Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1897 — TOWN IS CAPTURED, [ARTICLE]

TOWN IS CAPTURED,

Crusading Miners Make ■ SttcCMa* fni Raid on Coffeen. A Hillsboro, 111., dispatch says: The oft-repeated threats of the crusaders to force their way into the village of Coffeen were carried out amid great excitement Tuesday afternoon. For two days re-enforcements had been pouring in from all quarters, until 400 men and seventyfive women were in the camp. They became more and more restive under the rigid exclusion enforced by the Village authorities and began drilling in the camp. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon the attempt to break the picket lines was successfully made. They formed eight abreast, 400 strong, the Staunton band of eleven pieces bringing up the rear. The women remained in the camp. As soon as Sheriff Randle ascertained that the march had begun he placed twenty deputy sheriffs, armed with muskets and with fixed bayonets, across the highway. The other deputies were stationed to guard the mine, where 100 men were at work getting out coal. President Traylor went to a point 100 feet in front of the deputies and when the column arrived ordered a halt. With regular step the strikers marched on, paying no heed to the order and brushing the village president aside without ceremony. The deputies received no orders to fire and the invading army marched upon them without stopping or hesitating. The strikers in the front ranks grasped their guns and the column by sheer force of numbers pushed the deputies, many of whom were considerably frightened, from their places. President Traylor ordered the deputies to arrest Gen. Bradley, who was marching in front with a greerKsash over his shoulder. Two stalwart deputies seized him and rushed him through a side street. They quickly placed him in a carriage and drove to Hillsboro, where the “general” was placed in jail. Meanwhile the strikers continued their triumphant march through the little village which has so long defied their efforts. After parading through the principal streets they halted near an elevator, half a mile from the coal mines, where they were addressed by several speakers from among their number while they awaited the 5 o’clock whistle, which announced that the working miners had quit for the day. As the picket line was broken by the strikers Sheriff Randle ordered his deputies, together with over 100 able-bodied men. who had been summoned by two hoarse blasts from the mine whistle, to form a new picket line around the mine. This was done and further orders were given to shoot anyone who attempted to pass the line without permission. When the miners quit work, instead of meeting the strikers as the latter hoped, they went at once to their homes. The strikers then appointed a committee of twelve to hold a meeting and attempt to persuade the mint. 3 to quit. Intense excitement exists in Coffeen and its vicinity, and it is feared that blood will be shed if the miners persist in working.