The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-05

In clash between strikers near the gate
of the American Steel Foundry Company
at Granite City and about twenty-five negro
employees yesterday morning five men wer,
shot, one of them probably will die. Thre,
are strikers and two negroes.
The battle was renewed yesterday evenins
as the negroes were leaving the mill TIL,
strikers numbering about 800 chased tn,
negroes for more than a mile, One wa!
caught and narrowly escaped lynchins.
The strikers are armed. and meet every
train With drawn pistols they thr atsn all
negro laborers who attempt TO leave the
cars.
The trouble started yesterday morning
when the gang of negro laborers In charge
OF William Bird arrived on the 7:30 train
from St Louis and started TO enter the
foundry. crowd Of strikers approached
and attempted to prevent them entering
the works
Bird drew a revolver and pointed Il at
the advancing strikers, telling his comrades
to run while he held the men at bay. Some
one threw a rock and Bird began to fire.
Many Of the negroes also were armed and
they began TO shoot into the crowd as
strikers returned the fire, but the negroes
had reached places of safety.
John Burlington. a machine n1older. sus-
tained the most severe wound in the bat
tie. He was struck IN the back. the bullet
lodging in the kidneys.
Alexander Mathews, a molder's helper.
was shot in the left leg and s. B. Metrord
tended by Doctors Binney and Howe. Buff
fngton was later sent to the st. Mary's
Hospital in st. Louis
Two Of the negroes were wounded before
they could reach the foundry.
Warrant Issued for Bird.
After the shooting many OF the strikers
who have not hitherto been armed. secured
pistols and threats were made against Bird.
a warrant was issued for his arrest, but
Marshal Kessinger was unable to locate
him.
they gathered at the station, which is op-
positc the foundry to meet the negroes
when they stopped work at o'clock
The men in the foundry were informed OF
the crowd and when the whistle blew in
stead OF coming out by the front entrance
they climbed over rear fence and started
where most OF them live.
One of the watching strikers saw them.
and gave the alarm. With angry shouts
the crowd, numbering fully 800 men started
IN pursuit The negroes began TO fire. The
shots were returned by the strikers.
When the negroes neared the road run
ming parallel with the river one OF them
separated from his companions and started
across wheat field toward Venice Sew
eral strikers followed.
Negro Begs for Mercy.
The fleeing negro. seeing he was being
oyerhauled. stopped and throwing up his
vailed and threats OF lynching went to
naught. 1t was decided to take him back
to Granite City. He was dragged hack to
the town. where 1t was found that he was
not the man they wanted, but Edward
Powers of North st. Louis
The other strikers. seeing the capture.
compsnons The % MarsSai s afH fnaIT 3Thea Secured @
the negro, who was badly bruised by rough
handling' and placed him in jail for safe
Louis on boats and trains. having scattered
after the chase.
The strike. which was started last month.
men were employed Yesterday but $50
were at work. and to-day probably not one
Will venture near the plant.
According to the strikers, the trouble
was occasioned by an increased amount of
work being given out each day. for which
they received no additional pay.
President Gothra's Statement.
Edward F. Gothra. president of the COM
pany. states that the trouble grew oU< of
differences in the local unions of Granite
CITY in Organizing the men.
THE men," he said last night, have
been working on the increased basis almost
ever since the plant was started. and do
not have 70 do as much work as in en-
forced in other mills Of the same kind.
81 have done every thing in my power to
settle the trouble and avoid hloodshed. In
a recent conference with committee from
the strikers offered to pay their expenses
to other cities so that thev could observe
conditions in other union foundries.. where
they are made to make twelve castings
DAY instead of nine as was the rule in our
plant ! never received an answer to the
proposition. The negroes r7on whom the
assaults are being made have been employed
at the foundry for years"
Marshal Kassinger requested the strikers
not to carry arms. but they refused to
comply. The Wabash Station. where most
OF the shooting occurred. hears marks Of
the battle. dozen bullets pierced its walls.
1t Is believed no attempt will be made to
operate the plant to-day for fear Of more
blcodshed. Three arrests were made last
night. Jesse Cummings a striker and two
negroes being taken into custody. +,