Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-17
PENMs sYLVANlA STRIKE AS
suMEs EXTREMELY CRITICAL
ASPECT; RuMoR THAT PLANT.
is TO OPEN RousEs MEN.
THE INJURED NOW
FILL HOSPITALS
coNsTARuLARY, MOUNTED, LAST
NIGHT OPENED FIRE ON 10000
STRIKERS AND MANY WERE
HURT AS RESULT.

Pittsburg, July 16.-Shoot to kill II
q man reaches for a gun is the order
under which the members of the state
constabulary are working today at the
Schoenville plant of the Pressed Steel
Car company. Owing to the increas-
ing gravity of the strike. situation
every approach to the big plant is
guarded by men. All persons are COM
PEELED to satisfy the strikers that they
are not seeking employment.
With the coming of daylight the riot
Ing ceased, but by 8 o'clock the streets
again took on a lively aspect The
strikers in even a more ugly mood
were gathering around the various en-
frances to the mill.
Workers Search For Strike Breakers.
Reports were in circulation that an
attempt would be made to resume
operations in portion of the plant, at
least This caused the holding up by
the strikers of street cars, wagons and
persons unknown to the men in their
search for strike breakers. Two wagon
loads Of cots and bedding were taken
into the plant this morning. These are
4 to be used by the constab,ilary and
deputy sheriffs
Police Clear Streets Today.
1t is admitted by the authorities the
situation is extremely critical today.
At $50 o'clock the groups of idle
workmen had increased to such an ex-
tent that an order was given to clear
the streets and the constabulary in
squads of ten scattered the strikers in
all directions. The troopers we're
showered with bricks. The lombard
ment lasted but a few moments. Sew.
eral police were slightly hurt. Twenty
two men charged with rioting We're
brought from the McKee's Rocks coun-
ty Jail by Sheriff Gumbert today. The
number of injured as the result of the
disorders will total close to fifty.
Last Nights Fight.
Fifty members of the mounted state
constabulary had a battle with a strike
mob of 10000 last night. Trooper
Elmer Jrtsen is in the Ohio Valley
hospital as result of his injuries
1t is estimated that fifty of the mob
were injured by the mounted men
Jrtsen was knocked from his horse
and the animal fell and rolled on him.
The strikers, who had gathered in
force near the troopers barracks, be-
gan stoning them, and when the horse
men, fifty strong, began to ride them
down the strikers, safe behind piles
of ties and other refugees, pelted them
numerically with stones.
The troopers fred several times
with blank cartridges and then final
ly loaded with ball cartridges and fred
one volley, which is said to have
wounded many. This battle followed
sanguinary encounter earlier in the
day which was longer.
Backed by 300 deputy sheriffs, arm
ed with riot guns, and by about 500
special officers, the state constabulary
In this earlier battle began one of the
worst fights of it's career. Back and
forth across the town they fought, rid
Ing down strikers everywhere and
shooting one occasionally, but always
In pursuit of alleged ringleaders, who,
whom caught, were hastily handcuffed
and chained to the nearest pillar,
while the fight and chase continued,
More than a score of alleged strike
leaders were locked up last night.
Fight Covers the City.
AS yesterday, it is impossible to
give an estimate of the injured during
the day, but it will run into the hum
dreds. For more than an hour there
was a free for all riot all over the
. town of McKee's Rocks. At one time
Trooper Fred F. Frash of the con
stables was knocked from his horse
by a striker. AS he climDed back into
the saddle he fired over the heads Of
the mob. This brought a derisive
shout and a shower of stones. Reel
ing in his saddle, the man then fred
into the crowd at close range and six
other constables did the same.
There was an answering volley, in
which the hal of one constable was
shot off and another shot through the
fieshy part Of the arm. The mob, how
ever, began to break ground at this
display of real shooting. At least
eight strikers were seen to be assisted
away by women who were hanging on
the rear of the mob during the fight
Ing.
The Ohio Valley hospital is full 70
averfiowing with the wounded.