Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1898 — MINERS IN A RIOT. [ARTICLE]

MINERS IN A RIOT.

Rcgnm and Striker* fat Conflict at Pans,lU. Imported negro miners and strikers met In deadly conflict in the streets of Pane, yn , the other night. Two hundred shots were flred and a wild riot ensued, in which several persons were wounded. The affray occurred in the business section of the town, where many of the negro miners had congregated, meet of them being armed. The onion miner* were in session in their hall, being addressed by a ChicaH, labor lender. A negro appeared at tw stairway leading to the hail and engaged in n quarrel with the doorkeeper. Policeman Smith arrested the negro and wan taking him to jail when tk' crowd of colored men on the street closed in and threatened to shoot if the prisoner was not released. Smith continued on bis way to the jail, mid miners and others went to bin assistance and took the negro to Operator Pennell's store. There David Me Garic, leader of the nnioa miners, forced the negroes to retreat, and a few scattering shots were fired. Retreating to the stockades around the mines, the negroes armed themselves with rifles and returned to the scene, lining up against the striking miners. With the first Tolley fired all business houses were closed and the non-combatants fled to their homes. The firing continued for five minutes, the blacks firing first, but at Hie end they were compelled to retreat. Twenty minutes later a second encounter occurred ltesr the Pen well stockade. None of the strikers was injured, bnt William Baldwin, chief depmy sheriff, and H. E. Bishop, a special deputy, received bad bullet wounds. Several of the negroes were hit, and one is reported to have died.