The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-07-07
R|OT|NG MINERS
IN CONTROL M
SOUTH AFRICA
All Business Has Been Sus-
pended In The Rand
MODS JEER The TROOPS
Train and Street Cars Held up and
Newspapers Forced to Suspend
Publication.

johannesburg, July 6.-The settle
ment of the strike among the gold
miners in the Rand district, which
the government arranged with com
mittee of the strikers yesterday, has
proved ineffective, although compar-
alive order was preserved over night.
The mobs reassembled today. All
trains and street cars have suspend
ed service, the crews refusing to
work. No newspapers were able to
publish today Additional troops
guard the Rand club. which was the
scene of the serious encounters Sat
urday. A great mob assembled out
side the building, hooting and jeer-
ing the troops.
The opinion is general that the
government has made serious blund-
ers throughout the present trying sit
uation. When General Louis Botha,
the ex-premier of the Union of South
Africa, and General Smutz, minister
of the interior, mines and defense, ar
rived at johannesburg they were
amazed at the strikers organization
and the desperate spirit of the lead
ers.
The federal unions are flushed with
success and confident that they are
complete masters of the situation.
The trade unionists are ready to
obey any order that is given to
them. The leaders have already
commanded the newspapers to
cease publication until further no
tice. They count on the govern
ment's fear of the natives, 200,0 900 of
whom are locked in the compounds
at the mines. They might start
looting and killing if Embossed.
The terms of the settlement fail
ed stipulate when the men should re-
turn to work, thus leaving matters
In q chaotic condition.
The casualties resulting from the
fighting Saturday are now estimated
at ITO. Two officers, three soldiers
and several policemen were wound
ed
The strike leaders were apparent
ly trying tonight to get the men TO
accept the terms. but on both sides
dissatisfaction is expressed. spirit
of anarchy has been aroused which
is difficult to control.
Except at the time of the Jane
son raid in 1896 and the outbreak of
the war of 1899. this city has not
experienced such a day of terrorism
as Saturday.
The mobs in the business sections
of the town caused less fear than
the desperadoes who were threaten
ing to dynamite the home of the
wealthy in the outskirts
The rioting began when a body of
strikers forced their way into the
Rand club. which particularly excit-
ed their enmity because It's mem
bers are the mine owners.
Three times the mob was scatter
ed. but 1t quickly reformed. The
troops fred a volley over the heads
of the rioters. and then two volleys
directly into their ranks. The riot
ers fed to the side streets, yelling
derisively. but leaving behind /.
large number of killed and wounded.
The dragons at length withdrew,
and local troops took command at
the four principal streets, which
they swept with their rifles when
ever the rioters started to return.
After almost three hours fighting,
delegates from the strike committee
who had conferred with Generals
Botha and Smutz marched the
streets under a white flag. announc-
ing that an armistice had been ar
ranged and ordering the men to
their homes. Ambulances went
about picking up the wounded
throughout the fighting.