MINERS SHOT DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS AND E. & C. N. Y. R. R.

Striking coal miners marching near Lattimer, Pa.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 11, 1897.

SHOT DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS.

Wholesale Slaughter of Miners at Lattimer, Pa.

THEY FELL LIKE TEN PINS.

Those Who Were Unharmed Fled in Wild Dismay.

When Halted by Sheriff Martin They Were Headed For the Breakers With the Intention of Forcing the Men at Work to Quit—Refused to Disperse. Sheriff Martin in One Interview Says They Beat and

 Maltreated Him, and He Gave the Order to Fire,

 Thinking It Necessary to Protect His Own and the Deputies' Lives—Another Story Says He Denies Giving the Order to Fire—Many Dead and Wounded Carried From the Bloody Field, and an Estimate of the Slain Is Hard to Compute—They Were on the Public Highway When Stopped—Excitement Runs High, the Citizens Being Indignant Over the Occurrence—Governor Hastings Orders Out the Third Brigade to Maintain Order.

   HAZLETON, Pa., Sept. 11.—The strike situation reached a terrible crisis on the outskirts of Lattimer when a band of deputy sheriffs fired into an infuriated mob of miners.

   The men fell like so many sheep, and the excitement since has been so intense that no accurate figures of the dead and wounded can be obtained. Reports run from 15 to 30 odd killed and 40 or more wounded. Many of these will die.

   One man who reached the scene counted 13 corpses. Four other dead lie in the mountains between Lattimer and Harleigh.

   Those who were not injured carried their dead and wounded friends into the woods and estimate is baffled.

   Three bodies were found on the road near Lattimer.

   The strikers left Hazleton, announcing their intention to go to Lattimer. As soon as this became known, a band of deputies got on a trolley car and went across the mountain to the scene where the conflict followed. After reaching Lattimer they left the car and formed into three companies under Thomas Hall, E. A. Hess and Samuel B. Price. They drew up in line at the edge of the village with a fence and a line of houses in their rear.

   Sheriff Martin was in command, and he walked up and down in front of the line until the strikers approached. They were soon coming across the ridge and Martin went out to meet them.

   The men drew up sullenly and listened in silence until he had once more read the riot act.

   This finished, a low muttering arose among the foreigners and there was a slight movement forward.

   Perceiving this, the sheriff stepped toward them and in a determined tone forbade the advance.

   Some one struck the sheriff and the next moment there was a command to the deputies to fire. The guns of the deputies' instantly belched forth a terrible volley.

   The report seemed to shake the very mountains and a roar of dismay went up from the people.

   The strikers were taken entirely by surprise, and as the men toppled and fell over each other those who remained unhurt stampeded.

   The men went down before the storm of bullets like ten pins, and the groans of the dying and of the wounded filled the air.

   The excitement that followed was simply indescribable.

   The deputies seemed to be terror-stricken at the deadly execution of their guns, and seeing the living strikers fleeing like wild men and others dropping to the earth, they went to the aid of the unfortunates whom they had brought down.

   The people of Lattimer rushed pell mell to the scene, but the screams of the wounded drowned the cries of the sympathizing and half-crazed inhabitants.

   A reporter who soon afterward reached the scene found the road leading to Lattimer filled with groups of frightened Huns [Hungarians]. Some surrounded dying companions and others, fearful of pursuit, clung to the newcomer and begged his protection.

   At Farley's hotel there were two men lying on the porch. Both had been shot in the head.

SHERIFF MARTIN'S STORY.

Did Not Give Orders to Fire Until Necessary For Self Protection.

   WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Sept. 11.—Sheriff Martin arrived home from Hazleton. He was cool and collected.

   He was met at the depot by his legal adviser. The two got into a cab and drove to the court house, where they were closeted together for some time. At first the sheriff refused to say anything, but finally consented.

   The sheriff was at first reluctant to say whether he had given the command to fire, but afterwards admitted that he had. The sheriff's detailed statement is as follows:

   I heard that the strikers were going to march to the breaker at Lattimer and compel the men there to quit work. I resolved to intercept them, and if possible prevent them from reaching the breaker. One of my deputies told me that the strikers would probably be heavily armed. I got my deputies, 70 in number, to meet at a certain place. They were all armed.

   I told them to keep cool under all circumstances. The trouble began when I met the marching column. I halted it and read the proclamation. The miners refused to pay any attention and started to resume their march. Then I called to the leader to stop. He ignored my order. I then attempted to arrest him.

   The strikers closed in on me. They acted very viciously, kicking me, knocking me down and tramping upon me. I called upon my deputies to aid me and they did so, but they were unable to accomplish much.

   I realized that something had to be done at once or I would be killed. I called to the deputies to discharge their firearms into the air over the heads of the strikers, as it might probably frighten them. It was done at once, but it had no effect whatever on the infuriated foreigners who used me so much the rougher and became fiercer and fiercer, more like wild beasts than human beings.

   The strikers then made a still bolder move and endeavored to surround my entire force of deputies. I fully realized that the foreigners were a desperate lot and valued life at a very small figure. I also saw that parleying with such a gang of infuriated men was entirely out of the question as they were too excited to listen to reason and that myself and deputies would be killed if we were not rescued, or if we did not defend ourselves.

   I then called upon the deputies to defend themselves and shoot if they must to protect their lives or to protect the property that they had been sent to guard from being demolished.

   The next second there was a few scattered shots fired into the infuriated foreigners, and a moment later the entire force of deputies discharged a solid volley into the crowd.

   I hated to give the command to shoot and was awful sorry that I was compelled to do so, but I was there to do my duty, and I did it as best I knew how and as my conscience dictated, as the strikers were violating the law of the commonwealth and flatly refused to obey the proclamation that I read to them. They instead insisted on doing violence and disobeying the laws.

   The scene after the shooting was simply terrible and I would have willingly not had it occur, but as a public official I was there to see that the law was obeyed and lived up to, and I merely did my duty.

   Some of the foreigners fell over dead and others badly wounded. Some were rushing about hither and thither seeking a place where they would be shielded from any more shots; others were aiding their wounded companions to places of safety, while here and there could be seen men carrying away some one who was badly injured or else dead.

   The entire crowd of foreigners, as soon as the volley had been fired by my deputies, turned and started to retreat. They rushed off in all directions as fast as they could run, taking as many of their dead and wounded with them as they were able to carry during their hurried retreat.

   The excitement at the time was simply terrible, and I would not care to ever go through another ordeal of the same kind for a fortune.

A DIFFERENT TALE.

In Another Interview the Sheriff Denies Ordering Them to Fire.

   WILKES-BARRE, Sept. 11.—In another interview Sheriff Martin said he first met the marching miners at West Hazleton. He asked them where they were going and they replied: "We are going to Lattimer to get the men out there."

   The sheriff and 70 deputies armed with Winchesters and revolvers boarded a trolley car for Lattimer and marching down the public road headed off marching columns of Poles and Hungarians.

   Martin was asked during the interview:

   "When you met the men were they on company property or on the public road?"

   He replied: "No, they were on the public road."

   "Were they marching toward Lattimers?"

   "Yes."

   "Had they up to that time committed any overt act or acted otherwise than peaceably?"

   "No."

   "Why, then, did you order the deputies to fire?"

   "I did not order the deputies to fire; some one else did that. First came a single shot and then a volley. I gave no order."

   Sheriff Martin, when he reached Wilkes-Barre, was badly scared. Though he claims to have been brutally assaulted, when seen he did not have a mark on his person to show that he had been roughly handled.

   All classes of citizens in this city and county unite in condemning Sheriff Martin's hasty action.

Deputies firing on unarmed miners near Lattimer, Pa.

Bodies Scattered Along the Road.

   HAZLETON, Pa., Sept. 11.—One man has three bullets in him. His groans and appeals for a doctor or death were heartrending. All along the road the wounded men who were able to leave the scene of battle scattered themselves and sought the shade of the trees for protection, but there was no need of that then.

   Approaching the place where the shooting occurred people were met wringing their hands and bemoaning the catastrophe. They could not talk intelligently and it was with the greatest difficulty that information could be gleaned.

   Along the bank of the trolley road men lay in every position, some dead, others dying. Three bodies, face downward, lay along the incline and three others were but a short distance away. On the other side of the road as many more bodies lay.

   The schoolhouse was transformed into a temporary hospital and some of the wounded were taken there.

   The colliery ambulance was summoned to the place as soon as possible, and immediately upon its arrival two men, both shot through the legs, were loaded into the wagon. All along the hillside the wounded men were found on the green, on the roadside and in the fields. Many others who had been carried to a distance could not be found.

   As soon as the news of the shooting reached Hazleton there was consternation. Within 10 minutes the streets were blocked with excited people.

As Martin Roski Saw It.

   HAZLETON, Pa., Sept. 11.—Martin Roski, an intelligent Hungarian from Mount Pleasant, who was shot in the arm, gave this version of the affair:

   "We were going along the road to Lattimer and the deputies were lined across the road, barring our progress. We tried to go through them and did not attempt to hit or molest them when they fired upon us. We ran, but they kept on shooting at us while we ran. It is all their fault."

   Citizens' meetings were held in various parts of the city. Opinion was divided about the responsibility for the shooting.

   At one meeting, held in Van Wyckles Casino, attended by bankers, coal operators and prominent business men, resolutions were adopted calling on Governor Hastings to send the militia here immediately.

   At other massmeetings, attended by thousands of people, the sentiment was against bringing the troops here, and it is asserted by these that there was no necessity for having the deputies here.

Pink line indicates route of Erie & Central New York railroad between Cincinnatus and Cortland, N. Y.

Train approaching McGrawville, N. Y.

THE E. & C. N. Y. R. R.

NOW COMPLETED AS FAR AS MCGRAWVILLE.

The First Excursion Over the Road—Three Carloads of Cortlandites Visit the Corset City—Rousing Reception at the Other End—All McGrawville Turns Out—Bands, Bonfires, Fireworks, Grand Parade, Wonderful Enthusiasm—Waited Twenty-seven Years to See This Day.

   The Erie & Central New York R. R. is open as far as McGrawville and a large excursion train of Cortland people took the first trip over the new road last night. For twenty-seven years people have been waiting to see this day come. The generation who hailed with delight the first survey of the territory has passed away and a new generation has come to whom for years the name of the proposed railroad to the Otselic valley has been almost a by-word. Again and again efforts have been made to revive the scheme and good promises have been made, only to fail of fulfillment through some unexpected obstacle that has arisen.

   The McGrawville people have come to say that they would believe in the building of the road when they heard the whistle of the locomotive within their corporation. Last night they had an opportunity of hearing it, and the individual must have been deaf indeed who failed of that privilege, for Engineer William Polley blew it loud and long as the train approached McGrawville. For the last mile it was one continuous toot, and the shouts in the cars and the shouts of the whole population assembled to meet the train almost drowned the hilarious blasts of the locomotive.

   There have been a few people who have had faith in the building of the road, men who have been possessed of tremendous perseverance and a wonderful determination to overcome all obstacles. Foremost among these is Irving H. Palmer, who has been the attorney for the railroad since the corporation was first organized. He has worked through thick and thin and has declared that the time would come when there would be a road from Cortland to the Otselic valley and now that that time seems fast approaching he is one of the men to whom the credit for its construction is most largely due.

   Several years ago Mr. N. A. Bundy took hold of the project. The whole thing seemed full of discouragements, but Mr. Bundy's faith never wavered. More obstacles have been bunched in the last half decade than in all the rest of the history of the corporation and that too when it seemed that the time had come for the building of the road. He put his whole heart and his whole property into the project. He has traveled thousands of miles to get this road started. He continued his efforts when all others except Mr. Palmer said it was worse than useless. Had he abandoned the idea the road would never have been started, and certainly would never have been continued, but he kept on working and it must have been a proud moment for him last night when he stood on the front platform of the forward car as the train rolled into McGrawville. When the line is completed to the mouth of Gee brook Cortland may well thank him for opening up to its trade one of the most rich and fertile valleys in this vicinity.

   For days the road has progressed little by little. The chief cause of delay was the difficulty of getting ties, though rails enough have come to lay the track beyond Solon. But during the time that the men were prevented from continuing track laying they have been ballasting and so not much real delay has resulted in the end.

   At last the track was inside the McGrawville village corporation and was approaching the station. Then it leaked out that the Odd Fellows of McGrawville purposed to run an excursion from that place to Cortland on Tuesday evening, Sept. 14, and surprise their Cortland brethren. The Cortland boys determined to get the start of them. Mr. Bundy was consulted, and it was arranged that the first passenger train over the road should be run last night and that it should take the Cortland Odd Fellows and their friends to McGrawville. Word was passed about during the afternoon and The STANDARD announced it last night. Three passenger coaches were secured from the Lehigh Valley R. R., and the start was announced to be made from that station at 7:20 o'clock last night.

   A round trip rate of 25 cents was offered, and the first ticket to be sold on the Erie & Central New York R. R. was bought by C. F. Brown, who will keep it as a souvenir. Mr. Bundy, who received that price from Mr. Brown, will also keep that particular twenty-five cent piece as a souvenir.

   Long before 7:20 o'clock the Lehigh Valley station was packed with an enthusiastic crowd of people, some of whom came to go on the train and others of whom came to see it start. The Odd Fellows headed by the Hitchcock drum corps marched down to the station and took places in the train. The three cars were filled so full that standing room was at a premium. As there is no turntable at McGrawville the train backed down and returned engine foremost.

   At 7:25 o'clock the train started off. It was a glorious night. The harvest moon was just full, the sky was clear and it was light as day. Mr. Bundy stood on the front platform. Near the end of the car sat Hon. W. D. Tisdale, president of the road. With him was Mr. James S. Squires, who drove the first spike on this railroad at 1:40 o'clock on the afternoon of Tuesday. Aug. 27, 1895, and who was a director of the original Utica, Chenango & Cortland R. R., of which the Erie & Central New York R. R. is the outgrowth, and who has been the treasurer of the road from the beginning. Mr. Squires is the only member of the original company who is now a. member of the present company. Other officers and directors of the road were present in full force.

   Dr. E. W. McBirnie of Willet with his son chanced to be in McGrawville in the afternoon and learned that the train was to run last night. The doctor has been very much interested in the prospect of the new road, and father and son at once left their horse at McGrawville and came over to Cortland on the electric road for the sake of riding back on the first train.

   At the junction there was a big crowd waiting to see and to join the train. At 7:30 the train left the Lehigh Valley tracks and rounded the curve upon the new road. Instantly the whole trainload of passengers was in an uproar. There was shouting and yelling, and the drums of the martial band added to the din. Enthusiasm was at the boiling point. The train ran along smoothly and at a good rate of speed and remarks were frequent upon the excellent condition of the roadbed. As the Tioughnioga river was crossed on the long bridge the shouting was increased. Then it quieted down a little till at the foot of the Greenwood hill where the track runs for some distance beside the track of the electric road. A trolley car was met. It was greeted with a yell, and in a moment or two more the engineer began blowing the whistle of the locomotive for McGrawville in long blasts which changed into a continuous toot.

   During the last three-quarters of a mile the road was not yet well ballasted and the train ran slowly. Then it began to meet stragglers from the McGrawville crowd who had come out to catch on and ride back, and so be able to say that they had had a ride on the first train.

   Then the lights began to appear as of a great crowd bearing torches on the straight track ahead at the end of the line. And it was a crowd—men, women and children were there. It seemed as though all McGrawville had come out to meet the train. When it stopped the McGrawville band was playing, but no band could play against such a shouting and it speedily gave it up till the first enthusiasm had cooled off a little. Then a line was formed and headed by Policeman S. N. Gooding of the Cortland police force and by the McGrawville band a march was made through the principal streets. Bonfires were lighted in back gardens that adjoined the railroad grade, fireworks appeared from a few places and many houses were illuminated. Notable among these was the residence of A. P. McGraw, which was aglow of colored lights from cellar to attic, and whose beautiful appearance elicited many words of admiration.

   After a march around town the procession returned to the rooms of the Odd Fellows where an evening of genuine enjoyment was spent amid speeches, stories, songs and cigars. A. E. Seymour presided over the open lodge and songs were rendered by the Odd Fellows' quartet of Vesta lodge, Cortland. Speeches were made by Grand Chaplain J. Barton French, N. A. Bundy, Gilmore Kinney, A. H. Jacoby, T. F. Lawler, I. H. Palmer, W. D. Tisdale, H. M. Kellogg, G. O. Whitcomb, James S. Squires, C. W. Stoker, S. K. Jones, C. B. Roethig, E. N. Sherwood, H. C. Hendrick and A. P. McGraw. All were full of enthusiasm over the new road and its future.

   It was 11 o'clock when the party was ready to return home. Mr. Bundy very considerately instructed the conductor not to take up the tickets, but to leave them in the hands of the passengers as souvenirs—and an excellent souvenir they will make, for they were printed specially for the occasion and state the date and what the trip was for. Several men were heard to say that a dollar would be no inducement to them to part with their tickets.

   The electric road did a good business after the arrival of the train in McGrawville, for many who had gone simply for the ride did not care to remain till the return of the train and came back on the trolley. For several trips the car was loaded.

   And so the first train has reached McGrawville. Before many weeks it is expected that trains will be running regularly between Cortland and Solon, and before snow flies between Cortland and Gee brook. Then the big celebration will occur.

Cortland Opera House on Groton Avenue.

THE OPERA HOUSE.

"The Man in the Iron Mask" To Be Seen on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

   The regular opening of the Cortland Opera House will occur on Tuesday evening, Sept. 21. Managers Wallace & Gilmore will offer as their first attraction the Robertson & Douglas Co. in their strong melo-drama, "The Man in the Iron Mask." This production is a grand one and will no doubt draw out a representative audience. Messrs. Wallace & Gilmore will tender the privilege of the boxes on this occasion to the town officials, press and stockholders. Negotiations are pending to have a thorough new system of voltage ready to light the house better than ever before and efforts are being made to have this service ready Sept. 20. Large ferns and tropical plants will be used to dress the stage and lobby and it is to be hoped that Sept. 21 at the Cortland Opera House will be an event long to be remembered.

   Attractions to follow are: "Strange Adventures of Miss Brown," Camp & Hopkins' New Minstrels, Lester and Williams in "Me and Jack," "Mme. Sans Gene," "Girl From Frisco," Katie Emmett, Victor Herbert's band, "Under the Dome," "The Sporting Craze," "Eight Bells," Rhea, "Faust," Sousa's band, the Wilbur Opera company, etc., etc.

SWEET PEA RECEPTION

Given By Mrs. E. H. Brewer and Miss Pomeroy Friday Afternoon.

   Mrs. E. H. Brewer and Miss Anna M. Pomeroy gave a most enjoyable reception from 3 to 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the home of the former, 38 Port Watson-st., to a large number of their lady friends. Over 150 invitations had been sent out. A profusion of sweet peas of all shades and tints tastefully arranged formed the chief floral decoration of the interior, and the effect was wonderfully pretty. Mrs. Brewer and Miss Pomeroy received the guests in the front parlor and were assisted in the entertainment by Mrs. S. M. Ballard, Mrs. A. W. Edgcomb, Mrs. Mary C. Stilson, Mrs. G. J. Maycumber, and the Misses Celia Hinman, Belle Fitzgerald and May Parker. Very nice refreshments were served in the diningroom by the Misses Mabel Brewer, Mabel Fitzgerald, Jane Humes and Anna Winchell. Lemonade was dispensed from a large punch bowl on the spacious side piazza which was enclosed for the occasion. The popular Susan Tompkins harp orchestra furnished delightful music during the afternoon.

Cortland Steam Laundry, 78 Clinton Avenue.

Polling Places Named.

   The town board has designated the following polling places for the town of Cortlandville for the fall election, Nov. 2:

   Dist. No. 1—Village hall, McGrawville.

   Dist. No. 2—M. E. Corwin's shop, 71 Pomeroy-st.

   Dist. No. 3—Steam laundry, 78 Clinton-ave.

   Dist. No. 4.—Watrous' livery stable, 22 Clinton-ave.

   Dist. No. 5—Warner Rood's barn, 16 Madison-st.

   Dist. No. 6—Yager's livery stable, 80 Maple-ave.

   Dist. No. 7—Fireman's hall.

   Dist. No. 8—George Allport's shop, Tompkins-st.

   Dist. No. 9—McGraw's wagon shop, 137 Main-st.

   Dist. No. 10—John Hubbard's hall, Blodgett Mills.

   The registration days for voters voting in the village are Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 8 and 9, 15 and 16. Voters outside the village who register at McGrawville or Blodgett Mills and register Saturday, Oct. 9, or Saturday, Oct. 16.

BREVITIES.

   —A reception for new Normal students will be given at the Congregational church this evening.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Cramer & Mellon, Hardware, page 7; F. E. Brogden, Hot Weather Drinks, page 7.

   —The funeral of Benjamin Burchard is to be held from his late home, 84 Groton-ave., Monday morning at 10 o'clock.

   —Skunks have become about as common in Moravia as kittens and play along the village streets every evening.—Moravia Register.

   —Harriet Tubman, the colored spy, speaks in the First M. E. church Friday evening, Sept. 17, in the interests of the Zion A. M. E. church society.

   —The Woman's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. will hold its first meeting after the summer vacation on Tuesday, Sept. 14, in the Y. M. C. A. parlor at 3:30 P. M.

   —The editor of The STANDARD acknowledges with thanks the receipt of a basket of very large and very fine Rood seedling plums from Mr. Andrew J. Thayer of Blodgett Mills.

   —There will be free dancing at the park to-night with music by McDermott's full orchestra. The park is a delightful spot these warm evenings with the harvest moon to lend enchantment to the scene.

   —The report of Miss Eleanor Howard, delegate to the Y. P. S. C. E. convention at San Francisco from the Congregational society, will be read at the regular meeting of that society to-morrow evening.

   —Lewis McGee, a Summerhill blacksmith, was given his choice between paying $5 fine and going to jail for five days this morning by Police Justice Mellon for intoxication. He will stop with Sheriff Hilsinger.

   —The Tompkins County Agricultural society has an eye to business when it undertakes to encourage "infant industries" by offering prizes for the largest family of children under 10 years of age.—Moravia Register.

   —The man who was arrested in Homer Wednesday afternoon for committing an assault upon the person of Officer Jones and who is supposed to be a member of the gang of sneak thieves who have been following the circus, waived examination this morning and was committed to jail to await the action of the grand jury.

   —One prominent business house in Cortland says that its sales for the month of August exceeded the sales for the corresponding month last year by over $160, and this is a fair average of the way sales have been going for several months past. That is a very good indication of an improvement in the times

   —An attache of the Forepaugh circus which is here to-day states that the attendance has been light throughout the East this season, especially in New England. At Cortland the show had a big crowd on Wednesday, but yesterday at Auburn, in the circus man's language, "there were hardly enough under the canvas for a first-class prayer-meeting."—Ithaca Journal.