The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-11


most serious disturbance that has oo-
CURED here since the union miners insti-
gated a strike in April, 1898. was enacted
today resulting In seven persons being
shot to death and nine wounded as fol-
lows: The dead:
Frank Coburn, citizen.
Xavier Lecocqo. Frenchman, union
miner.
Three negro men.
One negro woman.
Unidentified negro, found tonight near
shaft No. 2, OF Pana Coal company.
The wounded:
Frank Landsworth, shot in the head.
Mrs Henriet. shot In the left arm.
VIII Kuhn. laundryman, shot in legs
and hand.
Cyrus Striokler. shot in back.
Albert Vickers, shot in hand.
George Kimball, farmer, shot in right
arm.
Henry Stevens, negro, shot in neck.
Cass Profit, shot in foot
Carrie Felix, shot in breast.
The situation quieted down at nightfaI
and no more trouble was looked for. Ad-
jutant General Heece, Col. A. h. Culver
and three companies of infantry arrived
at six o'clock this evening on special
train and perfect order was maintained
throughout the town from that time on.
The troops now here are company II,
from Decatur under Captain Castle; CON-
pany g, from Springfield under First
Lieutenant Bauman and company b,
from Taylorville under Captain Prysh
The soldiers Immediately began patrolling
the streets throughout the entire town.
Miners stood about in groups talking but
there was no outward manifestation of
excitement, although it was evident that
great indignation existed, especially
among the townspeople over the shooting
OF the citizens and women. Henry
Stevens, a negro miner. who has long
been considered leading spirit among
his associates is declared to have been the
direct cause of the riot. 1t is said he was
also the leader of the riot that occurred
last September. Stevens has long
cherished hatred for Sheriff Downey and
has openly made threats that he would
kill him on sight Yesterday he was on
| the street with a revolver saying he was
| looking for sheriff Downey.
he continued this today aud Sheriff
| Downey came upon him in Locust street.
The sheriff commanded Stevens to de-
| liver the revolver and told him he was
under arrest for carrying concealed
weapons. Stevens without word in
stantly lsvelled his weapon and fired at
| the sheriff. The bullet went wild. The
| al hap apl ivrrr 70 nnQnad fra On
negro.
Deputy Sheriff Cheney hearing the
shooting rushed to join Sheriff Downey.
Stevens took to his heels and succeed sd in
gaining Penwell's general store in Locust
street. the principal thoroughfare. tive
blocks distant and took his stand in the
entrance. Ne hesitated there an inst ant
and then stepped to the pavement. levelled
his revolver down the street toward his
approaching pursuer and t1red. The bul
| let missed the deputy aud struck Xavier
Lecocq. Frenchman who was standing
| in the entrance of an nearby saloon
squarsly in the forehead, killing him in
stantly. Stevens then turned and ran in
to the Penwell store and sought refuge
behind a counter. BY this time the
streets were rapidly filling with men, all
| of whom bore weapons. Deputy Cheney
dashed into the store followed by Deputy
Joe Mullen and several citizens. A fusi
| la1e OF OulietS WAS pouIeu lnto tno hbOrt
and Stevens emptied his revolver at hi
assailants from behind the counter. The
infuriated crowd at the door continued
the fire and Stevens seeing that deatt
was inevitable If he remained behind tn;
| counter, made u desperate dash from his
cover to a stairway in the rear of TIL
| store.
He fell, pierced by six bullets before he
had gone ten feet. One of the bullets haC
gone through his neck, another through
| his back and the other wounds were Of 4
minor nature. The firing stopped In.
stantly and Deputy Downey ran to tn,
side Of the wounded negro and placed hin
under arrest. Stevens, with blood pour
ing down his clothing walked with hi,
captor to physicians Office where h,
| was given medical attention. He wa
| then taken to jail.
| Meanwhile the riot was raging in the
| street. As soon az the first shots had beer
fired, the whistle of the electric lieh
plant was blown as a signal for the citf
zens. the majority OF whom had bser
long ago sworn as deputies, to turn ou,
armed and ready to light. At the sam,
time the miners Of the Pana and Penwel