Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-05-11
four SHOT
IN NINE RIOT
MinersvlIIe Mob Fights State
Police.
WOMAN hit WITH BRICK
Pitched Battle Between constabuiary
and Mob Results In Three Persons
Being Perhaps Fatally Wounded.

In pitched battle between the state
police and crowd estimated at be
tween 1000 and 5000 men at Miners
vile. Pa. four men were shot and
three were probably fatally wounded.
II is believed that a dozen or more
others were also struck by bullets. but
were not seriously wounded and did
not seek medical attention.
A woman. Mrs. George Well. who
was standing on her porch. was hit
on the arm by brick and was pain
fully injured. II was at first reported
that she had been shot also.
The men who are thought to have
been fatally hur, are:
David Davis. who was shot through
the body.
Two foreigners. not identified by the
authorities a; this time.
Another foreigner was shot through
the leg and was seriously wounded.
The fight occurred ON Fourth street
In the central part of the town and
came as result of a crowd assem-
bling in front OF Ulmers garage. the
old electric light plant. TO prevent the
superintendent. George W. Keiser.
OF the Pine lin Coal company, from
taking two men In his automobile to
his colliery.
supern endcnt Keiser had been
coming to Minersville the past several
days and ,plsing Thomas Parry. a re
pairman. and William Ward. pump
man. to work in his automobile.
The miners determined to prevent
him from taking the men. and at an
early hour big crowd assembled in
from, of tine CARA e. when keiser call
cd for his ma, nine he was warned not
To take 1t out. and was practically
held prisoner at the place.
Chicf Burgess Richard Levan ad
dressed the crowd and demanded that
they dispercc peacefully. but no at
tention was paid to his warning He
thereupon requested the state police
barracks al Pot:sville to send n de
tail to Minersv.lle To assist in preserv.
ing order.
Three officers. who make daily pa
trolls OF that section. arrived on the
scene and shortly after were rein
forced By four more from the Potts
Vile barracks. They ordered the crowd
to disperse. but their orders had no
effect. Under their guard the automo
bile was then taken from the garage
and was being cranked. when some
one In the crowd threw a, brick. II
struck q policeman on the head.
II seemed to be the signal for an
attack and Immediately there came
shower OF stones. followed by several
pistol shots The officers then fired q
volley into the ground. The crowd
paid no attention. Raising their pis
tolls, they twice fired into the air. but
the only effect II had was TO draw
shots from the crowd. The officers then
turned their weapons into the crowd
and commenced firing.
The shots were returned and regu.
lar pitched battle followed. when II Is
estimated that hundred shots were
fired. which soon ended In the crowd
dispensing. leaving four lying on the
ground. David Davis was taken into
the garage and physicians were sum.
moned. They pronounced his wound as
one which would probably result IA
tally. The ,hrce foreigners were car
ried away by friends and taken TO
nearby saloons. where madical atten
ton was also summoned and little
hope was expressed for two OF the
men.
There are now thirty troopers at
Minersville. II was announced that
when additional reinforcements arrive
the entire foreign section OF the town
will be put practically under martial
law for time until a thorough search
is made OF every house and every for
eigner Is disarmed.