Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-10-11
STRIKERS FIGHT.
Mob of 500 Attempt to Close
Oneida Co|liery, Wednesday.
Policeman Killed and Another Wound
ed--Striker Will Probably Die.
Several Others Badly Wounded Union
Miners Stoned.

HaZclton, Pa, Oct. 10.-A special no
liceman was instantly killed and an
other was wounded in the head, a
striker was probably fatally shot and
10 non-union men were more or less
seriously wounded in the Oneida col
liery of Coke Bros, in clash between
the officers and 500 strikers, this morn
ing. The victims are:
killed-Ralph Mills, aged so years, of
Beaver Meadow. one of the officers
conveyed in a special train, this morn
ing, from that place TO Oneida. He
was shot through the back
Wounded-George Kellnor. aged 3S, of
Beaver Meadow; also special officer
He received shot wounds in the head
but will recover; Joseph Leske. aged
3S, a striker. He was shot in the groin
and will probably die.
Ten non-union men were stoned. but
only two of them We're seriously injur-
ed. one sustained scalp wounds and the
other had four ribs broken.
The Oneida colliery having been in
operation since the inauguration ~ the
strike. the union men at Oneida and
Sheppton, where many Of the employees
Of the Oneida and Derrnger collieries
Of Coke Bros. live. decided. early this
morning. to close down the mine. They
gathered in groups on the streets as
early as o'clock. As the non-union
men Went to work they We're asked by
the strikers to remain at home. Some
turned back. others did not. Those who
went into the colIiery were stoned.
Van Blargen. one Of the non-union en-
playes. attempted to pull a revolver.
but the weapon was taken from him
and in the beating he received he had
several ribs broken. This occurred just
before starting time at the mine.
The strikers remained al the colliery
all the morning. AS the small mine To-
connective used in hauling coal from the
No. . and No. colleries 10 the Oneida
breaker pulled UP on the road near the
latter colliery. a crowd Of women
blocked the track The women were
told BY Gen. Supt. Kudlock 70 81
home. He assured them that their
husbands would get an increase in
wages and that their other grievances
would be properly adjusted. The wO-
men refused 10 listen ana stoned the
superintendent. who was wounded in
the head. Then the striking men and
the women rushed toward the No ?
collery. A force Of about 30 special
policemen VINO had been brought down
from Beaver Meadow to prevent trouble
attempted to interrupt the mob. but
they We're powerless TO do anything
and retired to the engine room. Just
as the officers got close to shelter a
shot was fired. This was followed by
another and in a few seconds many
shots rang through the air. Policeman
Mills was the first to fall. Then Jo-
seph Lesko. the striker. staggered 70
the ground. No one knows who shot
first. but ii is believed that both the
strikers ana the officers used their
weapons. \ gunshot killed Mills and
q small buckshOt struck Policeman
kelnor. Lesko. the striker, was struck
by ball from a revolver. with which
all the officers were armed.
After the shooting the strikers dis
persed. Sheriff Towle Of Schuylkill
county in whose territory the clash
occurred, was in Philadelphia and
codld render no assistance. His chief
deputy. James O'Donnell. arrived here,
This afternoon. and went to the scene
with force Of men. Rev. Carl Hou-
ser. a Lutheran minister from Free
land. who baptized a child at Oneida
just al the time the shooting was in
progress. was mistaken by the strikers
for Superintendent kudlock and mar
rowly escaped being stoned. He was
soon recognized by a friend and safely
escorted to the station.