The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-29
PITCHED BATTLE AT PANA.
STRIKING MINERS AND NEGROES
LINE UP IN BATTLE.

Several Hundred shots Fired, and
Many RumOrs of Fatalities Among
the BIacks-Negroes Interfered
When One of Their Number Was
being Taken TO Prison, and Union
Miners Go TO the Omcers' Assis-
tance-Ncgroes Finally Driven TO
Their StOclSades. But DesultOry
Firing Continued Through the
Night-GovernOr Asked TO Send
Militia.
Pana, ILL.,, Sept 2s.-StrllSing union coal
miners and imported negroes engaged in
a pitched battle in the main street of this
city tonight.
Several hundred shots were exchanged.
No one was wounded in the ranks of the
union men.
The negroes were driven from the city
to their stockades. carrying with them, 1t
Is believed, a number of wounded COM
rades.
One of the negroes is reported to have
died soon after reaching the stockade.
Desultory firing continues at midnight in
the vicinity Of the stockades.
The trouble which has been narrowly
averted between the striking coal miners
of this city and negroes imported from
the South to work the mines, was precipl-
tated at $50 o'clock this evening. As
usual, the negroes from the stockades at
the Springside and Penwell mines were
making demonstrations on Second and Lo-
Gust streets, the principal streets of the
city, by paradlng heavily armed. The
union miners were in session at their hall,
where a Chicago labor leader was speak
ing. One of the negroes appeared at the
foot of the miners hall and engaged In a
quarrel with union white miner. Off
Ger Sam Smith Immediately arrested the
black and was escorting him to jeil when
he was closed in by a posse of negroes,
who, pointing their revolvers at Smith,
threatened to kill him if he did not release
the prisoner. Smith continued on his way
to jail with the pan. Union miners and
others, meanwhile, went to Smiths as
sistance and the negroes were driven
back. Smith took his prisoner to Opera
tor George Y. Penwelps store, and upon
Penwell's standing for the negros fine, he
was released.
Before Smith had released the prisoner.
however, the negro posse had been rein
forced. and assumed threatening atti-
tude toward the white men.
David McGavis, leader of the union min
ers. dubbed one of the blacks over
the head with revolver II is said For
half a block McGavis forced the negroes
to retreat, and then a few shots were
fired. The negroes retreated double-quck
to their stockades, secured rifles, returned
tn a nd. ba1 ha
to fight.
The opposing forces lined UP in the
street, the negroes with Winchester, and
the miners with shotguns, rifles and re-
volvers. Neighboring business houses
were closed, lights extinguished. and citi-
zens generally sought their homes. At the
word of command firing commenced. The
first volley 1t is said, came from the ne
groes. The union men responded with a
volley and heavy firing lasted for five min
utes. Much of the shooting was wild and
entirely harmless to the white men, who
finally drove their enemies in full re-
treat to the stockades. The negroes are
thought TO have carried several men with
thenf, and one Is reported dead.
second encounter between whites
and blacks occurred twenty minutes af-
ter the first battle, near the Penwell stock
ade, but the firing was scattered and it
Is not believed to have been a serious en-
gagement. The miners have full charge
of the business, streets at midnight De-
sultory rife reports could be heard from
the Penwell and Springside stockades.
but no person would venture into the
streets near the mines and very few are
lettering about the business or residence
sections.
The union miners say the battle of to-
night is only foretaste OF what may be
expected to follow.
L -
trouble and say they will tomorrow swear
out warrants charging him with melting
to-nights riot.
Gov. Tanner will be asked to send mill
tia to protect property and to remove the
negroes.