Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-11

or platoons. Each company is made
up of a captain, lieutenant, five ser
geants and fifty privates, though at
present none of the companies has
its full quota. Each man before he
became a member OF the force was
compelled to undergo a severe physical
and mental examination.
Only men between the ages OF TWEEN
ty-one and forty years are eligible to
the force. In organizing the troops
preference was given to discharged
United States army soldiers, and the
force is said to be made up almost ex-
clusively of men who have seen serv-
ice in the federal army. The service
equipment Of the men consists of car
bines. pistols Of large caliber, sabers
and riot sticks. They ride black horses.
wear black uniforms and high black
helmets and carry riot maces, which
past service has shown they can use
with deadly precision. Married men
are not eligible to the force
The state force is commanded by
Captain John G. Groome, who carries
the title OF superintendent and enlist
ed the force.
Must Be Absolutely Fearless.
A prerequisite for membership in
the state constabulary is absolute fear
lessness. Two or three incidents IL
luStrate this fact. A writer tells of
the experience of a sergeant and ten
men at the Cornwall ore banks early
in March, 1906, where 500 foreigners
had inundated the sheriff and his
deputies and were driving the men
away from the fires In the furnaces:
There was no time to get the horses
enuained, and the detail went whirl-
ing to the scene of trouble In a ca
boose and engine. No sooner had they
arrived than the smallest man IN the
bunch forced his way bodily into a
crowd Of angry aliens and grabbed a
big foreigner who had pulled a gun
The prisoner showed fight, and his
friends offered to help him. The
trooper swung his stick just once, the
big fellow dropped, and the crowd ran.
ouelIine a Mob at a coIIiery.
"At the Franklin colhery, near
Wilkesbarre, Pa, strikers dispersed
a guard of deputy sheriffs and dubbed
and knitted a few workmen who had
been taking coal from a culm bank to
keep up steam for the engines that
pumped water from the mines. This
was as per agreement between oper-
ators and miners. The mob, however.
beat these employees severely and |
started out to wreck the colliery, when |
small detail Of mounted constabu- |
larry arrived It was just about dusk. |
The sergeant asked the men to dis
perse, and they refused. he told them |
they would get hurt If they didn't, and !
they jeered at him The sheriff point |
ed out two ringleaders, and the ser
geant asked them to step out and give |
themselves up. This request was also
refused.
"'Ten them I'm going to take them
said the sergeant to the interpreter, I
and all those who want to have their
heads crushed VIII please stay right |
where they are?
"Then the mounted men rode into |
the crowd. and the long locust sticks
we're laid right and left. The mob
tried TO run, but it could not get away
from the horses. Franklin colliery win
not forget that sight for many a day.
When the troops rode back to their |
barracks they had two badly damaged
prisoners handcuffed and walking be. |
tween them"
When they are not keeping a watch |
full eye on strikers the men will do |
general police work In their districts |
and act as game. fish and fire Vardens /