The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-05
STRIKE RIOTERS FIGHT
PITCHED BATTLE IN RAILWAY
YARDS AT McCONB CITY.

| 1hlIlCilrS SolIlphHleS SuIlcu dHu Che
Troops Are to Take Charge
Several Hundred Shots Exchanged
In a pitched battle in the freight
yards of the Illinois Central railroad
at McComb City, Miss, between the
strikers and strike-breakers late on
Tuesday, several persons are report
ed to have been killed and others
wounded. Gov. Noel ordered out
troops at 1880 O'Clock that night and
two militia companies are hurrying
to- the scene.
Adit. Gen. Fridge, with squad OF
the Capital Guards, left on special
train for Brookhaven, where he
will be joined by the Brookhaven
and Natchez companies. They ex-
pect to reach McComb and take
charge OF the town.
Details of the fight in the McComt
yards are difficult to secure. The
special train bearing the strikebreak,
ers continued on its journey to New
Orleans, where it was stated that
none was killed.
Citizens Of Magnolia state that
when the train passed there at full
speed every coach window was
broken and no one was visible al
the openings, the strike-breakers ly.
ing prone on the floor to keep from
being fired on.
/ Several hundred shots were eX'
changed during the hostilities anC
among the strikers there were nu
merous bruised and broken heads.
Many of the wounded were car
ried to the headquarters of the strik
ers and physicians summoned, but II
has been impossible to learn the ex
tent of their injuries. 1t is reported
that several will die.
Scores of kilograms and telephone
messages have been pouring into the
governors office appealing for help;
The governor was informed by the
authorities at McComb that order
could be restored only by the declara
tion of martial law.
Gov. Noel acted promptly, order
ing Adit. Gen. Fridge to get at leas
two local companies in readiness fol
service at the earliest possible mo
ment.
The fight in which large number
are believed to have been killed ant
wounded occurred at the freight shed
about half mile south of the de
pot, closely following the first en-
counter of the afternoon.
The train bearing the strike
breakers had pulled down to tht
freight shed and was standing on
side track. Over 100 strikers i'm
mediately assembled, words were ex
changed and police started, when, i
is claimed, a strikebreaker hurled ;
brick among the strikers.
Immediately a fusiilade OF shot!
followed. The strikers were in near
ly every cast armed with pistols
and they opened fire on the coach
windows at which the heads Of tht
strikebreakers could be seen. Sew
eral fell after the first volley wal
fired.
The occupants Of the coaches i'm
mediately got under the seats ant
returned the fire through the coacl
windows, keeping we'll scattered. Oc
casionally when strikebreake
bolder than the rest, raised his heat
above the danger line he was greet
ed with a shower of bullets and 9th
er missiles.
The battle ragged for fully twent,
minutes Finally the engineer il
charge of the train made dash fo
his locomotive. managed to ge
aboard, while the bullets were flying
thick about his head, opened the
throttle and pulled out at full speed
The train did not stop at an!
points south of McComb. Realizing
the gravity of the situation and an
ticipating that the strikers would at
tack the machine shops where 81
strikebreakers were barricaded dur
ing the night, citizens deserted thu
streets early in the evening.
Adjutant General Fridge was ac
companied on the special train b!
a posse of United States deputy mar
shals hastily organized by Marsha
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