Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-18

pany B, of Newton, TO proceed with his
company by the quickest route to Carter
Vile, and to report to Colonel Bennett for
riot duty. At the same time, / ordered Col
onel Bennett, of the Fourth regiment, who
lives at Greenville, TO proceed to Carter
vile at once and take charge of the troops
I also directed the commanding officer of
Company +, of Mount Vernon, to prepare
and be in readiness TO move on short no.
tice.
"At o'clock, two hours from the time
received the message mentioned from Cap
tain brush, / received a message from
Lieutenant Lowden, of Company c, OF Car
bondale, stating that he would leave on
special train for Carterville at o'clock
this afternoon. Later, l received mes
sage from Captain Brush stating that
later reports showed that seven of his men
were killed and that 4 large armed mob OF
men was between Carterville and his mine,
and that one company was not sufficient.
The above is all the information 1 have
up to this time on the subject from which
it would seem that these negro miners
were waiting at the depot for the train,
probably expecting to leave the place tenn
porarily or finally While l have no in
formation as to how or by whom the
trouble was precipitated. 1t seems to me
from the brief facts above reported, and
the further fact that no one was killed
except the negroes, that 1t was prear-
ranged, preconcerted, premeditated muir
der. If l am right in this conclusion, the
people of Carterville, and especially of
Williamson county, should use every
means possible, and that vigorously, to
bring these parties guilty of this wholesale
murder to speedy justice and, in their eff
forts to do so, ! promise them the coop
Grafton of the state-the whole national
guard, II necessary-to bring about the ar
rest and conviction of these parties for the
restoration of peace and good order in the
county, and l so advised the sheriff of
Williamson county this afternoon by wire.
This is a blot on the fair name of the
commonwealth of Illinois, and will be a
disgrace to the community of Williamson
county unless quick and vigorous action Is
taken by the county authorities. The good
and law abiding citizens of Williamson
county should rise to the situation and sup
port the officers in restoring peace and or
der and in the arrest and conviction of the
guilty parties.
"I hope that the Newton company will
reach Carterville before morning and be-
fore any conflict occurs, but / do not be-
lieve, and shall not believe. until it hap
pens, that the strikers will attack the ma.
tional guard or attempt to oppose 1t in do
ing its duty"
Late tonight Governor Tanner received
the following telegram from Sheriff Gray,
of CarterviIle:
Company c has reported to me. The sit
uation is critical. There are many armed
men in Carterville. and in the vicinity of
the Brush mine. The military company is
not sufficient to disperse the moi"
Governor Tanner sent the following tele-
gram to Lieutenant Lowden. commanding
Company F, Mount Vernon. at Carter
vile:
DO not hazard the lives Of your men
against great odds. You are soldier and
the commanding officer. As such. do your
duty. You are on guard and must be the
Judge as to the conditions. and the re-
sponsibility rests on you
Governor Tanner also telegraphed Sheriff
Gray as follows:
You shall have all the force necessary
to enforce the law and bring the guilty
parties to Justice"
He also telegraphed Lieutenant Lowden
of Company T. Mount Vernon, to leave by
the quickest route and report with his
company to Sheriff Gray. of Carterville.