Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1899 — MANY KILLED ATPANA [ARTICLE]

MANY KILLED ATPANA

TROOPS QUELL RIOT IN A MINING TOWN. Bloody Result of a Battle Between Metro Miners and Deputy Bherifi —Woman Among the Dead—Governor Tanner Proclaims Martial Law. The riot at Pana, 111., Monday resulted In the killing outright of at least seven persons. Nine more were wounded in the battle, and a reign of terror prevailed throughout the city until the arrival of three companies of the Illinois National Guard. Every street in the city was soon patrolled by soldiers. The same rigid martial law which was invoked a few months ago, immediately after the bloody riots between the union and non-union miners, silenced the hot heads and suppressed the indignation of the citizens over the wanton sacrifice of life. There is mourning in many homes, and heart-rending scenes were enacted os the streets. The refusal of Henry Stephens, a negro miner, to submit to arrest seems to have precipitated the trouble. Stories conflicted as to the origin of the affray, but all agree that Stephens was the direct cause of th< fusillade which aroused the whole city. He is a giant in stature and strength, and one of the leaders of the negro miners. It is said on good authority that he was the foremost in inciting the riot last September. His desperate character stood him in such good stead that he evaded the service of a warrant for his arrest in the hands of Sheriff Downey. Sunday he was walking the streets armed with a revolver, announcing that he was looking for Sheriff Downey. He had made repeated threats that he would kill the sheriff on sight. Monday morning Stephens appeared on the streets again and made threats that he would shoot the sheriff at sight. Sheriff Downey had been warned of Stephens’ actions, and was on hls guard when he encountered the negro in Locust street. The sheriff Stephens to deliver the revolver and told him he was under arrest for carrying concealed weapons. Stephens, without a word, instantly leveled his weapon and fired at the sheriff. The bullet went wild. The sheriff immediately opened fire on the negro. Deputy Sheriff Cheeney, hearing the shooting, rushed to join Sheriff Downey. Stephens took to his heels and succeeded in gaining Penwell’s general store in Locust street, the principal thoroughfare, two blocks distant, and took his stand in the entrance. He hesitated there an instant, and then stepped to the pavement, leveled his revolver down the street toward his approaching pursuer and fired. The bullet missed the deputy and struck Xavier Lecocq, a Frenchman, who was standing in the entrance of a near-by saloon. sqnarely in the forehead, killing him instantly. Stephens then turned and ran into the Penwell store and sought refuge behind a counter. Citizens Rush' to Arma. By this time the excitement was great and the streets were rapidly filling with men, all of whom bore weapons. Deputy Cheeney dashed into the store, followed by Deputy Joseph Mullen and several citizens. A fusillade of bullets was poured into the store and Stephens emptied his revolver at his assailants from behind the counter. The infuriated crowd at the door eon tinned firing, and Stephens, seeing that death was inevitable if he remained behind the counter, made a desperate dash from his cover to a stairway in the rear of the store. He fell pierced by six bullets before he had gone ten feet. One of the bullets had gone through his neek, another through his back and the other wounds were of a less serious nature. The firing stopped instantly and Deputy Cheeney ran to the wounded negro and placed him under arrest. Stephens is of robust constitution, big and brawny. The shock of his numerous wounds did not apparently hurt him, for he swore and said to the deputy, “I surrender,” and with blood pouring down his dotMng walked with his captor to a physician’s office, where he was given medical attention. He was then taken to jail. Meanwhile the riot was raging in the street. As soon as the first shots had been fired the whistle of the electric light plant was blown as a signal for the citizens, the majority of whom had long ago been sworn in as deputies, to turn out armed and ready to fight. At the same time the miners of the Pana and Penwell mines, which are located about four 'blocks from the Penwell store, which is in the center of the town, rushed into the tipples and opened fire on the thronged streets. The news that Stephens, one of their number, had been shot aroused them to a pitch of fury. They shot at any living mark in sight, and as a result among their victims are three women, two of whom are white women, wounded and one negro woman dead. The military upon its arrival immediately arrested every deputy sheriff, including Chief Deputy Cheeney, all of whom were disarmed and then released. Chief of Police William Kiely was also arrested by the soldiers and taken before Col. Culver, who disarmed him. Late the same evening Gov. Tanner issued a proclamation placing Pana under martial law. After calling attention to the existing state of affairs and reviewing his late action in removing the troops from Pana, the Governor’s proclamation continues in the exact language of his former proclamation, issued on Nov. 21 last. The troops were ordered to disarm all persons and seize all arms in Pana wherever found.