The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-22
THE CITY UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

warning elements represented, failed
to settle the Albany strike of street
railway employees.
The strikers waived all demands
for the removal of the nine non-union
men. The executive committee of the
United Traction Company will consider
the proposition in the morning and
may accept it and settle the strike.
In the meantime, Maj. Gen. Roe in
tends to take every precaution, and at
midnight ordered out the Ninth regi-
ment of New York. It will arrive here
tomorrow afternoon 800 strong, and if
the strike is not settled will assist in
opening up the other lines of the
traction company in this city.
William Walsh, one of the men
wounded by bullet from squad Of
the Twenty-third regiment, defending
car, died at 10. Is tonight.
Leroy Smith, shot in the same
melee, was slightly improved at mid
night.
The shooting of Smith and Walsh
had very depressing effect upon the
members of the Thirty-third regiment,
and tonight when stones we're thrown
at the picket men around Quail Street
barn, they did not fire into the dark.
Two privates were hit and hurt, but
they did not care to take the chance by
firing. 1t was held by the officers
and men generally that the order to
fire was entirely justified, but there
was general regret at the consequences
of the volley. With the addition of
the Ninth regiment tomorrow there
will be over 5000 guardsmen in Al
bany.
The bloodshed came after a day of
peace. From early morning the
crowds had melted away before bayo-
nets and shotguns, cars had been ope-
rated under heavy guards and there
was an impression that the spirit Of
turbulence was wanting. There had
been some minor demonstrations, par
ticularly in North Albany, but not a
shot had been fired and as the day had
passed along. the running of cars at
tracted but little attention. The vol
ley fred on Broadway by squad OF
the Twenty-third infantrymen, in
which Leroy Smith and VIM. Walsh,
we'll known citizens, fell mortally
wounded, changed all that. 1t stirred
and the feeling of hatred as the excit-
ing tidings swept through the city
and the guardsmen we're bitterly de-
nounced. Neither of the men had
been guilty of any offence but were
caught in crowd, some member of
which had stoned the guardsmen, and
by mischance were hit. The distur-
bance was not serious one and 'mur-
der'' is the title applied by infam-
ed public sentiment to the shooting.
The guardsmen seem but to have fol
lowed their duty was soldiers for they
were under orders to shoot if assault
ed. The bright prospect of a settle
ment of the strike has not served tc
allay the growth of vindictive feeling
and if the present situation continues
acts Of bitter revenge and violence may
be expected.
It was on the last run of the SOL
diers that the tragedy of the day oc-
Cured. The cars were on Broadway
moving northward and a constantly
swelling crowd was gathered about the
union depot. The first of the workday
folk had been released by the whistles
that sounded through the manufacture
ing district and they were pouring
into the streets. Near Columbia street
a truck blocked the way of car, and
urged on by the crowd, the driver re-
fused to move on as speedily as desir-
| GU. oOluS OllS III GuC CIONO- GuTOW q
stone, but it went wide of its mark.
The crowd was very noisy and there
was much confusion. The car finally
moved forward into the next block
and another stone was thrown at it..
There was sharp command and as
the car slowed down four shots were
fired from it. Leroy Smith lounged
on the steps of his store, VIM. Walsh,
his business neighbor from across the
street, was his immediate companion
and small crowd hung about near
them. 1t was into this crowd that the
guardsmen fired at range of less than
twenty feet. Smith and Walsh were
both shot in the abdomen, and fell
where they stood. \ third man, VIM.
Rooney, was slightly hurt by glanc-
ing bullet. Some of the guards step
ped from the car and reloaded their
pieces. The startled crowd fell back