Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1886 — WESTERN. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN.

A serious conflict between the militia and socialistic riotors occurred at Milwaukee on the morning of the sth inst. A vast crowd of Polish Nihilists marched from St Stanislaus’ Church to fight the militia at Bay View. They refused to yield to orders to halt, and were given a volley of bullets. Four men were killed and four others dangerously wounded. The shooting had a terrible effect on the men. Seeing several of their number fall, wounded or killed, they threw themselves flat on the ground, and sought the shelter of the railroad embankment. The level of South Bay street and Lincoln avenue, being higher than the marsh, was also sought by the frantic men, who tumbled headlong into the water. There was every evidence on surrounding objects to show that •tiio militia had fired low, and “with intent to kill” as one of them expressed it Two thousand socialists congregated at Milwaukee Garden, and listened to harangues by the leaders in the afternoon. The State militia companies were sent to the scene several times, as the gatherings became too demonstrative. Paul Grottkau, the socialist leader and publisher of the Arbciter Zeitung, was arrested. Advices from Chicago indicate that the pojice have broken the backbone of anarchism in that city. “Polish and Bohemian colonies of the West Side,” says a dispatch from Chicago of Friday, “were unnaturally tame yesterday, the only event of a disturbing nature being a successful raid on the dynamite roost at the corner of Eighteenth street and Center avenue. Searches were made by the detectivos in other parts of the city, and a quantity of nihilistic devices capturod. Officer Barrett diod at tho County Hospital in the morning, and Officer Miller expired m his brother’s arms just before midnight Late last night the phsyicians at the County Hospital did not think that Officers Jacob Hansen, Nels Hanson, Timothy Flavin, and Michael Shehan would live till morning. Officer John H. McMahon had his leg amputated. August Spies and liis confederates were imprisoned in the County Jail. An effort is being made to add treason to the charge of murder against them. The contributions to the fund for the support of the families of the dead and wounded policemen have reached nearly $40,000. August and Christian Spies, Michael Schwab, and Samuel Fielden, the ringleaders of the Nihilistic plotters, visited tho police station to have their photographs taken for the rogues’ gallery, after which they were locked up again.”

The police of Milwaukee arrested two leading Anarchists—Adam Hirtli and a barber named Carl Simon—who are kept at the Central Station. Their houses were searched and several guns were seized. Governor liusk obtained from the Rock Islaud arsenal a Gatling guu and ample ammunition for small arms. Two persons died at Milwaukee of wounds received in the rioting, and two others are believed to bo beyond recovery. Cleveland polico circles were excited when it was discovered that during the night the city had been floored with a circular, printed in English and German, calling all workmen to arms to revenge the killing of some of their number in Chicago. One of these circulars was even postod on the front door of the Central Police Station. It is reported that Parsons is hiding in Cleveland. The machinery manufacturers of Chicago contemplate closing their places of business until tho employes will agree to accept ten hours’ pay for ten hours’ work. Chicago advices of Friday thus outlino the industrial situation in that city:

Some of the smaller shops, where iron molders and inetal workers are employed, have given eight-hour concessions to their men, but the larger employers, like the Crane Brothers, are still standing out. The wood-workers have agreed upon eight hours, but without extra pay. The bakers have bettered their condition, and the brewers now receive full pay with shortened hours of work The furnitureworkers have won in a few cases, though most of them are out on a strike against a solid organization of manufacturers. At Uie McCormick works the men are reoeiving an advance of 15 per cent in wages. There are 3.500 men out at the car-shops of the Chicago and Northwestern, the Illinois Central, and Chicago, Rock Island at'ji Pacific. All of the men at Pullman are still out. In the tobacco factories there are 1,000 girls and women working for S 3 or $4 per week. The Eight-hour League will try to benefit them. The freight-handlers’ strike seems to be growing hopeless. They expect the section men to strike shortly if none of the skilled unions come to their rescue. The brickyards are working, the owners having compromised tho differences between the men and employers. There are strikes at the principal bridgebuilding works. The employes at the coal and wood yards are ’ nearly all striking. The furriers are formulating demands to be presented soon. The barbers are trying to have Sunday work done away with, but are not striking. Every organ factory in the city is shut down, the men being out on strike. The planing mills have started up. The railroads are trying to run without their men, whom they are paying off and discharging. At the soap works of Kirk & Co. 600 persons have obtained eight hours. A hopeful tone pervades many of the striking communities, and they look for the ultimate success of the eight-hour movement when the present excitement has subsided. Southern Missouri and Kansas were last week visited by an immense rain-pour. Jordan Creek, which runs directly through Springfield, Mo., rose higher than for many

years, overflowing the low land and driving thirty or forty families from their homes. Some of the women and children were carried to safe places on horseback and on men’s shoulders to escape drowning, the waters in some places rising even into the second stories of the dwellings. The total damage in Springfield caused by the flood is estimated at $75,000, and in the surrounding country at $40,000. A distressing case of drowning is reported from near Fort Scott, Kan. A dam broke, and the immense body of water, uniting with the already swollen Buck Run, rushed down the valley. The house occupied by Sarah Brown, a widow, was struck by the torrent and swept about one hundred yards down the stream, where it lodged among the trees. Mrs. Brown and four of her children were mit at the time. The water rose rapidly around it to the depth of several feet Tho mother held her little six-months-old infant in her arms above the water, leaving her older children to care for themselves. She suddenly noticed that her five-vear-old boy was drowning, and in attempting to save him the infant slipped from her arms and was drowned before aid could reach it The remainder of the family were rescued.

About twenty tons of giant powder are used weekly in the Menominee range mines in Wisconsin. As the Northwestern Road will no long er transport the article, local factories are to be erected.

“Joshua Whitcomb,” the charming play with which Denman Thompson has delighted theater-goers for the last ten years, has been shelved, and hereafter that sterling actor will be seen in a new play and a new character. “The Old Homestead” is the title of his new venture. It is a sequel to “Joshua Whitcomb,” and is tho joint work of Mr. Thompson and George W. Ryer. It will be seen at McVicker’s Theater, Chicago, the present week.

At In wood, Indiana, while attempting to drive across the Fort Wayne track, John Wyiner, his wife, and two daughters were instantly killed. William J. Blew, a printer, died at the County Hospital, in Chicago, last week. In tne opinion of several physicians his death was hastened at least, if not directly caused, by the fright he received while undergoing initiation ceremonies on his entrance to a local court of Foresters. Eleven deaths have resulted from the recent socialistic riots in Chicago. Five of the dead are policemen, tho other six being rioters or innocent spectators. Over $60,000 have been subscribed by the people of Chicago fir the benefit of the families of the slain officers. Tho feeling against the anarchists in that city is very bitter, and should another outbreak be precipitated a bloody example will be made of them. At Milwaukee the disturbances have been suppressed and quiet reigns. The arrested rioters were brought into court and summarily dealt with Paul Grottkau, one of the leaders, was held to tho Grand Jury in $5,000 bail. Four militia companies are held in reserve for any turbulent outbreak in Cincinnati. The Chicago police continue their raids upon the anarchists’ resorts, and men and arms and red Hags are captured every day. T. G. Hewlett, leader of the Deputy Sheriffs who fired on the mob at East St Louis, was released on $5,000 bail, and started for Mississippi The Northwestern Hoad expects to have its track laid to the heart of the Black Hills by the end of July, and to complete its line to Fort Fctterman early in August. One hundred socialists were in meeting at Davenport lowa, and denunciatory resolutions were adopted regarding the toning down of Chicago’s Arbciter Zeitung. The man who proposed them was arrested by the Chief of Police.