The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-09-27
A STRIKE TRAGEDY.
Sheriff's Posse Fires Into a Crowd
of Rioters.

meet an emergency, was forced to fire
or a mob that was threatening work
men on their way home under escort.
A man and a little girl were instantly
killed, and seven others fell more or
less seriously wounded. Sheriff Toole
lost no time in calling on the com
mander of the national guard Of Penn
sylyania to send troops to aid him in
keeping the peace. After consulta-
ton the state authorities at Harris
burg decided at midnight to send
troops to the turbulent region.
steamboats, trouble was precipi-
tated by the closing of six collieries
there Friday morning through the eff
forts of strike leaders. More will close
to-day as a voluntary act, it is said,
On the part of the Reading company.
This Is done at the request of Sheriff
Toole, who hopes in this manner to
avoid further rioting. The outlook at
midnight, however, Is dubious, as the
foreigners affected by Fridays hap
penings are in an ugly mood.
Elsewhere in the strike region every
thing is quiet, although preparations
are making for an outbreak in the
Hazleton district and armed sheriffs'
deputies are much in evidence there.
The Reading company has about dis
continued the sale Of coal for future
delivery, and Friday nights rioting al
most certainly means the shutting off
OF coal production everywhere in the
anthracite field, temporarily, at least.
Troops Called Out.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 22.-At mid
night the Fourth, Eighth and Twelfth
regiments, the governors troop and
battery c were called out, with Gen.
Goblin in command.
The Riot.
Shenandoah, Pa, Sept. ga sher-
IFS posse fred on a crowd Of riotous
men near here Friday afternoon, kill
ing two persons and wounding seven
others. Sheriff Toole and Deputies
o'Donnell and Brenneman were called
to Shenandoah to suppress the mobs
that threatened mine workers and col
liery property. At quitting time the
three sheriffs and a small posse whom
the sheriff had summoned on the
ground went to the Indian Ridge col.
liery of the Reading company to es-
cort the working men to their homes.
The colliery is located a short distance
east of Shenandoah. The workmen
left for home shortly after four
o'clock. They walked up the middle
of East Center street, and reached the
Lehigh Valley railroad station.
Posse Attacked.
Here had gathered a large crowd Of
Poles, Slavs and Hungarians, men,
women and children, who lined both
sides of the street. A shot rang out
from a saloon. This was followed by
a shower of stones. Many of the
crowd had picked up sticks and stones
and were acting in a threatening man.
ner. Seeing this the sheriff, who had
previously cautioned his men to keep
cool and not to use their firearms,
commanded them to fire. The order
was obeyed with terrible results.
Two Killed.
Mike Muckayage was shot in the
eye and killed. A little girl, name un-
known, was shot in the back of the
neck. Seven were wounded by the
volley from the posse. Three were
badly injured by the rioters. The
crowd pursued the sheriff and his
posse to the Ferguson house, where
they took refuge. Sheriff Toole short
ly afterward t]elephoned to Harris
burg and asked that a detachment of
troops be sent here. 1t was learned
that Adjt. Gen. Stewart was In Phil
adelphia, and a telegram was sent to
him there. ID.
Expect Trouble.
Hazleton, Pa, Sept. 22.-1he Lehigh
region Friday seemed to concern itself
more about the possibility of trouble
than any other one thing. Wherever
one went in this district the belief
was general that an outbreak will
occur. There was. however, no out
ward evidence anywhere that such a
thing is likely. This feeling was no
doubt produced by the disturbances
at Shenandoah and the arrival in
Hazleton and on the north side of
large numbers of deputies, who are
said to be prepared for any emer-
gency. 1t vas known that all the coal
companies in the district had in
creased the number of watchmen
around their collieries, and it was
known hat a small number of depu-
ties had been distributed through the
South side by Sheriff Brislin, of Car
bon county, but nothing much was
Ala,,oLk - Alsr T1a Inr,It.oe ,r1a q -
rived at Freeland, 10 miles north of
here, during the night from Wilkes
barre, are said to number about 200.
They were distributed along the pub
lie road between Freeland and Jeddo.
At noon a carload of them arrived in
this city over the Pennsylvania rail-
road, and later in the day several
squads of deputies came into town.
They are all being lodged in different
parts of the city.
shows No Change.
As to the strike situation itself
there was no noticeable change Friday.
Both the operators and the strike
leaders claim they have made decided
gains on their respective sides. For
the first time since the strike was in
augurated President Mitchell issued
figures showing the numuer of men
idle in each colliery in the Hazleton
district. These figures show that out
of 17,475 mine workers in the district
1925 have refused to go to work.
Very few operators live in this sec
ton, but those operators and officials
who could be reached in this vicinity