Evening star., 1902-07-31
RIOT At SHENANDOAH
Strikers and Police in a
Pitched Battle.
SEVERAL MEN SHOT
ONE MAN BEATEN TO DEATH BY
MOB.
Gov. Stone Orders Three Commands Of
the State Militia to the
SEVERAL MEN SHOT

A dispatch from Shenandoah. Pa, last
night says: A reign of terror compared
with which the scenes enacted during the
riots of 1900 seem Insignificant holds Shen-
andoah in its grasp tonight Since 6 o'clock
this evening Center 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 per-
haps fatally. Joseph Beddal, a leading
merchant and cousin of Sheriff Beddal was
brutaIly dubbed to death, and upward of
a score of strikers. whose names at this
writing could not be ascertained. were shot
by policemen. and it is expected that sew
eral deaths will result
Sheriff BeddaI arrived from Pottsville at
T:45 O'Clock with a posse of deputies. He
has taken up his headquarters at the Fer
guson Hotel and asked Governor Stone to
send the militia. This request has been
complied with and troops will be here to-
morrow.
The trouble started about o'clock this
evening. when Deputy Sheriff Thomas Bed
dal attempted to escort two non-uniOn
workers through the strikers line of pick
cts. The workmen were dressed in their
street clothes, but one of them carried a
bundle under his arm. and this aroused the
suspicion of the strikers. The bundle was
lpTH IEOIl HlIll, ana WDSn II was IOunQ 10
contain a blouse and overals the man was
taken from the deputy and beaten almost
to death.
Sheriff Opens Fire on Mob.
In the meantime Beddal opened fire on
the mob which had gathered and emptied
his revolver. Two of the shots took effect
one man being shot in the leg and the
other in the foot. The deputy and the
strike-breaker were now compelled to fly
for their lives and took refuge IN the Phil
adelphia and Reading railroad depot. The
depot was soon surrounded by an angry
mob of 5,COD, which was becoming more
threatening and demonstrative every mo-
ment- Joseph Beddal, a hardware mer-
chant and brother of the deputy sheriff.
was seen making his way through the crowd
IN an enort To reach his brother, and the
mob divining that he was carrying ammu-
milton to those inside the depot, seized him
and beat him with clubs and billies into
insensibilty. He died en- route to the
miners hospital
Shortly after this the entire borough DO
lice force arrived on the scene and escorted
the deputy sheriff and his man to an
engine which had been backed into the
depot for that purpose. When the mob re-
allied that their prey was about to escape
they surrounded the engine and the engi-
neer was afraid to move. In few mo-
ments, however. the police fired volley
dispensing the crowd for a brief period. and
the engineer turned on full steam and got
away with his men. Stones were then
thrown thick and fast about the heads of
the police whereupon Chief John Fry gave
the order TO fire
Several Rioters Seen to Fall.
At the first volley the mob receded and
several were seen to fall Their retreat
however was but momentary They
turned and, with revolvers, stones and
even few shotguns, charged on the little
ndnd OF policemen and made them fee for
thelr hVes- The policemen turned in their
nIsht at short intervals and fired volley
after volley at their merciIess pursuers
but the mob seemed thoroughly infuriated
and smoking revolvers had no terrors for
them When the Lehigh railroad crossing
was reached a passing freight train blocked
the progress Of the party. two Of whom
were caught and brutally beaten. One of
them. Stiney Yacopsky will die
IL Is estimated that upward of 1000 shots
were fired. and the wonder is that more
fatalities did not result More than twenty
strikers, all of whom were foreigners were
shot. and at least two of them will die
Many OF the merchants and politicians re-
fused to sign a call for troops. fearing that
BILE is over
At IL o'clock tonight the streets are still
crowded with people, but everything Is
quiet.
dressed
wounds of nearly forty strikers all of
whom were foreigners. whose names could
not be ascertained. 1t Is known at mid
night that four out of the six policemen
were shot. Chief Fry received a slight
wound In the hand. Yacopsky was shot in
the neck and head and may die. Ringheiser
was shot in the hand and back: not Sc
rious. Laurites was shot In several places
and cannot recover.
The following printed notice was posted
by the mine workers all over the town to-
night:
In view OF the disturbances that have
occurred in Shenandoah within the past
tWenty-four hours, in utter disregard OF the
teachings and principles of the United Mine
Workers as an organization and contrary
to the explicit Instructions of the leaders
we call upon all members Of the United
Mine Workers to at once do all in their
power to suppress lawlessnesS and to aid
the officers In every way to maintain peace
and good order. JOHN F'AHY,
President District o.
Tr0opS nrIaroI Out