Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1900-10-17
FATAL COAL STRIKE RIOT
One Man Killed and Many Injured
Near Hazleton, Penn.
SPECIAL POLICEMAN THE VICTIM,

Effort to Close the Oneida ColIicry Brings
on Enriy Morning Fight - Strikers
and Special Officers Cls-h - Shots Arc
Fired with Fatal Eesults-The Rioters
Disperscd-Womcn Take Part in Fight.
Hazleton. Penn. (Specian.A spe-
cial policeman was instantly killed, an
other was wounded in the head II
striker was probably fatally shot, and
ten non-union men were more OF less
seriously wounded at the Oneida col
licry of CCXe Brothers n Company In
a clash between the officers and 5OO
strikers. The victims are: Ralph
Mills. aged fifty years. of Beaver
Meadow. special policeman. shot
through tho back and killed. George
Kelluer. aged thirty eight. of Beaver
Meadow. n special officer. received
shot wounds in the head. hut will re-
cover. Joseph LcSko. aged thirtt-
eight. of Shcppton. Il striker, shot in
the groin and severely injured
Ten non-uuion men were stoned, hut
only two of them were seriously IN
iurcd. They are John Van BMrcin
nnd James Tosh. of Scorpion. The
former sustained scalp wounus and
the latter had four ribs broken.
The Oneida collicry, having been !
operation since the beginning of I'll
strike. the union men at gleida anC
Sheppton. where many . the EN-
ploycs of Coke Rrothc' live. decided
To close down the mn. They gath
cred in groups in the streets as early
aS . o'clock. AS the nun-union men
were going to work they We're asked
by the strikers to remain at home.
Some turned back: others did not
Those who went to the colliery were
stoned. Van Blarcin. one of the non
union employees. attempted to pull Il
! revolver. but the weapon was taken
from him and in the beating he re-
ccivcd he had several ribs broken. This
occurred just before starting time ut
| the mine.
The strikers remained ut the col
liery all the morning. AS the small
mine locomotive used in hauling coal
from the No. = and No. : collicrieS to
the Oneida breaker pulled UP on the
road near the latter collicry IA crowd
of women blocked the track The
intcndcnt Kudlick 10 go home. He
assured them that their husbands
would get an increase in wages and
that their other grievances would he
properly adjusted. The women re
fused To listen, and stoned the Super
| intcndent who was wounded in the
head Then the striking men and the
women rushed toward the NO - col
licry.
y force of fifty special policemen, who
| had been brought down from Beaver
Meadow TO prevent trouble. attempt
ed 10 intercept the mob but they were
powerlcss to do anything. and retired
To the engine room. lust as the olli-
GERS got close To shelter Il shot was
! fired. This was followed by another.
and in few seconds many shots rang
through the air Mills was the first
To fall. Then Joseph Lcsko. Il striker.
staggered 10 the ground No one
knows who shot first, but il is believed
that both the strikers and the officers
used their weapons. a gun shot killed
Mills and a small shot struck Police
man kelnor. Lesko was struck by
IL ball from Il revolver. with which
class of weapon all the officers were
armed.
After the shooting tile strikers dis
perscd. Sheriff Toole. of SchuvlkiIl
County. in whose territory the clash
occurred. was in Philadelphia and
could render no assistance. His chief
deputy, James O'Donnell. went TO the
scene with force Of men.