Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-21
Thousand Foreign Striking
Miners Terrorize a Town.
TROOPS ARE ORDERED OUT
Fifth Illinois Militia Regiment Is
Rushed to Gillespie.
DANGER OF A SERIOUS CLASH
Col. Lang Intends to Hurry Troops
to Benld to Disarm
Disturbers

GILLESPIE, ILL.,, March 21.-One thou
sand strong. armed with a varied as
sortment of firearms. old rifles. muskets,
shotguns and revolvers and marching 70
the music of an italian band. the striking
foreign-speaking coal miners of Benld.
ILL.,, conducted q sunrise demonstration
today against their English-speaking
brethren of the town of Gillespie. yelling
to those who stood upon the sidewalks
to get in line.
The procession came from Benld, stop
ped at mine No. 1. passed through the
main street of Gillespie. thence on to
mine No. 3 and back to Benld. Advice
given by the older citizens and business
men Of Gillespie against commission OF
any overt act prevented bloodshed.
Vigilance Committee Formed.
Throughout the night a vigilance COM
mittee Of citizens patrolled the streets
upon receipt of the news that the Benld
miners had started for Gillespie. The
streets.
intense. Many Gillespie citizens and
miners were stirring when they first
heard the music of the marchers.
Every one was armed. Some persons
store buildings along the main street.
declaring they would shoot if the
marchers came into the town. How
these men were restrained no one will
through the town without a shot being
fired.
Troops Quickly on Move.
An hour later Col E. j. Lang. COM
manding the 5th Regiment. Illinois Ma
| tional Guard, arrived from Springfield
on an interurban car and took charge
| of the situation. The Ehingham and
Paris companies were the first to ar
| rive of the troops ordered out this
morning py Gov. Deneen. The other
commands arrived before o'clock
nearly all Of them coming on the inter
urban line from Springfield.
| 1t il Col. Lang's plan to march hii
| troops from Gillespie to Benld. a. dis
tance of two and one-half miles by wagor
road, and disarm the belligerents. many
of whom have been drinking and are In
| a disagreeable temper. If necessary Col
Lang Is prepared to proclaim martial law
in Benld.
The Superior Coal Company owns three
put of about 10000 tons OF coal. Mine
No. l lies two miles east of GILLESPIE.
which is fourteen miles southwest OF
Carlinville, the county seat of Macoupin
Nine No. is in Benld, town OF 1,2oo
inhabitants, two miles Of Gillespie. Mine
No. 3 is mile southwest OF Gillespie.
The three mines employ about 1,SU
miners. The entire output Of the Su-
perior Coal COmpanys three mines goes
to the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
road.
Cause Of the Trouble.
Three months ago John p. Reese came
to Gillespie from Iowa to take the super
intendency of the properties, succeeding
j. w. Miller, who was killed In the trac-
ton wreck in Benld october last, when
forty persons lost their lives. Supt.
Reese made several reforms that were
no: favorably received by the foreign
miners.
The climax was reached ten days ago
when ninety men were discharged from
the mines for improperly loading cars
1t was charged that the miners were
loading their cars light as a reprisal for
the superintendent action in putting In
mine No. l an additional machine with
the aid of which Superintendent Reese
maintained lie hoped to bring the ton
mage up to capacity.
Last week the state on1cers or the
United Mine Workers OF Illinois ruled
against the strike which had been IN
augurated and ordered the men back to
work. The foreign miners broke up the
meeting which was called to act upon the
decision of the state officials. Then the
locals of mines No. l and No. held
meetings and by large vote decided to
return to work. When the whistle blew
for work in mine No. yesterday the
miners were prevented from going t0
work BY q force of 800 miners, who
marched from Benld and defied the town
and county authorities. Several fights oc-
Cured and 3. f. Crawford was injured,
being struck with a club
The Troops on the Scene.
SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, March H.--Four
companies of troops have arrived In Gil
lespie: Company c. 9th Infantry, Spring
field; Troop d, 1st Cavalry, Springfield;
Company HI, 9TH Field Infantry. Decatur,
and Company Fl. 4th Infantry, Shelby
vile.
The other companies are on the way.
It was decided not to send the gatiing
gun section of the Jth Infantry from
Springfield.
Col. s. o. Trip, assistant quartermas-
far general of the Illinois National Guard,
was sent to Gillespie to look after the
subsistence of the troops. Tents Will be
sent there so the men can encamp around