The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-17
STRIKERS TRAP
OFFICERS; FOUR
|. SHOT IN FRAY
Deputy SheriffS Wounded
When AmbuShed at East
ST. Louis.
EXCHANGE 400 BULLETS
Squad Attacked While on
Way to Meet Nonunion
Metal Workers.
By United Press

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill, March II.
"A squad of special deputy sher-
ifs was trapped in ambush today
by nearly 100 striking metal work
ers, who opened fire with Shotguns
ana revolvers from behind semi
circle of twenty-five automobiles.
exchanging about 400 shots with
the officers, four of whom were
wounded. .
The strikers were driven of, car
rying several wounded with them,
when group of workers, armed
with shotguns, came to tie aid of
the deputies.
The deputies were on their way
to Mississippi river ferry landing
to give protection to st. Louis la
borers employed by a construction
concern when they drove into the
trap.
Catch Officers in Cross Fire
The strikers vino had protested
the importation of the st. Louis
workers were lying in wait in hol-
low near an abandoned farm house.
They had parked their cars in a
semi circle across the road where
they could catch the deputies in
crosS-fire.
When the deputies car reached
the trap, the strikers leaped up from
weed-filled ditch alongside the
road, and let loose volley of shot
gun Slugs and revolver bullets.
Fnla1 rSav1r.%foe e{A
and returned the fire of the strikers
as they ran for cover.
The shots were heard by labor
ers working on nearby railroad
embankment. They armed them
selves with shotguns and went over
the embankment. Before they were
within shooting distance the stri-
kers re-entered their cars and raced
away.
Deupty Chief Wounded
Jack Johnson, chief deputy, was
wounded slightly and E. c. Golf,
John Watkins and Thomas j. Nc
Murray also were wounded.
The st. Louis laborers the deputies
had been detailed to guard were
hired by the Chicago Bridge and
Iron Company for tank construction
work at a Phillips Petroleum Com
pany tank farm near Monsanto, III.
John L. Mccarthy, secretary and
business agent of the ironworkers'
local union, said his organization
had objected to the employment of
nonunion iron workers on the tanks.
He declined to comment on the at
tack, saying he didn't know any
thing about it."
After he had received treatment
for his wounds johnson gave an ac-
count of the battle.
Ordered Behind Cover
Il told the other deputies to get
behind cover and to shoot to kill.
About 400 shots were fired, the
fighting lasting between ten and
fifteen minutes. All of us who were
wounded got out at the first volley.
1 think.
Most of them were using shot
guns. We used revolvers. 1 couldn't
tell how many we hit, but 7 saw
them place at least one wounded
man in an automobile. I think we
hit others"
The firing ceased for a minute
when the other workers appeared
with Shotguns. Golf took advantage
of the lull to run for a railroad
embankment. One of the strikers
stepped from behind tree and shot
him.
"Tm Shot Already"
II fell over the railroad embank-
ment," Golf said later. 1.-The fell
low who shot me ran toward me.
Il pleaded with him. I'm shot
already, don't shoot any more He
took my revolver and went off"
The attacking party then with
drew to their automobiles. They
drove off toward Cahokia, yelling.
"scabs, scabs, Scabs," cursing and
firing into the air.
Later johnson and some of the
other deputies went to the ferry
landing and escorted the non-union
workers to their jobs. Extra depu-
ties armed with riot guns were
placed on duty about the tanks
where the non-union men contin-
ued their work.