect
i've, stood guard at the switch ct the
south end of the station platform to
see that it was not tempered with.
At !2:4O the special train passed the
station and signal shots were fred
from the south end OF the train, an
nouncing the specials arrival. Inn
mediately shots were fred from the
moving train and outside and the bat
tie 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 re-
turning the FIRE. The moment the
train reached the stockade the miners
opened desperate fire with Win
chesters, revolvers and firearms of all
descriptions. The negroes on the
train were enveloped in cloud OF
smoke and the shooting sounded like
continuous volley. Engineer Burt
Tigar received bullet in the arm and
dropped from his seat His fireman
seized the throttle, pulled it open, and
with jerk the train was under speed,
carrying load OF wounded negro pas
sengcrs to Springfield. How many
were wounded is not known.
HOLDS OPERATORS GUILTY.
Springfield, ILL.,, Oct. 13. In an IN
terview with Gov. Tanner yesterday
evening regarding the Virden riot he
said:
Mr. Il. G. Loucl5, president, and Mr.. Tutkin
superintendent Of the Vrden Coal company, o.
1880 yesterday made good their threats TO lane
q train load Of imported laborers from Tho
south and attempted to put them TO work II
| their mines at the point OF the bayonet and the
muzzle of the Winchester, such lnborers beinl
drawn largely, II not entirely, from the crimi
nal class, ex-convcts who learned their trad'
while doing time In the penitentiarles OF Ala
bama, after having been fully advised and hav
| ing full knowledge that the landing OF sucl
| imported laborers would precipltate RIOT
had wired them that II they brought these i'm
ported laborers they did so at their own peri
and, under the circumstances. would be NOR
ally responsible and criminAlly liable for any
thing that might happen.
From the information can gather at thll
| time, tho very minute the train stopped II
| front OF the shaft where the doors OF the stock
ade were thrown open for the imported labor
ers to enter, the firing began. AS TO who fret
| the first shot am at this time unable to learn
but oil reports agree that general battle wa
preolpitated wlChin just few moments an
the firing became general from the guards Of
the train, called deputies estimated at so or 90
and was responded to by the idle miners lynn
back on the other side OF the track The bat
tic lasted several minutes after which tn
train pulled out The reports vary as TO tn
number killed and wounded The sheriff telo
graphed that 100 were killed, and that the bat
tie was still on. However, from conservative
estimates and from all the information l cal
gather would estimate the number OF klllet
somewhere from nine to Is, and possibly quilt
as many wounded
Those avariclous mine owners have so for
gotten their duty to society as TO bring abou
this blot upon the fair name Of our state; nav
gone far enough, yes, too far, as they had fai
warning from me, by wire and telephone, tina
importation Of labor which brings to our stat
an undesirable class OF citizens had to stop
And say now to such, and all others, that thi
Is q thing OF the past that 1t shall not be toler
ated in Illinois while am governor Thes
men, the president and officers OF this com
pany, participated In this riot by bringing
In Of this imported labor. are guilty Of murder
and should be- and / believe will be, indicte
by the grand jury OF Macoupin county and trie,
and convicted for this heinous o1iense.
TROOPS ORDERED TO vIBDEN.
Chicago, Oct. 13--Capt. Young, o
the first Illinois volunteer cavalry, re
ceived orders last night to report a
Springfield Immediately with troop
A, u, C and d of his command ant
they will be hurried to Virden.
I
Are They the Train RobberS7