Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-11-07
POSSE AND |.
v. v. ENGAGE
IN Big BATTLE.
Pitched Battle Ensues When Crowd
is Fired Upon by Visitors.
Peace has Been Established but 100
Armed Business Men Guard
the Town During the
Night.

Everett, WASH, Nov. 6.-The
number of dead, as result Of the
battle between I. w. w. workers and
citizens posse, has been increased
to seven today when former sheriff,
Don McRae, died from his wounds.
Although peace has been established
more than one hundred armed bust
ness men guarded the town last
night. Several companies Of Nation
al Guardsmen are being held in
readiness should further trouble de-
velop.
Everett, Wash, Nov. Give
men were killed and at least forty
injured yesterday in pitched bat
tie at the Everett city wharf be-
tween $50 members of the Industrial
Workers of the World, who came
here from Seattle on the steamer
Verona, and a posse of $50 citizens
headed by Sheriff Don McRae. Sheriff
McRae is among the seriously
wounded.
Gov Ernest Lister, who was in
Seattle when word of the riot in Ev-
erett was received, Immediately or
dered Adjt. Gen. Maurice Thompson
of the Washington national guard to
go to Everett, thirty miles north Of
here, and report to him on conditions
there. The governor said that if the
situation still was threatening he
would order the national guard to
police Everett. '.+s''
The number of casualties aboard
the Verona is not known. After the
shooting, in which about 1000 shots
were exchanged, the Verona turned
around and started back to Seattle.
Many men were seen to fall on the
deck of, the steamer and others, panic
stricken, jumped overheard. Some
were taken from the waters, but 9TH
ers disappeared and it is believed
they were drowned.
Before leaving for Everett Adju-
tant General Thompson ordered all
national guard organizations in Sc
attic to report Immediately for duty.
-Four companies of coast artillery,
four companies of infantry and two
divisions of the naval militia were
ordered under arms. Pending further
developments the guardsmen were
ordered to assist the police in round
ing up members of the Industrial
Workers of the World here and in
arresting the party on the Verona
when the steamer arrived from Ev-
erett.
The Verona reached Everett short
ly before 2 o'clock. The coming of
the party of invaders had been IN
nounced in messages sent to Everett
from Seattle headquarters. A call
to Industrial Workers Of the World
members from all over the state had
been issued early in the week and
the citizens of Everett at a meeting
held Saturday night planned to meet
the invaders and deny them privi-
lege of landing.
When the Verona reached the city
wharf, Sheriff McRae, who was back
ed by a posse of deputy sheriffs and
citizens, stepped forward and in
formed the men on the boat that
they would not be permitted to land.
One of the men, evidently spokesman
for the party, began arguing with
the sheriff and then made speech.
Apparently, as a signal the man
dropped his hand and armed men on
the steamer opened fire on the posse
assembled on the wharf.
The first man to fall was Sheriff
McRae, seriously injured. One man
was killed instantly and in a mo-
ment the crowd on shore was panic
stricken. Deputy sheriffs on the
wharf quickly rallied their forces,
however, and returned the fire of the
invaders on the Verona.
Men on the wharf and on the boat
were seen to fall and the Verona i'm
mediately backed out of the dock
and started back toward Seattle.
The trouble between the Industrial
Workers of the World and the au-
thorities at Everett has been on for
several months and was the out
growth of a strike of single weav-
ers here. After several minor out
breaks of violence during the strike,
Sheriff McRae organized the citi-
zens' committee and expelled all
of the Industrial Workers
of the World from Everett.
its own leaders There are