Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-31
srRIKERs ANp poLIcE COLLIDE.

evening between the police OF Shenan-
doah, Pa, and strikers, as a result OF
which three men are dying, and from
sixteen to twenty are wounded. APP
plication has been made TO Governor
Stone for State troops, and it is believed
that the Third Brigade will be ordered
out within twelve hours.
Governor Stone, who was at water
ing place in the State of New York, at
once started for Harrisburg, where be is
expected to arrive today.
Deputy Sheriff Ben Bedall was es-
corting two nun-union men from work
when he was set upon by mob OF
strikers, who made an effort to assault
him. Bedall drew his revolver and fired
over the heads of the mob, holding the
crowd at bay. He then made his way
to the Philadelphia and Reading Rail
way depot. Going into the place, he
barricaded the doors, and rang for the
police.
The mob made an onslaught on the
place, and tried to break down the doors.
Bedall then took the two non-uniOn men
out of rear door, and placing them OH
an engine, ordered that they be taken
out of the town.
Twenty city policemen, under the
leadership Of Chief Frye, soon arrived.
They were accompanied by Joseph
Bedall, nephew of Sheriff Bedall, and
brother of Deputy Bedall. Joseph Be
dali went down to explain to the strikers
that the man they were after was
deputy sheriff and his brother The
strikers shot him in the face knocked
him down, and pounded him brutally.
He is reported to be dying.
The fight became general between the
police and the strikers the entire dis
iance from the Reading station to the
Lehigh Valley station, and over a hun
dred shots were fired. A Lehigh Valley
train came in when the fight was at its
hottest and separated the cOmbatants.
Several policemen tried to get across
the train to the strikers and were drag
ged off and horribly kicked and beaten.
Chief of Police Frye was shot in the
arm and beaten severely. Policeman
Rindheiser was shot in the hand and in
the shoulder, and is in serious condi-
ton. Joseph Relitis, a policemen, was
shot and is dying from his wounds
Frank Matis, striker, also received
fatal wounds and is now reported to be
dying.
Just how many of the strikers were
wounded. and how dangerous are their
hurts cannot be learned, as they were
hustled away by their friends and con-
cealed. The estimated number hurt
ranges from sixteen to twenty.
In response to telegram from Sheriff
Bedall asking for troops Governor Stone
replied that he would send them if the
request were signed by a majority of the
most responsible citizen Of the place.
The petition was circulated for sigma
lures and there is no doubt that enough
will be obtained to insure the ordering
out of the soldiers.
The people of Shenandoah are terri
fed, and yesterday nearly all shut up
their homes.
The miners about Shenandoah are for
the most part Slavs and Lithuanians and
in previous strikes have been the most
turbulent and violent men any where
in the region. 1t was at Shenandoah
that occurred the bloody riot which re-
suited in the troops being called out in
1900.
At $50 o'clock last night Sheriff Be
dali arrived at Shenandoah in special
train with force of deputies. The
sheriff read the riot act and ordered the
crowd which filed the streets to disperse.
At Q o'clock some semblance of or
der had been restored Between and 9
O'Clock an effort was made to make an
appeal to the governor for troops. The
town council was appealed to, but the
members refused to take any action.
They claim that if they make the appeal
they will be boycotted and that the
strikers will wreak vengeance upon
them.
Mayor Brown has issued prOclama-
ton calling upon the citizens to help pre-
serve the peace. All saloons in the city
have been ordered closed. At midnight
everything was reported quiet in the
city. The deputies are patrolling the
streets.