The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-18
STRIKE RIOTS
IN ALABAMA
COAL REGION
deputy Marshal Is Fatally
: Wounded and a Dozen
Miners Shot.
MILITIA CALLED OUT
BY GOVERNOR Conner
ATTACK MADE upon TRAIN
FILLED WITH STRIKE BREAK
ERS AT JEFFERSON.

Birmingham, Ala, July 1-Robert
Gardner. deputy marshal. was fatal
~ wounded and at least dozen miners
were more or less seriously shot as the
result of an attack on a train bearing
strike breakers to take the places of
striking union miners at Jefferson, near
here. today. The train was in charge
of thirteen deputies and was en- route
TO Adamsville. 1t is said the union
miners attempted to induce the strike
breakers 10 leave the train and threat
ened TO kill them If they went to work.
Governor Conner has ordered a COM
: pany of cavalry from Montgomery to
the scene. and troops already on the
ground are under arms and will patrol
the district tonight, preventing further
disorders.
Deputy Gardner, MORALLY wounded,
was brought to Birmingham tonight.
Deputy George Smith, accompanying
him, estimates that no less than 1000
Shots were fired by both sides in the
attack at Jefferson.
Open Switch Prevented Escape.
According to Smith, the engagement
was opened when a train bearing fifty
strike-breakers attempted ia leave
jefferson for Adamsville. Prior to this
a number of union miners had made
overtures to the rike-breakers to join
their ranks, threatening at the same
time to kill them in case they attempt
ed to work the mines of the operators.
In this emergency deputies attempted
TO have the train run out of Jefferson
under fire if necessary. An open
switch, however, broght the engine TO
q. stop. and in this predicament the
deputies and ke-breakers were fired
upon.
Bullets riddled the train, and that
many men were not injured and killed
IS due to the fact that they fell to the
floor and remained there. Thirteen
deputies returned the fire. and they de-
clare at least a dozen miners were
either killed or seriously wounded. At
this juncture Gardner fell mortally
wounded. The engagement was brought
20 a conclusion when the engine, hav-
ing been repaired. was enabled to make
Roadway.
Brush at Adamsville.
At 9 o'clock tonight everything on
the outskirts Is comparatively peace
full. the militia having reached Adams
vile, the reports from which place
being greatly exaggerated There was
n sharp brush at Adamsville this aft
ernoon. several strike sympathizers
being wounded and thirteen arrested.
The soldiers are encamped there to-
night.
Governor Conner has placed the
troops of the state in the hands of
SHERIFF Higdon. and he will order as
many men out as is deemed necessary.
The union miners are taking the po
sition that they are being mistreated by
deputy sheriffs. There are about 500
of these officers scattered through the
mining territory, ard union miners
have implored Sheriff Higdon to pro-
tect them from the cruelties, as they
claim. of the deputies.
William Farley. member of the ma
tional committee of the union, eX-
pressed delight tonight when he learned
that Governor Conner had called QUE
the troops.
Report of Pitched Battle.
Tonight a report was received at the
sher.ff's Office that pitched battle has
taken place at ySossburg and that nu-
merous men had been killed or wound
ed. State troops will soon be en- route
TO this place, and If the guards. as is
reported, are in distress, they Will soon
be relieved.
The news of the strike has been
greatly exaggerated.
A number of minor offenses have
been reported in the district today.
The home of William Stafford, ne
gro, was dynamited at Pratt City and
partially wrecked.
At Mary Lee. a report just received
Continued on Page 2.