Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-27

HARRISBURG, Sept. 22-At mid
night. the fourth, eighth and twelfth
regiments and a battery were called
out with General Gobing.
General Goblin started with his staff
on special train for Shenandoah. He
will establish headquarters there and
expects to be on the ground with $500
troops this morning.
Rioting at Shenandoah.
Philadelphia, Sept. 22.-The tragedy
that has been looked for since the coal
workers strike was inaugurated came
suddenly and unexpectedly at Shenan-
doah yesterday afternoon A posse
was forced to fire on the mob, threat
ening workmen on their way home IN
der escort. A man and a little girl
were instantly killed, and seven others
fell more or less seriously wounded.
Sheriff TooIe lost no time in calling on
the commander of the national guard
of Pennsylvania to send troops to aid
in keeping the peace. After consulta-
ton thestate authorities at Harrisburg
decided at midnight to send troops to
the turbulent region. The Shenan-
doah trouble was precipitated by clos
ing six collieries through the efforts
of strike leaders. More will close to-
day as a voluntary act. Sheriff TOOle
hopes in this manner to avoid further
Tioting. The outlook at midnight,
ers are in an ugly mood. Elsewhere
in the strike region everything is
quiet; although preparations are MAX
ing for an outbreak in the HazeltOn
district and armed sheriffs and depu-
ties are much in evidence there. The
Reading company has about discon-
tinued the sale Of coal for future de-
livery and the rioting almost certainly
means the shutting Off of the coal pro-
duction everywhere in the anthracite
field, temporarily at least.
How the Trouble Began.
Shenandoah, Pa, Sept. pa
sheriff's posse fired on a crowd Of riot
Gus men near here yesterday afternoon,
killing two persons and wounding sew
en- others. 1t is feared some of the in
jured will die as a result of their
wounds. In addition three persons
were injured by missiles thrown by
the mob. Sheriff TOole anu Deputies
ODonnell and Brenneman were called
to Shenandoah yesterday to suppress
the mobs that threatened the mine
workers and the colliery property. At
quitting time three sheriffs and a small
posse whom the sheriff had summoned
on the ground went to the Indian Ridge
colliery Of the Reading company to es-
cort the Workingmen to their homes.
The workmen left for home shortly
after 4. They walked up the middle of
East Center street, and reached the Le-i
high Valley railroad station. Here hadI
gathered large crowds of Poles, Slavs
and Hungarians, men, women and chill
dren, 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 al
manner. Seeing this, the i
sheriff, who had previously cautioned
his men to keep cool and not use fire
arms, commanded them to fire. The
order was obeyed with terrible results.
The crowd then pursued the sheriff and
his posse to the Ferguson house, where
they took refuge. Sheriff Toole short
ly afterward teIephOned Harrisburg,
asking that a detachment of troops be
sent here.
AS Supt Adam Boyd, Inside Fore
man Foley and Bosses James and Will |
liam Mitchell, of the Indian Ridge col |
liery were returning home from work |
they were met at Lehigh station by a /
mob with sticks and stones. The mine |
C4lIN 1c11S ulGN 1CNOlf Gle anu LII Cd L LS
mob became furious after one Of it's
number vas shot, and attempted to
close in on the officials. They ran in
to stable where they were impris-
oned for two hours. The mob threat
7ned to burn the stable, but Sheriff
Toole with twenty deputies arrived,
dispersed them and the mine officials
started for their homes. AS they
again neared the Lehigh Valley sta
ion the mob hurled stones at the dep
titles and a shot was also fired from
ne saloon. The deputies then opened /
ire. They fastened on, in the mean
line firing over 500 shots, the mob
lurling missiles Of all kinds. One
nan and little girl were
ound lying dead after the
shooting. The crowd finally
dispersed During the riot windows
we're broken, buildings wrecked and
lumber Of persons injured. The for
igners held a meeting and more trou-
lie is feared unless the militia arrives.
p TO a late hour the Hungarian that
vas killed was permitted to lie in the
utter where he dropped. Foreigners
II this class say the dead man is OF no
Use and they refuse to care for the re-
Mains The Shenandoah council held
meeting and passed resolutions call
ng upon the governor to send militia.