The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1909-08-24

by the state constabulary. Several
scores OF others are in custody for
participation in last nights disorders.
A house to house canvass is being
made by the troopers.
A rigid search is being made for
+ dynamite, large quantity of which
is reported to be in the possession of
the strikers. A force of deputy coro-
ners has been dispatched to McKee's
Rocks with instructions to assist if
possible in identifying the instigators
of the trouble Practically the entire
county detective force has been sent
into the strike zone for the first time
since the inception of the trouble.
Mrs. Michael Nester of McKee's
Rocks, reported to Lieutenant Smith
of the state constabulary today that
last night during the rioting fifteen
members of the mob had forcibly en-
tered her apartment while she was
on another floor visiting friends and
then men had crawled under beds,
into closets, and hidden behind the
furniture. A squad of state troops
pursuing the fleeing rioters entered
the apartments and locked the doors
behind them.
Mrs. Hester said the troops then
dragged the men from their hiding
place and one by one beat them un-
mercifully with the three-foot hickory
clubs. In the melee, beds were torn
apart anad ripped up; mirrors were
smashed and the furniture of the fiat
more or less demolished. The woman
was informed that her only recourse
was to sue the county of Allegheny
for damages.
Shortly before noon, Sheriff Gum
bert, stated he would not announce
until late today whether he would ask
the governor for additional armed
forces.
In going over the riot district, dep
uty sheriffs found two unexploded
bombs which had been thrown during
the disorders.
Two state troopers are dying in a
hospital. 1t was at first believed
their wounds were not serious. Troop
er Williams, who was killed, Joined
the contsabulary from Monterey, Cal
ifornia. He was a scout under GEN
eral Lawson.
According to reports Troop B OF
the state constabulary, under COM
mand of Capt. Robert Robinson, has
been ordered to McKee's Rocks and
| it is said has already started for this
place.
i Three columns of smoke came from
the cvhimneys of the Pressed Steel
Car company's plant in Schoenville
tonight, the plant being in operation
in spite of the efforts of the mob to
scare off the imported workmen. The
strikers seemed to realize for the first
time that the company could do with
out them. More state police have
been ordered here to augment the
company of mounted constabulary on
duty at the car plant.
The strikers realize that the mount
ed troops are too much for them. Yet
all day the troopers were subjected to
abuse from windows and doors when
ever they CHANGED to pass strike
sympathizer's home. In retaliation
every striker or sympathiZer who left
his doorstep was searched. Besides
| searching, the troopers examined the
! strikers personally and if they bore
bruises or traces of being dubbed
they were promptly arrested, as the
! troopers considered such evidence
/ last nights rioting.
| Twenty-Five men were arrested be-
! fore nightfall. Those who resisted
were manacled to troopers horses
and dragged through the streets to
the plant entrance. At noon the great
bells of the Catholic cathedral in Nc
KEGS Rocks began tolling. This was
/ kept up for over two hours. Then the
bells were ordered silenced by state
troopers, as it was pointed out that
such demonstrations only went to-
ward agitating the strikers.
Strikers wives besieged Lieutenant
, Smith of the state constabulary for
news of their missing husbands.
The strikers seemed awed at the
extent of last nights fatalities. News
that additional state constabulary were
on their way seemed to act as quietus
upon those few strike sympathizers
who gathered in doorways during the
evening and discussed the situation
1t was announced that the government
would heed the peonage' charge
against President F. H. Hoffsot and
Foreman Samuel Cohen of the Pressed
! Steel Car company to the extent OF
making a thorough investigation OF
the allegations made by Albert Va
mos, who swore to the charges before
United States Commissioner Lindsay
on last Sunday.