Striker Shot By Police
July 5, 1902
Summary
An Italian railroad worker on strike is killed, marking the “first loss of life as a result of the miners’ dispute”.
Transcription
First Loss of Life as Result of Miners' Dispute.
Was Found Dead on Roadway.
It is believed victim was killed during a night attack on mine-- Foreigners made threats, and sheriff was called to preserve order.
Wilkebarre, Pa., July 2.-- The William A. colliery of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, at Old Forge, was the scene of a shooting affray early yesterday morning which resulted in the death of one man. The victim was an Italian laborer, Anthony Giuseppe. He had only been in this country about nine months. When the miners' strike was declared he went out with the other laborers. He had not been seen in the vicinity of Old Forge for some weeks past. At an early hour yesterday morning a peddler discovered his dead body lying in the roadway just outside of the barricade of the William A. colliery. There was a bullet wound in his throat. A doctor who examined the body said death was undoubtedly instantaneous. The coroner of Lackawanna country was notified and gave a permit for the removal of the remains to Scranton. The coal and iron policemen at the William A. colliery have had some narrow escapes ever since they went on duty. Only last Friday a number of sticks of dynamite were thrown over the fence surrounding the colliery, with a few of blowing up the colliery office and the guards. Fortunately, the explosive was discovered before it did any damage.
In the stillness of the night shots were fired through the fence at the special officers. One of the policemen exhibits a coat where a bullet passed through one night last week. Monday night firing at the guard was renewed. It is though that the men behind the barricade responded and the Italian fell dead from a bullet fired from a Winchester. The friends of the dead man came he was an innocent victim. Their version is that he was walking in the roadway near the colliery fence when he received a bullet intended for another. When the coroner completes his investigation some of the deputies employed at the colliery may be placed under arrest. There was much indignation among the foreign residents over the shooting, and they made all sorts of threats. The guard at the colliery was doubled last night, and Sheriff Shadt swore in a special posse to preserve order. When darkness came 1,000 people collected in the vicinity of the mine, and an attack would undoubtedly have been made on the guards had not the sheriff's posse kept the crowd in check.
A telegraph was sent from strike headquarters to President Mitchell in the west yesterday that there was no truth in the reports that the strikers were weakening. On the contrary, the situation was stated to be about the same as when he left, and that the miners were putting up a noble fight.
Three of the big coal companies in this region now claim that they have all the engineers and pumpkin they need. The Delaware and Hudson Company has a surplus of engineers. There is no question but that the companies are gradually getting back a great many of the engineers and pumpkin who quit their services June 2. The firemen, however, are standing firm. Not a single fireman who went out in the Wyoming region has returned to work, and it is said that none have made application for work.
Was Found Dead on Roadway.
It is believed victim was killed during a night attack on mine-- Foreigners made threats, and sheriff was called to preserve order.
Wilkebarre, Pa., July 2.-- The William A. colliery of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, at Old Forge, was the scene of a shooting affray early yesterday morning which resulted in the death of one man. The victim was an Italian laborer, Anthony Giuseppe. He had only been in this country about nine months. When the miners' strike was declared he went out with the other laborers. He had not been seen in the vicinity of Old Forge for some weeks past. At an early hour yesterday morning a peddler discovered his dead body lying in the roadway just outside of the barricade of the William A. colliery. There was a bullet wound in his throat. A doctor who examined the body said death was undoubtedly instantaneous. The coroner of Lackawanna country was notified and gave a permit for the removal of the remains to Scranton. The coal and iron policemen at the William A. colliery have had some narrow escapes ever since they went on duty. Only last Friday a number of sticks of dynamite were thrown over the fence surrounding the colliery, with a few of blowing up the colliery office and the guards. Fortunately, the explosive was discovered before it did any damage.
In the stillness of the night shots were fired through the fence at the special officers. One of the policemen exhibits a coat where a bullet passed through one night last week. Monday night firing at the guard was renewed. It is though that the men behind the barricade responded and the Italian fell dead from a bullet fired from a Winchester. The friends of the dead man came he was an innocent victim. Their version is that he was walking in the roadway near the colliery fence when he received a bullet intended for another. When the coroner completes his investigation some of the deputies employed at the colliery may be placed under arrest. There was much indignation among the foreign residents over the shooting, and they made all sorts of threats. The guard at the colliery was doubled last night, and Sheriff Shadt swore in a special posse to preserve order. When darkness came 1,000 people collected in the vicinity of the mine, and an attack would undoubtedly have been made on the guards had not the sheriff's posse kept the crowd in check.
A telegraph was sent from strike headquarters to President Mitchell in the west yesterday that there was no truth in the reports that the strikers were weakening. On the contrary, the situation was stated to be about the same as when he left, and that the miners were putting up a noble fight.
Three of the big coal companies in this region now claim that they have all the engineers and pumpkin they need. The Delaware and Hudson Company has a surplus of engineers. There is no question but that the companies are gradually getting back a great many of the engineers and pumpkin who quit their services June 2. The firemen, however, are standing firm. Not a single fireman who went out in the Wyoming region has returned to work, and it is said that none have made application for work.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brooke Royer
Citation
“Striker Shot By Police,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1069.