Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-15
After Stormy Night In
Which Imported Officers
Storm Striking Workers
Sheriff Makes Appeal.
FOUR COMPANIES
PATROL THE CITY
Says Martial Law
Has Not Been Declared,
But This Practically Is
How Situation Stands.

Muscatine, April What practi-
cally amounts to martial law is in effect
In Muscatine today following a proc
| lamation issued last evening when
enraged button workers, angered by
the presence and drastic methods OF
imported special officers, surrounded
the Commercial hotel where the latter
were quartered and threatened them
with violence.
This morning Company G, the local
militia organization was modified and
put into service. Later Company B, OF
Davenport arrived and the militia CON-
pany from Washington and from Iowa
City. Everything Is quiet in Musca-
tine this morning and the workers are
inclined to welcome the presence OF
the militia in preference to the Inn
ported special officers, who left the
city early today.
AT great union rally held last ev-
ening the most vehement protests
were made against the actions Of the
special officers who In disturbances ct
the factories yesterday afternoon used
their clubs in most ruthless man
ner. several innocent bystandeFs boz
Ing among the yIctf:fs Of the minor
though painful injuries received. One
OF the victims, little girl accompany
ing her mother, was severely hurt In
the crush when the special oficers
cleared the streets. They were errons-
ously reported last night to be dying,
and this rumor greatly added to the
anger Of the crowds.
ChnAF "a ,oh (rrr a
proclamation this morning In which he
declared he would put the city under
military law stated at 10 o'clock to-
day that martial law had not yet been
formally declared and would not be i'm.
til he had received the proper legal
advice. Troops are guarding the local
factories and policing the districts
where It Is believed trouble would
be most likely.
Major Ball Issues Warning.
Major George w. Ball commanding
the detachment Of state troops here,
at 2 o'clock issued the following state
ment to the public.
For the benefit Of all. concerned
orders have been issued prohibiting
the forming OF crowds. The people
will not be allowed to congregate and
will be kept moving. All persons COM
mitting breaches of the peace, doing
injury to persons or property will be
dealt with according to law"
Four companies are now on the
ground, including the local company.
Last Nights Riots.
Practically the entire city of Musca-
tine was in state OF siege last night
onl ,5,,ripY the rlv hours fhfc rrr,.
ing. Mob rule prevailed, and, accord
ing to reports from the troubled dis
trict. crowds OF rioters bent on the
destruction Of life and property. surg
ed through the business and factory
district defying the efforts of the law
to check their course and sweeping
the feeble resistance Of the officers be-
fore them like chaff.
Last nights truggle is said to have
been precipitated by the importation
of score of Chicago and st. Louis
special police officers by the sheriff
to assist in quelling disturbances
Crowd Charged.
The trouble was started when q
crowd of 5000 people gathered near
one of the button factories at quitting
time was charged by the strike break
ers and police An indiscriminate bat
tie followed In which every available
weapon was used to beat OF the al
tack. A similar battle occurred at an
other factory In which the police wer
compelled to make their escape up az
alley with drawn revolvers.
The labor forces quickly rallied
force of 1000 men, who made de-
monstration through the streets. In.
cendiary speeches infamed the crowd
to anger and the city became filed
with q bowling impassioned mob.
The mob turned its attention to the
imported police, and cries Of lynch
them" were carried through the crowd
followed by a concerted rush for their
quarters. The officers made their es-
cape out Of rear doors and succeeded
in hiding themselves while the mob
took possession Of their quarters and
the hotels Of the city, with the an
nounced intention Of awaiting their
their return. 8
OFFICERS PowerIsss.
The police and sheriff's aids were
powerless to check the course Of the
rioters. Time after time they charged