The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-06-08
FREE-FoR.ALL FIGHT.
Deadly Rioting Broke Out at Mass
Meetins-Innocent Spectator Killed.

mCCtlH9-iHIlOTCHt OPCStdtOI TNiISo'
Victor, Col, June 7.-Deadly rioting
broke out in Victor during a mass
meeting to discuss the murder at In
dependence. Forty shots were fired
into the crowd II. the street
r. McGee of Victor was shot dead
and at least six persons were injured.
Among the wounded were: William
Hoskins, Goldfield, shot through body,
may die; Alfred Miller Goldfield, shot
In body, may die; J. d. Davis, skull
fractured by blow from revolver.
Secretary Clarence N. Hamlin of
the Mine Owners association made an
address and in conclusion said:
Il want to hear what the boys in
the mines have got to say about this
trouble" referring to the Independence
disaster.
William HoslSins, a union miner
from Goldfeld, threw up his hand and
shouted: Let ME talk" At this the
crowd began to hiss Hoskins, and
cried: Put him out" A free for all
fight followed and shooting began
Most of the shCts were directed sky.
ward
Hoskins fell with a bullet in the
body, and the crowd scattered. Sec
retary Hamlin who was standing on a
wagon kept on talking, unmindful OF
the storm of bullets that whizzed
about his head.
After the first excitement, the
wounded were gathered up.
r. McGee of Victor, who was killed
instantly, had been standing on an
embankment 80 feet above the men
who had been fighting and was an in
nocent spectator.
A pitched battle is looked for at
any moment There are 5000 men on
the streets and union men are armine
themselves. They are thronging the
streets making threats.
Previously to the rioting Sheriff Rob.
ertson had ben summoned to a meet.
ing of the Mine Owners association in
Armory hall, at which Robertson's
resignation was demanded. He yield
ed. Then Edward Bell was appointed
by the county commissioners to fill
Robertson's term. Robertson was a
union miner before he was elected
sheriff Bell is IA member of the Citi.
zens' Alliance.
Nearly all mines in the region had
been closed by order Of the Mine Own
ers' association and hundreds of min.
ers flocked into town from the sur.
rounding hills. Fully 1,200 supporters
of the association gathered about the
armory at a mass meeting. At the
same time 1000 men, armed with all
sorts Of weapons. we're assembling on
the vacant ground at Victor avenue
and Fourth street in response to q
call for union mass meeting. Most
of these we're union men, who declared
their intention to resist to the death
any attempt to run them out of the
region.
City Marshal O'Connell, who had
been refused admittance to the Mine
Owners headquarters, hurriedly swore
in several hundred citizens, most OF
them union men, as deputy policemen.
After a conference with Sheriff Bell
and a number of mine owners, Mayor
French removed Marshal O'Connell
and dismissed his deputies
Then followed the rioting in which
MCGEE was killed and at least six per
sons were injured.
After the rioting began, Sheriff
Bell ordered out all the soldiers in the
region. He also appointed 100 depu'
ties.
Wholesale arrests of union men will
be made, it is said
Soldiers already have arrested three
editors and printers of the Record and
City Marshal O'Connell put them II
the bull pen"
All mine owners are carrying
weapons.