The San Francisco call., 1906-04-17
Officers Fire Into a Mob
of Miners in Pennsylvania.
Which Attempts to Take
Comrades From the Prison
YOUNG BOY AMONG
VICTIMS OF RIOT
Trouble Follows Big Mass
Meeting of Strikers, Whose
Rage Is Aroused by the
Appearance of a Deputy

JOHNSTOWN, Pa, April 16-Four per-
sons were shot dead and mining en-
gfueer, Eugene Delaney, seriously in
jured. IN a riot at Windber among the
striking coal miners tonight The place
is In a state Of terror, Sheriff Bagley has
been summoned and an appeal has been
made to Governor Pennypacker for
troops. Several others of the rioters have
sustained slight injuries.
The dead:
PIETRO MARTINI
PAUL ZILLS.
ANTONIO MAZUKA-
CHARLES FOSTER, boy Z years old
Martini, ZiIls and Mazuka were miners,
Martini and Zills having been leaders of
the mob.
A number Of disorderly miners had been
arrested during the day. Their fellow
workmen gathered about the Jail and de-
manded that the deputy Sheriff surrender
the prisoners. The officers, reinforced by
the members Of the Fire Department.
withstood the mob with fixed bayonets.
Finally, when pressed TO the last ex-
tremity, the deputies fired into the crowd.
killing three men and fatally injuring
Charles Foster, boy. Foster died dur
ing the evening.
An eye witness Of the riot, in describ-
ing the affair tonight, said the trouble
I
McAIullin went TO the mass meeting held
by the striking miners in wood at the
edge Of town Many Of the miners had
been drinking, and the sight Of the deputy
made them furious. The officer was
quickly surrounded by miners who
threatened TO kill him. McMullin, realiz-
! ing that his situation was desperate, fed
for his life. finding refuge in the house
i Of Councilman Charles Davis.
! Practically every man who had gone TO
the mass meeting Joined in the chase a.
ter the fleeing deputy, and soon after the
/ latter had entered the Davis house, II
was surrounded by a mob Of 1000 shouting.
cursing miners, who challenged McMui-
I lin TO come out
When MeMullin failed TO appear the
mob attacked the house and literally
wrecked it The deputy sheriff was rough
/ " handled, but again managed TO escape
| The members Of the Davis family fed 10
the homes Of nearby neighbors for
shelter.
Other deputies who had been on duty
/ guarding the property of the coal COM
pany had been notified OF the trouble by
/ this time and twenty OF the rioters were
/ landed in the tail at Widber.
The mob, headed by Paul Zills, then
marched TO the center of the town and
prepared TO storm the Jail and release
the rioters. The Deputy Sheriffs fixed
] the DayODetS 10 lnelr r1lleS anu SuIIOuHu-
ed the Jail 20 keep 1t from the mob 5
| possession IL possible. The members Of
the Fire Department were also called out
/ TO help restore order. The foreigners
were urged to be orderly and 70 leave
town, but infamed by liquor they refused
/ to listen, greeting the efforts TO pacify
them with boots and jeers.
At a signal the mob began to close
4 in on the Jail. shouting to the deputies
to throw away their guns and give up
/ the prisoners. The officers first tried
70 keep back the mob with bayonets.
E but the effort was Intellectual Those
Of the foreigners who were closest to
! the jail began using knives in the at
tempt 10 disarm the deputies while
others hourished revolvers.
When IL became certain that the little
band OF deputies and fremen could not
stand before the bowling, infuriated mob,
/ the officers opened fire. The deputies fired
/ but one voIley and the foreigners broke
I and fed in wild disorder. leaving three of
! their number dead in front of the 4afl-
/ The wounded who were able 10 walk
were hurried TO their homes, while an
! ambulance took the more seriously hurt
10 the Widber Hospital, Charles Foster,
the boy died in the hospital
/ Fears are entertained that the strikers
will make another effort to free the riot
ers now in iail.
Deputy Sheriffs are now guarding the
streets ot Widber. pending the arrival
Of the State constabulary.