The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-23
CAUSE ALARM
IA Sleep|ess Night for The Population Of
Large Illinois Town
MINERS FACE MILITIA

FOREIGNERS With Shot Guns Drove
the Americans From the Mines
Three Companies Of Illinois Ma
tional Guards Are Rushed to the
Scene of the Disturbance.
One thousand strong and we'll
armed, the foreign-speaking coal min
ers of Bend, ILL.,, conducted a sun
rise demonstration Tuesday agains:
their English-speaking brethren Of
the town of Gillespie, commanding
those who stood upon the side walks
to get in line.
The procession came from Benld,
stopped at mine No. 1, passed
through the main street Of Gillespie,
thence on to mine No. 8 and "ack to
Benld. Caution of the older citi-
zens and business men Of Gillespie
against violence probably prevented
.bloodshed.
Throughout the night vigilant cit:-
zens of Gillespie patrolled the streets
of the entire town. They had been
warned that the Benld miners wele
marching on Gillespie.
When the first music of the de-
monstration from Benld was heard
the citizens were prepared for siege.
Some had sought refuge in the rooms
above store buildings along the main
street, declaring they would shoo' If
the marchers came into the town.
Nevertheless, the procession passeo
through the village and not shot
was fired.
An hour later COL E. ]. Gang,
commanding the Fourth regiment, IL
linois National Guard, arrived from
Springfield on an interurban ca: and
took charge of the situation The
Efingham and Paris companies were
the first to arrive of the troops or
dered out at 1880 o'clock Tuesday
morning by Governor Deneen. The
other commands arrived before 9
o'clock, nearly all of them coming in
on the interurban line from Spring.
field.
1t is Col. Lang's plan to march his
troops from Gillespie to Benld, 2 IL
miles by wagon road, and disarm The
belligerents, many Of whom are. in a
disagreeable temper. II; necessary,
Col. Lang is prepared to proclaim
martial law in Benld to enforce hie
plans for quelling the disturbance.
Citizens of Gillespie insist there will
be bloodshed in Benld when the
troops attempt to disarm the foreign
erS.
The 700 foreigners who left Benld
early Tuesday paraded to mine Z
of the Superior Coal company and
drove the Americans from the shaft.
They then returned through Gillespie
and continued to mine No. 3, where
the Americans left the workings on
the approach of the disturbers.
The miners were headed by a fell
low workman, who beat a drum. No
move will be made on the foreigners
by the militia until the arrival OF all
of the troops. Besides the infantry
and a Gatling gun platoon, troop D,
First Illinois cavalry, is expected
from Springfield.
The trouble started at Benld a
week ago when the foreign miners
became dissatisfied with working con-
ditions and induced the Americans to
quit. The local union officials, how
ever, ruled against the move and or
dered them back to work. The Amer
leans returned to the mines and since
then the foreigners have been trying
to persuade the Americans to quit.
The trouble became acute Monday
night after deputy sheriffs Of Macou-
pin county were driven from the
mines.
Governor Deneen after receiving a
report from Col. Shand of the Nation
al Guard ordered the militia to
proceed to Benld. Benld is a mining
town less than three miles from Gil
lespie.
Early Tuesday morning several
shots were fired in the vicinity OF
mine No. /. This aroused the whole
town. Watchers soon afterward re-
ported that the Benld miners were
marching upon the town. When
upon the outskirts of Gillespie the
marchers switched off and Travelled
to mine No. 1. To the foreigners
surprise none of the employees Of the
mine appeared for work at either
No. 1 or No: 3. The marchers then
paraded through Gillespie.
The arrival Of the State militia
at Benld early Tuesday morning
found this mining town quiet. The
miners who have been bearing arms
for several days suddenly left for one
Of the nearby mining camps. Thei1
departure was heralded by the beat
ing of drums, shouting and firing Of
guns. The troops from Springfield
were first on the ground and these
were followed by the militia from
Danville.
When the whistle blew for work
in mine No. 1 Monday morning, how
ever, the American miners were pre-
vented from going to work by 5OC