Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-08-06
Town in Grasp of Mob.

The long pent up anger of the strikers,
TO control which has been the continued
effort of the leaders of the United Mine
Workers. burst all BOUNDS shortly before
nightfall Wednesday and a desperate bat
tie ragged. The men engaged in the con-
hicts were largely of ire foreign element
of the strikers. These flung the counsel
of the leaders TO the winds. Shenandoah,
town of $4,000 inhabitants, and the
surrounding region during the night I'M
derwent reign of terror
All day the town was in disorder, but
the serious trouble did not start until 6
o'clock. when Deputy Sheriff Thomas
Beddall, cousin of the sheriff, attempt
ed to escort two noE-union workers
through the strikers line of Tickets. The
workmen were dressed in their street
clothes, but one of them carried bundle
under his arm, and this aroused the sus-
picion of the strikers. The bundle was
torn from him, and when it was founu TO
contain a blouse and oyeralls the man
was taken from the deputy and beaten
almost to death.
In the meantime Beddall opened fire on
the mob, which had gathered by this
time 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 other strike breaker were
now compelled to fly for their lives and
took refuge in the Philadelphia and Read
ing Railroad station. The station was
soon surrounded by an angry mob of
5000. which was becoming more threat
ening and demonstratiye every moment.
Joseph Beddall, a hardware merchant,
and brother of the deputy sheriff, was
seen making his way through the crowd
In an effort to reach his brother, and the
mob, divining that he was carrying am
muntion to those inside the station. seiz-
ed him and beat him with clubs into in
sensibiIity. He died on the way to the
Miners hospital.
The strikers continued to stone the sta
ton, and the entire borough police force
rushed to the scene and escorted the dep
uty sheriff and his men to an engine
which had been backed into the station
for that purpose. When the mob realized
that its prey was about to escape, it sur
rounded the engine, and the engineer was
afraid to move.
In few moments the police fred a vol
ley. dispensing the crowd for brief pc
Rod, and the engineer turned on full
steam and got away with his men. Stones
were now thrown thick and fast about
the heads of the police. whereupon Chief
John Fry gave the order to fire. At the
first volley the mob fell back and sew
eral were seen to fall. Their retreat, how
ever, was but momentary. They turned
and with revolyers, stones and few
shotguns charged on the little band of
policemen and made them fly for their
lives.
The policemen turned in their flight at
short intervals and fred volley after vol
ley at their pursuers, but the mob seemed
thoroughly Infatuated and smoking re-
volvers seemed to have no terrors for
them.
When the Lehigh Railroad crossing was
reached passing freight train blocked
the progress of the police, two of whom
were caught and beaten. One of them,
Stiney Yacopsky. will die.
1t is estimated that upwards of one
thousand shots were fired, and the Won
der is that more fatalities did not result.
At least twenty strikers, all of whom
were foreigners. were shot, and at least
two of them will die.