Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1887 — ONE BOMB’S WORK. [ARTICLE]

ONE BOMB’S WORK.

The Haymarket Riot of May 4, 1886, and Its Terrible Results. Diabolical Construction of the Missile Which Killed and Maimed Sixty-seven Men. A meeting of armed anarchists and agitated laborers was in progress at Haymarket Square, Chicago, on the evening of May 4, 1866. Turbulence, envenomed oratory, and heated passions were markedly apparent. Spies and Parsons had just descended from the wagon where, in gory speeches, they had advocated the use of arms and violence as the sole way by which the “wage slaves’* could procure emancipation irom their present “bondage." But four-and-twenty hours before, instigated by similar oratory, the mob had assaulted the non-union men at MoCormlck’s Reaver Works, and in a subsequent encounter with the police one of their number was killed and several wounded. They were not in a mood for interference. Consequently, when 180 men from the Desplaines Street Station marched into the Haymarket Square, and Capt. Ward ordered the meeting to disperse in the name of the law, it needed little more than Fielden’s remark, •■Here come the bloodhounds ; you do your duty, and I’ll do mine," to urge the malcontents and anarchists to open hostilities. A bomb was thrown, and falling between two columns of policemen mowed them down like a cyclone. Not one of the front rank was left standing. This was followed in rapid succession by a volley of firearms, and more policemen bit the dust. Up to this time not a shot had been fired by the officers, not a club arawn. ’I hey were appalled by the suddenness of the attack, and were on the verge of disorder and flight when Capt. Bonfield stepped into the breach and loudly called on his men to rally What was left of them responded, and grasping their revolvers they advanced steadily, firing as they went. When their ammunition gave out they drew their batons and vigorously clubbed all within their reach. In the face of such determined bravery the cowardly curs who composed the mob could not stand, and after halting for but an instant they turned and fled precipitately from the scene of danger. One of their number was left dead on the square,while eager hands set to work in caring for the dying and wounded. From every foot of ground in the vicinity came moans of anguish. Here a policeman cried in tortured voice for help, and there a wounded anarchist gasped out his life in framing some malediction on the police. It was horrible; blood, c.jatb, and all the horrors of a carnage were everywhere manifest. One policeman was killed outright, Matthias J. Degan, while scores of others were wounded, and seven died at a later porlod from their injuries. No authentic estimate of tno number of anarchists killed can be arrived at. but their death loss was heavy, and the care of the wound d gave their friends work for many a long day. The wounded officers were removed with care and gentleness to the County Hospital and the Desplaines Street Station, where skillful surgeons soon were in attendance. At the station and hospital the scenes of woe anil suffering were of the most harrowing description. Mangled limbs, torn and blood-stained tunics, agonized writings, and shrieks of pain told but too plainly of the deadly nature of the Wholesale destruction. The diabolical construction of the terrible missile which pn that memorable May night killed seven and horribly maimed and mangled sixty policemen is indicated by the nature of its deadly worn. Offic -rFink had three shell wounds in one leg. ( fllc?r Norman had a foot shattered and a finger taken off bv a piece of shell. Offleer Murphy had no less than fif-.een shell wounds in various parts of his anatomy. Officer Harris had a foo blown off. and received seven perforating wounds in his thighs.