Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-03-31
MILITIA GUARDING
MINES IN ILLINOIS
FROM ANGRY MOB
Residents of Gillespie Overawed
by Riotous Marching OF
Frenzied Strikers With
Their Guns.

Gillispie, H., March 22.-One thous-
md strong, armed with a varied assert
ment of firearms M marching to the
music OF an Italian band, the foreign
coal miners of Bend, H., conducted a
sunrise demonstration today against
their English-speaking brethren of the
town of Gillespie.
The procession came from Benld,
stopped at Mine No. l, passed through
the main street of Gillespie, thence on
to Mine No. 3, and back TO Benld.
Counseling of the older citizens and
business men of gillespie against the
commission of any overt acts prevented
bloodshcd.
Throughout the night a vigilance of
Gillespie citizens patroled the streets or
the town because of news that the
Benld miners had started for Gillespie.
The watchers warned every one 20 get
off the streets. Many Gillespie citizens
and miners were stirring when they
first heard the music Of the marchers.
Every one was armed. Some persons
sought refuge in the rooms above the
store buildings along the main street,
declaring they would shoot If the
marchers came into the town. The
procession passed through the town,
however, without a shot being fired.
Militia on the Scene.
An hour later Col. E. j. Lang, com
handing the Fifth regiment, Illinois
National Guard, arrived from Spring
field. The Effinglam and Paris COM
panies were the first to arrive of the
troops ordered out at 1880 o'clock this
morning by Governor Deneen. The oth-
er commands arrived later, nearly all
Of them coming on the ~interurban line
from Springfield.
1t is Colonel Lang's plan TO march
his troops from Gillespie to Bend, q
wagon road, and disarm the belliger-
distance of two n one-half miles by
ents, many of whom are drunk and in
a disagreeable temper.
II necessary Colonel Lang is pre-
pared to proclaim martial law in BenIu.
Citizens of Gillespie insist there will be
bloodshed in Bend when the troops at
tempt to disarm h foreigners, very
few of whom speak English.
The Superior Coal company owns
three mines here, with a daily total
output of about $1,000 tons. Mine No.
l lies two miles east of Gillespie, which
is IA miles southwest of Carlinville, the
county seat of Macoupin county. Mine
No. 9 is in Bend. a town OF i,2G0 IN
habitants, and Mine No. 3 is a mile
southwest OF Gillespie. The three mines
employ about 1900 men. The entire
output of the Superior Coal company's
mines goes to the Chicago & North
western railroad, via the Chicago &
Alton road.
Iowa Man in Charge.
Three months ago John P. Reese
came to Gillespie from Iowa to take
the SUPPLEMENTARY of the properties,
succeeding J. w. Miller, who was killed
in the traction wreck in BEND on DC
tober 4 last, when 40 persons lost their
lives.
Superintendent Reese inaugurated
several changes and reforms that were
not favorably received by the foreign
element. The climax was reached 10
lays ago when 20 men were discharged
for improperly loading cars. 1t was
charged that the miners were loading
the cars light as a reprisal for the SUI
perintendent's action in putting in mine
No. l an additional machine, with the
aid of which superintendent Reese
maintained he hoped to bring the ton
mage up to capacity.
Last week the state officers of the
United Mine Workers of Illinois. ruled
against the strike which had been in
a~ugurated, and ordered the men back
to work. The foreign miners broke up
the meeting which was called to act on
the decision of the state officers.
Then the locals of mines No. l and
No. 8 held meetings, and by a large
vote decided to return to work. When
the whistle blew for work in No. l
yesterday morning the miners were
prevented from going to work by a
force Of 500 foreigners who marched
from Bend and defied the local town
and county authorities. Several fights
occurred and B. T. Crawford was
struck with a club.
Reese Stands Firm.
John p. Peese, superintendent OF tho
Superior Coal company, came here from
Iowa, where formerly he was president
of the Iowa miners, and afterwards
commissioner for the Iowa operators.
Reese's declaration that he intends to
ferret out all the foreigners who bought
their jobs, and have them expelled from
the union. has tended to crystalize the
sentiment against him.
1t Is claimed that foreigners former
" bought the best places in the mine
upon payments Of $50 and 500 at a
former time.