Evening star., 1902-08-29
CHARGED ON STRIKERS
Troops Used Bayonets on Mob
at Lansford.
SEVER AL MEN HURT
CAPTAIN Helm INJURED IN THE
MELEE.
Rioters Stood Their Ground Until
They Thought Order Had
Been Given to Fire.

TAMAQUA. Pa, August 29.-In an en-
counter between troops and strikers at
IansfOrd this morning Capt. W. II. Helm
of Company K. 18th Regiment. was slight
" injured. A half dozen strikers were
bayOneted by the soldiers as a result of
the fracas. Mai. Gearhart. in command of
the troops here. states that he will appeal
to the military authorities to put the town
of LansfOrd under martial law.
From daybreak the troops were active in
quelling disturbances and protecting nom
union men while on their way to work
As has been the case for the past few
days. the troops were jeered wherever they
went. The officers repeatedly admonished
the crowds not to insult or molest the SOL
diers, but their words had but little effect
At : o'clock Companies K and E were
placed in two trolley cars. One of the cars
was in front of the car which carried
the non-union men to work and the other
in the rear.
Hooted by Strikers
While passing through Coaldale and
Iansford the soldiers were hooted but as
no stop was made the strikers did not make
any violent demonstration. At Summit Hill
about double the usual number of men
availed themselves of the protection of the
soldiers and went TO work. The pickets of
the strikers made efforts to stop them, but
the warnings of the soldiers held them at
bay When the workmen had been loaded
onto the car the return trip through the
valley commenced.
The word that moro men than usual we're
reporting for work spread through the
lower part of the valley like wildfre, and
In short time the streets were almost
blocked with people. When the corner OF
Center and East Bertsch streets was reach
Cd the cars stopped to allow several nom
union men to get off As the men stepped
TO the ground the mob made a rush for
them. \ half dozen soldiers sprang off the
car and. with leveled guns. forced the strlk-
ers back and made a passag geway for the
noa-un.on men.
Mob Closes in on Troops
When the soldiers returned after escort
Ing their charges to a place of safety the
mob commenced to close in around the
cars The strikers were in an ugly mood.
and when ordered to disperse merely yelled
louder and pressed closer. AS Capt Helm
of Company K was about to Jump from the
car he was seized around the legs and
thrown to the ground. A half dozen pri-
Yates who followed him were roughly
handled. One Of the men had porti n of
MS shirt torn off and, according to the en-
listed men and the officers a NUM- Der of
blows were struck. Major Gearhars. who
was in command of the two companies
then ordered his men to disembark
With dubbed guns and fixed bayonets
the soldiers forced the crowd back Many
or the strikers stood their ground and
would not move until the soldiers jabbed
them with their bay1nets. Some of the
strikers. fearing that the troops would
fire, rushed into the opera house on the
corner. and for time wild scene Of con-
fusion reigned. In about five minutes the
crowd had been pushed back 10 the curb
HHe- In The melee several Of the strikers
We're knocked down. while others suffered
slight bayCnet wounds. Capt. Helm was
severely bruiss by his fall.
Carload of Timber Wrecked.
Last night n carload of timber which
was standing on the Lehigh Coal and
Navigation Company's tracks at Summit
fflll was started down the ste5p stretch Of
road which leads To LaHsford. The car leap
Cd the track at a sharp curve and was
hurled 10 the bottom Of a mine breach
At midnight the Governors Troop Capt
weaver, was sent 10 Summit HiI to pre-
tect the home Of William Henry a mr.
union man. Ii was reported that the strik-
trs were hring on the house. A part OF the
troop remained on guard there all night