Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-08-22
STRIKER KILLED.
Shot Dead In Fight with Deputies mt
Nesatehoning, Pa.-Prospect of
End of Strike.

Nesquehoning, Pa, Aug. 10.--In a
clash between striking mine workers
and deputies here Monday night, Pat
rick Sharpe, a striker of Lansford,
was shot and killed almost instantly
by deputy. The shooting caused con-
siderable excitement for a time but
order was soon restored without any
other person being injured and the
town is now quiet. A deputy named
Harry McElmoyle was arrested,
charged with the killing of Sharp, and
was taken to the county Jail at Mauch
Chunk. The shooting occurred shortly
after six o'clock. Five deputies were
on their way to Shaft No. /, of the Le-
high Coal & Navigation company, just
outside of the town. In the center of
the town they were met by number
of strikers who began persuading
them not to go to the colliery. The
officers did not stop but kept on their
way and tried to prevent any trouble.
The strikers, it is said, then began to
abuse the men and followed them near
ly up to the colliery. There are con-
ficting stories as to what actually
brought on the clash. but just before
the deputies entered the place a shot
was heard and Sharp dropped to the
ground. The bullet entered his body
close to his heart and he died almost
instantly. Witnesses say that the
shooting was done by McElmoyle and
that he stood only six or seven feet
from Sharp when he fired his revolver.
Only one shot was fired.
The deputies Immediately withdrew
to the colliery, and large crowd
gathered about the place. When it
was learned that Sharp was dead there
was the greatest indignation among
the strikers and other town people,
and for a time it looked as though
serious trouble would follow. Cooler
heads among the mine workers, how
ever, prevailed upon the crowd to dis
perse, using the argument that If
there is any bloodshed troops will
surely be sent here from Shenandoah.
The crowd dispersed and the town
soon calmed down to its normal state.
Witnesses to the shooting went to the
Office of w. X. Watkins, the justice of
the peace, and made information
against Harry McElmoyle, charging
him with the shooting of Sharp. The
| justice placed the warrant in the
hands of Constable Deckert, who found
McElmoyle at shaft No. l, and accom-
| panied by n guard of other officers,
took his prisoner to the county Jail
at Mauch Chunk.
Monday night Baird Snyder, assist
ant superintendent of the Lehigh Coal
& Navigation company. appealed to
Gen. Goblin, in command of the detach-
ment of the national guard now on
duty at Shenandoah, to send troops to
Lansford to preserve order. He said
| that the entire Panther creek valley,
from Nesquohoning to Mauch Chunk,
was in a riotous state and that serious
trouble was feared before morning.
Gen. Goblin said that he could not send
troops until an appeal had been made
by Sheriff Gombert.
Atlantic City, n. j., Aug. 19.-The
conference over the coal strike at
United States Senator Quay's cottage
on New Hampshire avenue Monday
evening will probably lead TO a settle
ment of the long drawn struggle. The
result was decision to have meet
ing between Senators Quay. Penrose,
]. P. Morgan, John Mitchell. George
Baer, president of the Reading rail-
way, and other prominent persons,
who are interested in the settlement
of the trouble, in Philadelphia next
Friday. The delegation here Monday
evening represented the Peoples alli-
ance of Wilkesbarre. and they went
over the situation thoroughly as 1t
stands to-day in the mining region.
1t was the consensus of opinion on
the part of the delegation that there
are differences existing on both
sides, and that if the representatives
of the miners and operators could be
brought together a settlement could
readily be made by means of arbitra-
ton. Senators Quay and Penrose
agreed to do all in their power to
bring about a speedy settlement of
the strike by arbitration.