The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-01


and after such investigation believe
that you will learn that the presence
of the troops in this town is unneces-
sary, and that the order should be
revoked"
1t is said the mine workers officials
intend to circulate among the citizens
of the town for signatures a petition
calling upon the Governor to withdraw
the troops.
Miles Dougherty, national board
member of the United Mine Workers
from this district. told the Associated
Press representative TO might that
Deputy Sheriff Thomas Reddall. who is
a nephew of the sheriff of the county,
and who was escorting workmen
along the street, which action led to
the riot was wholly responsible for the
trouble. Mr.. Dougherty said Beddall
had no good reason to shoot, as no one
was making an attack upon him. The
firing of the pistol angered the crowd,
which soon got beyond the control of
the peacemakers. Beddalrs brother
Joseph, who attempted to go to his res
cue, was badly beaten by some one in
the crowd, because he was carrying
several boxes of cartridges to his
brother Thomas.
1t is not improbable that the strik-
ers will call upon the county officers
TO fix the responsibility for the shoot
ing on the deputy sheriff.
Joseph BeddaI Dead.
Joseph Beddall died shortly after 10
o'clock tonight. He was a brotehr of
Deputy Sheriff Thomas Beddall and
nephew of S. r. Beddall the sheriff
of the county.
The physicians at the miners hospit-
al at Fountain Springs, where some of
the wounded were taken, fear that
Beddall will die. The four policemen
who were shot and the strikers who
We're also hit by bullets. will recover.
Most of the wounded strikers say they
were merely onlookers.
The district attorney and the sheriff
are conducting an investigation with
a view to placing under arrest all
those who participated in the riot.
Several of the wounded strikers called
at the miners hospital to-day to have
slight injuries dressed, and after the
doctors got through with them they
We're arrested and taken to the Potts
vile jail.
Mitchell on the Riot.
Wilkesbarre Pa, July 31.-The riot
at Shenandoah last night has had a
depressing effect at strike headquar-
ters President Mitchell was up early
anu dShCu IOI lllC llGWSpdpCASs IIC odld
he was very sorry the thing had hap
pened, but declined to make any COM
ment until he had heard from District
President Fahy. Later. after receiv-
ing an official report, President Mitch
ell issued the following statement:
Complete and authentic reports fur
nished by national officers of our or
ganization located at Shenandoah,
show that the stories of the riot at
Shenandoah were greatly exaggerated,
and the facts greatly distorted. 1t
develops that no one was killed or
fatally injured. and that the entire
trouble might have been diverted had
the deputies kept cool and used great
er. discretion. While / greatly depre-
cate acts of laNlessness. by anyone,
pasticulariy by those on strike, am
naturally pleased to learn that the
trouble is not as serious as first re-
ported, l have warned the strikers
that any violation of law on their part
would initiate against themselves
alone and | am hopeful that there will
be no repetition of trouble of this
character.
All the local leaders of the United
Mine Workers deplore the shedding of
blood and the calling out of the troops
They say the presence of the soldiers
Will encourage the operators to start
up their mines and II the collieries in
the Schuylkill district are put in Oper-
alton 1t will only be question of time
until mines in other parts of the strike
belt resume, for the miners of the
Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys will
not be content to remain idle while
their brethren in other parts of the
region are working.
1t is the history of past coal strikes
that the presence of the militia is al
most always a sure indication of an
early resumption of mining
Those of the local operators who
could be seen to-day are of the opinion
that the backbone is now broken and
that 1t will be a short time only until
there will be a general resumption.