Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-04
CLASH WITH STRIKERS
Riotous Miners Fired on Guards
Last Night.
AT STEUBENvILLE, OHIO
Four Men Wounded, Two Probably
Fatally.
VICTIMS OF AN AMBUSCADE
Battle Lasted Fifteen Minutes
Sheriff Has Wired Governor
to Send Troops.


srEUBENvILLE Ohio. June 4.-The
first battle between the striking coal miners
and the guards at the United States Steel
Coal Company mines took place at o'clock
this morning. -Four men. two guards and
two strikers, were wounded. No one was
killed.
OF the injured. two will probably die.
Eleven others, all guards, are missing It
is supposed that they have deserted.
The wounded were all foreigners. They
were taken to Plum Run, and are now in
the hospital tent being cared for by the
company.
The miners had prepared an ambuscade
for the guards in the woods midway be-
tween Plum Run and Bradley mines. ana
as the sixty-three armed men, marching
single file, came along the narrow path a
miner ahead shot In the air. At this signal
the 250 strikers who were hiding behind
the rocks and trees opened fire from the
hillsides on the guards in the hollow.
Many of the latter at once broke ranks
and fed back to Plum Run, but others stood
their ground and returned the fire. The
battle lasted fifteen minutes. Over 500
shots were exchanged. and the firing only
ceased after the guards ammunition had
been exhausted.
The guard then retired from the field and
returned 10 PIum hun.
Cause of tho Attack
The ambuscade. 1t is said, was arranged
last night because of an alleged assault
upon an italian union miner who refused to
work.
Sheriff Voorhees, has gone out to the
mines. and before leaving he telephoned
the adjutant general at Columbus to be
ready to send troops IL needed.
Matters are quiet today atsPlum Run and
Bradley. although there is much suppressed
excitement.
An engagement between guards and
strikers took place at Glenn's Run, mine
No 2. during the night.
All the men imported there have left
but strikers and guards got to clashing in
arguments. which led to blows and then
to shots.
Nearly seventy-five shots were fired, and
during the battle Superintendent T. a.
Young OF Cleveland. who was at the mine
directing the guard, was slightly wounded
Indications were that trouble. which has
existed In this region since the LIST Of April,
would have been settled today at all the
mines but those OF the United States Coal
Company OF Cleveland. but it IL feared the
trouble this morning will interfere with
the negotiations.
State Troops Mobilized.
COLUMBUS. Ohio. June 4-sherifr voor-
hees Of Jefferson county has wired here for
100 soldiers to be ordered Immediately to
the scene of the shooting near Steuben-
vile.
A bulletin from Steubenville today SAYS
500 shots were fred by striking miners on
the one side and by mine guards on the
other No one was killed. Sheriff Voorhees,
says he expects more trouble tonight. 'N'a
As a result Of the rioting at Bradley. In
Jefferson county. peace negotiations which
were started with view Of settling the
controversy between the operators and
the scale committee met today the opera
tors asked for an adjournment until 1
O'Clock. In the meantime the mine owners
decided to hold caucus.
Orders at Alliance.
ALLIANCE. Ohio. June 4-The officers
of Company X of the 9Th Regiment, O. N.
c., here. received notice this morning to
hold themselves in readiness as an order
calling them out would follow in two hours
for service in the coal districts
Another Outbreak is Feared.
AS the result of today's conflict the for
eisners are greatly excited and another out
break Is expected tonight. The strike lead
ers are having a hard time to control the
angry strikers. and 1t is feared they will
be unable to hold them In check. Secretary
Rankin OF miners subdistrict No ar
rived at the scene during the morning and
with the three organizers who have been
conducting the strike are working among
the men, counseling peace.
1t Is now alleged that the first shots
were fired by the guards. but that the vol
ley was fired in the air to frighten the
miners.
After the battle thirty-two guards sue
1n1 IN h f,or 10
are now In complete control.
The company officials are preparing for
trouble tonight, and, 1t Is said have re-
quested the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany to have special train In readiness to
carry additional guards to the mines II
they are needed.
Government Inquiry Is Needed.
COLUMBUS. Ohio. June 4-John H.
Winder. chairman of the operators asso-
ciation of Ohio and Indiana In an inter-
view about the riots In Jefferson county,
Ohio. says that he has made every effort to
get a government investigation into the
conditions in Ohio and elsewhere. He said:
The sooner a government investigation of
the mining situation is held the sooner such
occurrences as that at Bradley will cease.
We have tried every way in our power to
prevent just such trouble. Let congress
sfonal commission inquire into the situation
and see who Is In the wrong or who Is in
the right In this controversy Let 1t look
into the methods employed by the miners
and those practieed by the operators. 1t Is
more important to have this investigation
now than 1t lis to investigate the beef trust
or the railroad trust"
Troops Ordered Out by Governor.
COLUMBUS. Ohio, June A-Col Ammei,
commander of the 4th Regiment, Ohio Ma
ticnal Guard, after consultation today with
Adjt Gen. Hughes and Secretary to the
Governor Houck, ordered out the regiment
because OF the miners riot In Jefferson
county. The orders are that the regiment
Will redezvous here at once preparatory to
going to the scene of the trouble. No orders
have been issued to go to Jefferson county,
but 1t Is said that they will be issued this
afternoon. The regiment will muster about
600
The regiment Is made up of the following
companies: Company A. Columbus; Com
pany b, Columbus: Company C, Columbus:
Company l. Columbus; Company d. Mar
lon: Company f. Marysvilie: Company +.
Circleyille: Company G. Newark; Company
II Chffiicothe. Capepapy Do3o