South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-09

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reason why the state should step
Iu at this time.
Town Quiet at Night.
The streets were quiet Wednes-
day night a party Of strikers built
a fire alonc the highway near the
mill Sheriff Lucas went 70 them
and pointing out that IL might be
tho source Of irritation and danger
Gus. the men kicked out the FIRE and
went away.
First signs OF trouble appeared
last week when Il became known
that the Wheeling corporation, the
owner OF the a mill tin plate plant
here would reopen the mill after a
shutdown since last July 1. when
the strike was called by the Anal
gamated Association of Iron. steel
and Tin Plate Workers.
These 1000 strikers under the
leadership Of Larkin. declared that
20 meet the issue, workmen were
brought in from other steel towns
in Ohio. West Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania. They were met by commit
tees Of the strikers, and according
90 Larkin many of them were in
duced 90 return home.
It was apparent, however. by Sat
urday that a sufficient force was be
ing gathered 20 start some depart
ments OF the plant Armed guards
about the mill were ordered off the
street By Sheriff Lucas and told that
they might stay within the high
board fence around the cOmpanys
property The sheriff had a number
Of deputies on duty and beyond an
occasional outburst by some indi-
viduaI ne said the order was good.
In UnionlIed Territory.
The village is at the southern edge
Of an important coal territory where
the mines are unionized Many Of
- 90 miners have been working no
more than two days a week. Their
sympathies were with the striking
mill men and they showed 1t by pro-
viding provisions, clothing and medi-
cine for those who needed il. They
even brought into the community a
trained nurse TO look after women
and children who fell ill and from
their financial reserve in the union
subscribed 20 the fund Of the mill
workers organization. now badly de-
pleted by the long strike.
Wednesday morning work started
at the mill and announcement was
made that three OF the hot mills
were in operation. Mayor Coss and
officers of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton and OF the miners asked the
men to- make no demonstration and
the day passed peaceably until late
in the night when the shooting
occurred.
story Of the shooting.
Sheriff Lucas, telling the story or
the shooting said:
Frank Wolf and Lay Wendell
two deputy sheriffs. went TO Smith
held a village nearby. for a water
tender Tuesday night. I was in the
Office when Wolf came in an SAID
somebody had fired into their auto
mobile. 7 looked over the car and
found four bullet holes. There was
considerable excitement or course,
and the men wanted to arrest those
who did the shooting With some or
the deputies I went down TO the
road ON this mission 1 found 35 or
I 40 men walking in the middle Of the
road. one Of our men fired a shot
I In the air L ordered him TO quit,
and told the men if they would let
me alone 7 believed 1 could handle
the situation. The men In the road
! scattered when the shot was fired.
called TO them that I wanted to
talk and they stopped. Wolf point
ed out one man Is having fired at
the machine His name is John
Manis a roller. He was unarmed.
He pointed out another man. He
was without a gun.
Just then Wolf fired a riot gun
and without any warning some one
. opened mp with a machine gun. Tie
men IN the street ran and the dep
uties and guards got back into the
mill That is how IL happened"
Vice PRIEST Larkin. who was pres
ent as the sheriff told his story, con-
frmed IT,