Evening star., 1915-01-19
NINETEEN MEN SHOT
FOUR FATALLY HURT
Clash Between Strikers and
Fifty Deputy Sheriffs at
Roosevelt, N. J.
TROUBLE OVER DEMAND
FOR AN INCREASE IN PAY
Employees Stop Train and Make
Search for Strikebreakers.
Pitched Battle Results.

ROOSEVELT, N. j., January 1S.-
| Nineteen men were shot. four of them
| being mortally wounded, in a pitched
battle between $50 striking laborers and
| so deputy sheriffs at the plant Of the
American Agricultural Chemical Com
pany here today. Michael Becky. one
of the wounded, died on the way to
the hospital.
W. E. Florence, county prosecutor.
announced that he would hold a hear
| ing this afternoon to Investigate the
| shooting.
The fight occurred when the strikers
stopped a Central Railroad of New Jer-
sey train from Elizabethport to SEQ IL
the train brought strikebreakers to the
plant. There were no strikebrea-aers
aboard, but q few Office employees who
| were passengers started an Outcry, ap-
parently believing that the strikers In
tended to harm them.
In answer to the call, fifty deputy
| sheriffs, armed with rifles and revol-
vers, ran to the scene from the COM
pany's plant, where they had been sta
| toned for the past two weeks. A gen.
] eral encounter between the deputies
and the strikers followed.
Shot Fired, Fusillade Follows.
At first only stones were used. Then
| some one fired shot. This was the
signal for a fusillade which came ap-
parently from both sides. None of the
| deputies was injured, but many Of
| the strikers fell Most of the wounded
men were shot through the legs. as the
deputies fired low. The strikers dis
persed, some of them carrying the
wounded men away.
The four most seriously wounded
| were taken to hospital at Elizabeth,
not far away. 1t was said that these
men probably would die.
The Office employees were escorted
from the train to the plant by the
Ties Placed on the Tracks.
District supt. Champion Of the COM
pany, who Is In charge of tho plant
here, said that the strikers had held
up the train by piling railroad ties
across the tracks, and that the deputies
were compelled to use firearms to pro-
tect themselves and the office employees.
The strike at the plant has been on
for two weeks. According to the COM
pany's statement, approximately half
| of their 400 employees are affected. The
strikers are unskilled laborers. 1t is
| niand for an increase Of 40 cents a day
was refused. The men receive approx
| imately So a day each. No other class
of workers. it was said. had been af-
fected by the strike. The plant is still
in operation.
There had been frequent clashes be-
tween the strikers. pickets and work.
men and deputies at the plant. A num-
Der of shots were fired in an encounter
yesterday, but no one was injured.
Accounts Vary.
Accounts OF the fighting varied. The
strikers, through their leaders, denied
that they had placed ties on the car
tracks, but said that as the train drew
into the station they met it and asked
permission to go through the cars to
see II there were any strikebreakers
aboard. This permission. they said.
was given them. and six of their num-
Der started through the train.
AS they came out the rear coach, tho
strikers said, other strikers set up a
shout. This brought the deputies on
the run down the road.