The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-09
s1.OO PER YEAR
STRIKERS PANIc-srRIcKKS
Bewiidermeut OF Tampa Cigar-Makers
Over Abduction OF Their Leaders

Tampa. Fla. August s.-The strike
situation tonight IS one OF bewilder-
ment on the part OF the strikers and
unmovable determination on the part
Of the citizens. No word has been re-
ceived from or about the Resistencia
leaders who were deported last night,
and the vigiiants are sworn 10 secrecy,
further than that they admit the 7sen
Will never return to Tampa. The ex-
act number OF the men deported Is not
yet known. further than that every
prominent leader OF the strike is miss
ing. II is said that other leaders are
marked and deportation may take place
at any moment.
The kidnapping last night had been
well planned for days. = great open
air meeting hai been arranged. TO which
all the Resistencia leaders had been in
vited. the purpose being TO seize them
all in a bunch. They were all out. the
streets We're lined with thousands OF
people and the band was getting in Its
work. The news reached the strike
leaders and they quickly dispersed
The posse was not daunted. and COM
menced man To- man search through
the streets and snatched the men from
the crowds. They were placed In car
riages that had been provided between
heavily armed guards and driven
to the county jail. where they remained
on the outside under guard for a few
minutes. Then they disappeared from
there and have not been seen or heard
of since. Various rumors as 30 their
disposition have been circulated In the
city today. IL being most generally re-
ported that they were taken TO the gulf
in an unknown and mysterious vessel.
All of the deported strike leaders were
Spaniards and Cubans. The boldnesa
of the whole affair and the accomplish
ment OF the deportation without blood
shed is one of the remarkable features.
An address will be delivered at once,
probably tomorrow morning by the
citizens telling the strikers To immedi-
ately resume work or that deportations
will not be confined to the leaders.
The soup kitchens are closed by force
at once and the food shut OFF from the
strikers forcing them TO either leave
the city, resume work or starve.
1t develops tonight that twelve more
strikers who We're among the sub-lead-
ers have been deported this afternoon
and tonight. Some OF the strikers have
held number of meetings during the
day secretly and have conferred with a
number of lawyers. with view of TAX
ing some action. No one would take
terest of the International Union. They
have also appointed new committees
to carry on their work and in case OF
each committee five different ones were
created Sc that when one is taken away
another will, take his place.
A proclamation was issued here this
afternoon signed THE People of Tam
pa" which says in part:
ITO the anarchists and professional
labor agitators:
I'VE say that your days in Tampa are
at an end. We cannot and Will not per-
| NIT you to destroy this prosperous city.
If you have regard for yourself and
family You will shake its dust from your
feet. In conclusion. we notify the man.
ufacturers that this movement OF citi-
zens is not in your interest, but in the
interest of the entire community"