The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-08-06
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, August 6, 1902.
Under Martial Law.

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of terror, compared with which the
scenes enacted during the riots of
1880 seem insignificant, holds Shenan-
doah in it's grasp tonight. Since 6
o'clock this evening Centre street,
which is one Of the principal streets
of the town, has been in the hands
of an infuriated mob.
Two of the borough policemen
were shot, one perhapsfatally. Joseph
Bedall, Heading merchant and cousin
of Sheriff Bedsll, was brutally club
bed to death and upwards of score
of strikers, whose names at this writ
ing could not be ascertained, were
shot by policemen, and it is expected
that many deaths will result.
The trouble started when the Dep
uty Sheriff attempted to escort two
non union workers through the strik-
ers' line of pickets. The workmen
were dressed in their street clothes,
but one of them carried bundle un-
der his arm and this aroused the
suspicion of the strikers. The bun
die was torn from him and when it
was found to contain q blouse and
overalls the man was taken from the
deputy and beaten almost to death.
In the meantime the deputy opened
FIRE on the mob which had gathered
by this time and emptied bis revolver.
Two shots took effect, one man being
shot in the leg, another in the foot.
The deputy and the strikers were
now compelled to fight for their
lives and took refuge in the Philadel-,
phia aud Reading depot. The depot
was soon surrounded by sn angry
mob of 5000, which was becoming
more threatening and demonstrative
every moment.
In few moments, however, the po-
lice fred volley dispensing the crowd
for q brief period. Stones were thrown
thick and fast about the heads of the
police, whereupon Chief Johnsey
gave the order to fire. At the first
volley the mob fell back and several
were seen to fall. Their retreat,
however, was but momentsry. They
turned with revolvers, stones and a
few show guns they charged on the
little band of policemen and made
them fly for their lives. The police
men turned in their fight at short in
teryals and fired volley after volley
at their merciless pursuers, but the
mob seemed thoroughly infuriated
and smoking revolvers seemed to have
no terrors for them. When the Le-
high railroad crossing was reached
q passing freight train blocked the
progress of the men, two of whom
were caught and brutally beaten.
It is estimated that upwards of one
thousands shots were fred and the
wonder is that more fatalities did
not result. More than twenty strik-
ers were shot and at least two of
them will die. Many of the mer-
chants and politicians are refusing to
sign the call for troops, fearing that
the miners will boycott them after
the trouble is over, and as the Gov
ernor has made the sending of troops
contingens on the petition OF citlzens
there is some doubt as to whether
they will be sent.
Shenandoah, Pa, July 31.-The
city is under martial law today. It
is reported that two Polanders were
killed during the nights riot. Their
bodies were carried away by friends.
Fifteen hundred troops, fully armed,
under General Goblin, are on duly
and five thousand rioters who stormed
the police with guns, reVolvers, stones
and clubs are held in check for the
time being.
It is known today that the two
hours fighting last night resulted in
at least thirty-seven wounded, seven
fatally. Oversa thousand shots were