Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898
Mr. Hengelmiiller to Mr. Sherman.
Washington , September 28, 1897 .
Mr. Secretary of State: On the occasion of the conflict which took place on the 10th instant at Lattimer, near Hazleton, Pa., between the sheriff of Luzerne County and his armed force on one side, and the striking laborers on the other, 10 Austrian and Hungarian subjects were killed and 11 more or less severely wounded. I take the liberty, Mr. Secretary of State, herewith to inclose a list of these dead and wounded persons, and to add that it has not yet been possible to ascertain the citizenship of all the victims of that collision, and that there are 23 more wounded men in the hospital at Hazleton whose names [Page 47] indicate that they are of Austrian or Hungarian origin, but the physicians who have them in charge have not permitted them to be questioned.
According to the information which I have received, and which is based upon the inquiries made by the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia and the examination of several witnesses of the occurrence, the unfortunate victims of the catastrophe had engaged in no acts of violence and were guilty of no resistance to the lawful authorities that could justify the violent means used against them.
I have the honor to inclose a report of the examination of 13 eye-witnesses, among which are not only the statements of workmen who had taken part in the procession, but also the sworn depositions of American citizens who were not concerned in the affair at all, and I likewise inclose a memorandum in the English language, in order that it may be more readily examined, wherein I have given a concise account of the occurrence as it is shown, by the aforesaid inquiries, to have taken place.
I have no reason to doubt the correctness of these depositions, or that of the reports which I have received, and I have found no fact mentioned in the numerous accounts given by the press that deprives the essential points of the accompanying statements of their force. These important points go to show that:
- (1)
- The workmen who took part in the procession from Harwood to Lattimer were unarmed, and had no intention of engaging in acts of violence at the latter place.
- (2)
- That the sheriff, before fire was opened, had certainly not exhausted all means of asserting his authority in a peaceful manner, but that fire was opened upon defenseless and unarmed men, who had already obeyed the first orders of the sheriff, who forbade them to pass through West Hazleton.
- (3)
- That the men fled at the first shot, and that the firing upon the fugitives was nevertheless continued for two minutes.
In this connection I have the honor, Mr. Secretary of State, to call your special attention to the statement made by Mr. Boyle, the undertaker at Hazleton, who says that of the 10 bodies mentioned by him 9 had received their wounds in the back.
The Imperial and Royal Government, in view of this statement, can not avoid the impression that its subjects suffered death or wounds, not in consequence of unlawful resistance to the constituted authorities, and therefore not through their fault or owing to an unfortunate accident, but through an unjustifiable, illegal, and, as it appears, improper use of the official authority of the sheriff, consequently of a responsible representative of the authority of the State. It has therefore instructed me to call the attention of the Federal Government to the case, and to request it to cause the facts to be subjected to a rigid investigation, and to acquaint me with the result thereof with as little delay as possible.
I have the honor hereby to obey these instructions, and I have, at the same time, been directed to add that my Government reserves the right to ask for a suitable indemnity for its subjects who were killed or wounded on that occasion, and for their surviving relatives.
I avail myself, etc.,
List of names of the Austrian and Hungarian citizens ascertained, up to September 23, to have been killed near Lattimer, Pa.
| No. | Family and given name. | Age. | Birthplace. | District to which they belonged. | Citizenship. | Surviving relatives of whom deceased was the supporter. |
| 1 | Michael Ceslak: | 40 | Zamutov | County Zemplin | Hungarian | Wife and five children. |
| 2 | Stefan Roskonjansky, alias Jurek | 25 | Siroka | County Saros | do | Pregnant wife and one child. |
| 3 | Jahn Fota | 24 | Krisovjan | do | do | Not yet ascertained. |
| 4 | Andro Jurczest. | 25 | Dubina | do | do | Father and mother. |
| 5 | Wojcich Brzostowsky. | 38 | Bizesnica | Ropczyce district | do | Not yet ascertained. |
| 6 | Anton Adam Zeminiski. | 25 | Wysniowa | Ropczyce | Austrian | Father and mother. |
| 7 | Zieba Wejcieh | 25 | Wadowiece | Mielec district | do | Not yet ascertained. |
| 8 | Platek Clemens | It could only be ascertained that he was from Galicia. | do | Wife and three children. | ||
| 9 | Stanislaus Zagurski. | 38 | Siedlitz | Pilsno district | do | Wife and two children. |
| 10 | Skreb Ivan | 28 | Oslanicia | Lisko district | do | Do. |
List of names of the Austrian and Hungarian subjects ascertained, up to September 23, to have been received in the hospital in Hazleton on September 10 from Lattimer.
| No. | Family and given name. | Age. | Birthplace. | District to which they belonged. | Citizenship. | Where wounded. | |
| 1 | Fr. Fagyas | 20 | Bajahaza | County Ung | Hungarian | Back of arm and leg. | |
| 2 | Josef Mehki | 40 | Kiszac | County Trenssen | do | In back between shoulders. | |
| 3 | Johan Dolny | 32 | Czeklya | County Zemplin | do | In back. | |
| 4 | Josef Platek. | 28 | Czermyn | Mielec district | Austrian | Do. | |
| 5 | Andrej Urban | 38 | Jedlowa | Pilzno district | do | Do. | |
| 6 | Andrej Hanczur | 22 | Dubina | County Saros | Hungarian | In leg and back. | |
| 7 | Thomas Pares | Beszicza | Ropczyce district | Austrian. | } | ||
| 8 | Fr. Roman | 43 | Ostrusow | Grybow district | do | According to statements of the officials, all these were wounded in the back. | |
| 9 | Istvan Juszko. | 27 | Konhaza | County Ung | Hungarian | ||
| 10 | John Pusztay | 24 | Meglizow | Country Zemplin | do | ||
| 11 | Jos. Zapay | 28 | Also Tvarosc. | Country Saros | do |
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, at Harwood, September 12, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Thomas Racek, a naturalized American citizen, from Karacsony Mezzo, County Saros, now residing in Harwood, Pa., on being questioned, makes the following statement:
“John Glavati, of Lattimer, came to my house on September 10 at 9 o’clock in the morning and told me that he and his fellow-workmen in that place had decided to join our strike if we would march to Lattimer. I went to Jacob Stiver and gave him Glavati’s message, and we called the men together and decided to go in procession to Lattimer, and we started on the same day at 1 o’clock.”
Read, and, after the party had declared that he might suffer injury from making the deposition and asked to be excused from signing it, the testimony was closed.
Official witness:
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, in Hazleton, September 15, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
John Andryonski, born in Saso, County Saros, appears, and being questioned, makes the following statement:
“I was marching at the head of the procession as we came near to West Hazleton. About 300 yards from the last-named place Sheriff J Martin came to meet us. He had about 40 (it might have been more) armed deputies with him. The sheriff, leaving the deputies behind him and holding a revolver in his hand, came to meet us and told us to stop. To my remark that we, as well as everybody, had a right to go where we chose, he answered me and those standing by me that we must not go through West Hazleton, but that we were at liberty to go in the public road. I had never seen the sheriff until that moment, nor did he announce himself as such. I must also add that the sheriff did not say a word about forbidding us to go to Lattimer. The word Lattimer was not mentioned during the occurrence I have described. On the prohibition of the sheriff we avoided West Hazleton, and continued our way to Lattimer. The sheriff came to meet us from the latter place, leaving the deputies standing 15 or 20 yards behind him. I do not know whether the sheriff said anything to those standing in the first row or not, but I can testify that I heard nothing, although I was standing only 4 yards from the sheriff. The sheriff had only his revolver in the hand, and read nothing aloud. I only saw him tussling with some of those standing in the front row. About two minutes after the sheriff had reached the first row of the procession the firing began. Five men fell dead around me. I flung myself flat on the ground and stayed there about ten minutes. I can not say how long the firing lasted, as I was very much excited at the time, but I think it was over two minutes. As I lay on the ground I lifted my head and I could see that the deputies were firing at my fleeing companions, already about 300 yards away. The deputies while they were firing at the fugitives called after them, ‘come back, you son ______.’ I lay until things around me were comparatively quiet. When I arose I saw the deputies still standing in the same place, while my companions, with the exception of those who had immediately thrown themselves on the ground, had run far away. I can testify that not one of us had a weapon in his hand. When we left Harwood in the procession we decided to take nothing, not even a stick, in order not to create the impression that we had the intention of committing acts of violence. I am ready to swear to the above statement. I am a Hungarian subject, and not naturalized.”
Read and signed.
- John (his x mark) Andryonski.
- Mike Kuchar, Witness.
- D. Thodorovich, Chancellor.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, at Hazleton, September 16, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are written below.
Andrew Sivar, born in Jaso-Ujfeln, County Abanj, 27 years of age, fifteen years in America, not naturalized, appears, and being questioned, gives the following testimony:
“I marched in the procession from Harwood to Lattimer on the 10th of the month. I was about 300 yards from the front, and could hear nothing of what was said between the sheriff and those marching in the first rows. So it was near West Hazleton, and so near Lattimer. When the firing began near Lattimer I saw everybody run away; I myself bent over so as to partly protect myself, but I could nevertheless see everything. As I stood so bent over one of my fellow-workmen came running to me. I do not know his name, but it seems to me it might have been a Lithuanian. He came running to me, wounded in the right arm, and begged me to help him. I told him I would gladly do so if I did not have to save myself. The firing lasted two or three minutes. I only stayed a short time bent and then ran myself. While we were running the deputies shot at us when we were already about 300 yards from them.”
Read and signed.
- D. Thodorovich.
- Andrew Sivar.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, at Hazleton, September 16, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Michael Kuhar, a Hungarian subject, born in Nemeth Jakale (Jakab?) Vagas, County Saros, 19 years old, four years in America, appears, and being questioned, gives the following testimony:
“I was marching with my fellow-workmen in the procession from Harwood to Lattimer about 5 yards from the front. As we came near to West Hazleton a man came to meet us whom I had never seen before, but whom I afterwards heard was Sheriff Martin, with drawn revolver, and told us that we must not go through that place. Besides this man I saw 40 armed persons, with weepons raised, standing behind the sheriff. To some objections made by my fellow-workmen, Sheriff Martin said that we were at liberty to go on the public road. After a stop of about fifteen minutes we continued on our way to Lattimer, going around West Hazleton. After about an hour’s walk we came to Lattimer, and about 25 or 30 yards from that place the sheriff came to meet us with about twice as many deputies. I could not hear what the sheriff said to those in the front row, nor could I see with whom he was scuffling, as I was about 10 yards away from him in the crowd. I only know that about two minutes after the sheriff stopped us the shooting began and lasted two or three minutes. As soon as it began I threw myself face downward on the ground. About three minutes after the firing stopped I got up and saw dead and wounded lying around mo. The other workmen were in flight. The sheriff omitted to explain his true character to us at Lattimer also, and he read us nothing. Whether the sheriff ordered his men to fire or not I do not know. I am ready to swear to this statement.”
Read and signed.
- Mihaly Kuhar.
- D. Thodorovich.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, at Hazleton, September 14, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Ando Siver, 21 years old, born in Abanj, County Abanj, resident in Harwood, appears, and being questioned, makes the following statement:
“I came to America sixteen years ago with my parents, and now live here with my father, Jacob Siver, who is an American citizen. As a member of the local committee of the United Miners of America in Harwood, I went with John Eagler on the 10th of the month to Humboldt, to get an American flag, which we wanted to use in a procession (with a demonstration) from Harwood to Lattimer, in order to give the workmen in the last-named place an opportunity to join the strike begun by us workmen in Harwood. We had often been requested to have this procession by those in Lattimer, and the same day that I went with Eagler to Humboldt a man by the name of John Glavati came to Harwood to ask us to have the procession. About 1 in the afternoon of the 10th instant the workmen met. They were all unarmed and no one was allowed to carry a stick, which was in accordance with the decision at a meeting held on the previous evening, the 9th, at which meeting the men were told, first, to march together to Lattimer; second, to carry no weapon or anything that might give the impression that acts of violence were intended. When we came near to West Hazleton I saw Sheriff Martin, whom I had met once before and consequently knew, speak to my companion, John Eagler. I knew that it was a question of our not going through West Hazleton, and I reached this conclusion because I saw the sheriff’s deputies, with guns aimed at us, standing before us. I also saw the sheriff take a folded paper out of his pocket, and without opening it put it back again directly. It is true the sheriff said that this was his proclamation, but whether the paper he showed was a proclamation or not I could of course not know. After a delay of about fifteen minutes, we proceeded on our march to Lattimer, leaving West Hazleton to one side. When we were about 25 or 30 yards from the former place, the sheriff came to meet us again with about 50 or 70—I do not know the number exactly, but am certain that there were more than near West Hazleton. I was in the fourth row, and could only see that the sheriff had seized [Page 51] one of my fellow-workmen in front and aimed the revolver at his breast. In the confusion that followed I could not see all that happened. The deputies began firing soon afterwards. I was much excited, and consequently can not say exactly how long it was between the stopping of the procession and the beginning of the shooting, but it seems to me it could not have been more than one or two minutes. At the first shot we all turned our backs, and I with the others. I saw as I turned a man who was also turning around receivo a wound in the back and fall. I do not know his name. I remained lying down until the deputies had stopped firing. The firing lasted about two minutes. As I was lying face down on the ground I could see nothing, but from the circumstances that all the men at the first shot either turned around or threw themselves on the ground, and the shooting kept on, I decided that they were firing upon the men in flight, which is also proven by the position of the wounds. After about three minutes, as things were comparatively quiet around me, I arose. As I arose I saw men lying around me who had been struck down by balls. I did not see any of the deputies lend a helping hand to the wounded men. I saw a man I knew, John Slobodnik, who is now in the hospital, sitting wounded, and at his request brought him water and accompanied him to a hotel. John Slobodnik had received a wound from behind, a little above the neck.”
Read and signed.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of September, A. D., 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, at Harwood, Luzerne County, September 12, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Jacob Stiver, born in Joszogfaln, County Abanj, resident in Harwood, a naturalized American citizen, appears and gives, as an eyewitness of the conflict between the striking workmen of the C. Pardee Company and the sheriff, which took place on September 10, the following testimony:
“On the 3d of September, at the instigation of the workmen of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Company, the workmen of the C. Pardee Company began the strike, in order to obtain an increase of our very low wages, and especially to obtain freedom from the necessity of buying all our provisions at the company’s stores. Our companions in the coal mines in Lattimer, which last also belong to the C. Pardee Company, did not join the strike. On the 10th of September the coal miner, John Glavati, came from Lattimer to Harwood as a messenger from the workmen in the former place. He hunted up Thomas Racek in Harwood, to induce him to have all the workmen there march together to Lattimer, in order that this demonstration might also cause the workmen in the latter place to join the strike. Thomas Racek called all his companions together and told them Glavati’s message, and it was decided that they should go in a procession to Lattimer the same day. At 1 o’clock the men met and marched together toward Lattimer, with the intention of influencing the workmen there, in a peaceful manner, to join the strike. None of the men had a weapon. As the workmen on the road to Lattimer came near West Hazleton they met Sheriff Martin, with about 50 deputies. What the sheriff said to those marching in the front rows witness can not say, as he was farther back. But he knows that he and his companions, abandoning their original intention of going through West Hazleton, avoided that place and continued their march. As the procession, in which from 700 to 1,000 men from Harwood and neighboring places took part, came near to Lattimer, Sheriff Martin (who must have come by the street car from West Hazleton to Lattimer) came to meet them. This time Sheriff Martin had about 75 deputies with him. What happened between the sheriff and those marching in the front rows witness does not know, and he first realized the gravity of the situation when the firing began. The deputies began to fire about two or three minutes after the sheriff stopped the procession. The shooting may have lasted two minutes. All who were in the procession ran away, and the firiug was continued upon the fleeing men.”
After the reading of the deposition in the Slovak language, the witness asks to be excused from signing the same, lest he may suffer injury from so doing.
Official witness:
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, at Harwood, September 12, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Michael Malody, born in Magyaroska, County Zemplin, a Hungarian subject, appears, and being questioned, makes the following statement:
“I walked on the 10th of September in the front row of the procession with Jogn Eagler, Jogn Pustag, who is now in the Hazleton hospital wounded, with Mike Ceslak and Steve Jurek, who was killed on the spot near Lattimer, also with Andro Novotry and Georg Jenco. As we came near Lattimer we met the sheriff with 70 armed deputies. Sheriff Martin came to meet the procession and told the men that they must go no farther. Some one behind me called out go ahead (English) and the sheriff thinking that these words came from me, seized me by the coat and asked me what I had to say, to which I answered that that order to march onward did not come from me. After this answer had been confirmed by my companion Andro Novotry, standing near me, the sheriff seized the latter. About three minutes after, the firing began. I threw myself on the ground and crawled back. The firing may have lasted two minutes. Each deputy fired several times, and I think that each one shot off all the cartridges in the magazine guns they were carrying. I saw that all the workmen immediately took flight, like me, at the first fire, while the deputies continued to fire on the fugitives.”
Read in the Slovak language, and then the witness asks, on account of fear that his testimony may do him harm, to be excused from signing.
Official witness:
John Nemeth, Notary Public,
D. Thodorovich, Chancellor.
Andro Novotry, born in Krusco, County Saros, a naturalized American citizen, appears, and, being questioned, gives the following testimony:
“I was at the head of the procession and was not far from Malody when the sheriff seized him by the coat. When the sheriff let him go he caught me by the coat with one hand and with the other pointed his revolver, which he then drew, at my breast. The sheriff asked me, ‘Where are you going?’ and I answered, ‘Let me alone’ (English), at the same time throwing off his arm with which he was holding the revolver against my breast. At this movement of mine the sheriff gave the command ‘Fire’ and the shooting began. George Jancso, who was near me, helped me out of the hands of the sheriff, and once free from the same I ran until I found proper shelter.”
Read in the Slovak language, and the party asks to be excused from signing, lest he may suffer harm from the deposition.
Official witness:
John Nemeth, Notary Public.
D. Thodorovich, Chancellor.
George Jancso, a Hungarian subject, from Visno, County Zemplin, appears, and, being questioned, gives the following testimony:
“I was near Novotry when the sheriff threatened him with the revolver, and I tried to free him from the sheriff’s hands, in which I succeeded. The sheriff then caught my coat with one hand and with the other pointed his revolver at my forehead. He did not shoot at me, and I think his pistol was not loaded, for it seemed to me that he snapped it. When he caught me the firing had already begun. I attribute my escape, although I was in the front row, to the fact that my body was protected by that of the sheriff. I think I heard the sheriff call to the deputies, ‘Give two or three shots’ (English). At first I thought that the deputies were firing blank cartridges, but when I saw my companions fall wounded to the ground I realized the seriousness of the situation, tore myself from the hands of the sheriff, and ran to a ditch not far away, in which I lay down flat.”
Read in the Slovak language, and the party asks to be excused from signing, lest he may suffer harm through the deposition.
Official witness:
- John Nemeth, Notary Public.
- D. Thodorovich.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, in Hazleton, September 17, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Mr. Charles H. Juscott, school-teacher in Lattimer, complying with my request, is kind enough to give the following statement about the meeting of the strikers of Harwood with Sheriff Martin and his deputies at Lattimer, September 10:
“I was standing on the steps of my school with Miss Coyle, my assistant, on the afternoon of September 10 when a number of striking men—probably 500—came [Page 53] along the public highway. These men showed no outward appearance that I could see of a riotous body. They were orderly and unarmed, making no boisterous demonstrations of any kind. As they advanced to within 40 yards of the company houses they were met by the sheriff. The sheriff, with about 60 of his deputies, who formed a line almost parallel with the public road, but not across it, stepped out to meet the strikers. The strikere did not make any attempt to pass him, but crowded around him to hear what he had to say. As I was about 300 yards away from the sheriff I could not hear what he had to say; however, I saw him take two men and pull them to the side of the road. Then the strikers made an attempt to march down the road. About two minutes after the shoriff stopped the men I heard the report of one of the deputies’ guns, followed about ten seconds by another, which was followed by a volley. Miss Coyle remarked to me that the deputies were firing blank, but I said, ‘No; see them dropping’. The strikers turned and run up over the ridge and toward my schoolhouse. The deputies continued their firing after the running men, dropping men as they ran. The firing lasted from three to five minutes. Some men were about 200 yards from the deputies when the firing ceased.
“My statement is correct written down.”
- C. H. Guscott.
- D. Thodorovich, Chancellor.
Sworn to and signed before me this 17th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, in Harwood, September 17, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
Miss Grace Coyle, school-teacher at Lattimer, complying with my request, is kind enough to give the following statement about the meeting of the strikers of Harwood with sheriff and deputies at Lattimer September 10:
“I was standing in the door of my schoolhouse when strikers came along the public road, and about the same time the deputies coming with the trolley, getting off a little below the first block. The deputies marched across the public road and formed a line extending from the corner of the first fence to the doctor’s office. No deputy was standing on the public road. While the strikers came down hill the deputies formed the line. When the strikers approached within a short distance to the first fence one man, whom I suppose to be the sheriff, came to the first row of the strikers. What he spoke to them I of course could not hear, as that spot is about 300 yards of the schoolhouse. I only saw the sheriff, or at least a man whom I suppose to have been the sheriff, to speak with the men in the first row, while the rest of the strikers pushed forward to listen. I did not see any paper in the hand of the sheriff. About two minutes after the strikers were stopped I heard the first report of a gun, and saw smoke from about the middle of the line of the deputies, about 25 yards from the sheriff. The shot took effect, as I saw a man down. The rest of the strikers fled in the direction facing the schoolhouse. The deputies continued the firing while they (the strikers) were running with their backs turned to the deputies. The firing of the deputies lasted about five minutes. I add that the deputies fired and continued firing after the retreating strikers had reached a distance of about 200 yards from the deputies.
“After this statement was read to me I found it correct.
- “Grace Coyle.”
- D. Thodorovich, Chancellor.
Sworn to and signed before me this 17th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, in Hazleton, September 18, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
John Welsh, resident of Hazleton, school director for Hazleton Township, being asked to give testimony as an eyewitness of the catastrophe in Lattimer, declares that he is ready, and makes the following statement:
“It was September 10 when I saw the strikers come on the Gravelrun road, at the outskirts of Hazleton. It was about between the hours 3 and 4 p.m. I walked up to them, and seeing that few of them carried walking canes with them I told them to throw the canes away. They did so. I took the next car for Milnesville. I passed the strikers again at Harley. They carried no canes nor any kind of weapons [Page 54] I could see. At the crossing of Harley the strikers halted and chatted there a few minutes. Around the curve the deputies’ car stood in front of our car; they stood there for a few minutes anxiously waiting to see where the strikers will turn to. The car in which the deputies were waiting was packed with deputies carrying their guns. The strikers were uphill toward Latimer, and then the car with the deputies started for Lattimer. Our car went to Milnesville. Returning from Milnesville to Lattimer, I saw the deputies on the railroad standing with their guns. Around the curve stood the deputies’ car. The strikers went up the public road toward Lattimer. The deputies seeing that the strikers went towards Lattimer, came through the woods to the car which took them to Lattimer. Our car followed, with some of the deputies on our car. Edward Turnbach, a deputy, whom I know, was puffing, exhausting-like. ‘I suppose,’ I said,’Ed. Turnbach, that’s the hardest day you ever worked.’ He said, ‘Yes; I do not know what the sheriff means by fooling us around like this all day without giving order to fire.’ I said to him, ‘The sheriff has no right to give you order to fire without committing some violence. If the sheriff did give you orders you have no right to fire.’ This ended my conversation with Ed. Turnbach at that time. At the first stop at Lattimer I got off my car. I walked down a piece toward the deputies. I stood at the corner of the alley there, about 25 to 30 yards from the deputies, who were formed in a line alongside the fence. The strikers came on close to the deputies on the public road. They carried an American flag. I have seen a deputy by the name of Hess, whom I know, walk up to the strikers. In his hand he carried a rifle, and he hallooed ‘Halt.’ They did stop. He wanted them to go back, but they did not. He made a grab for the flag. I saw the flag go up from his reach. He grabbed a man by the shoulder and then another. He pulled them to the roadside. Then there was a loud talk. Then the strikers which were back from the front a few yards came up to the front. Then I have seen a gun turned in the hand of Hess all around. I heard somebody halloo to shoot. After one shot was fired I have seen some of the crowd of strikers leaving the ranks. Then, there was another shot, then a regular volley of shots. The strikers kept on running away and the deputies kept on shooting after them, and I saw a man drop into the golet. I could not see other men dropping because of the smoke and dust, which was very heavy. My opinion is that the firing lasted two to three minutes. After the firing was all over I saw a deputy whom I know, but whose name I can not just now remember; I think he is blind in one eye; he fired after a man who was running away through the woods toward the schoolhouse. Whether the man was hit or not I cannot say, but I saw that he ducked. After all was over I met again Deputy Turnbach, and said to him it was a shame to shoot the men down like this without any cause or provocation. He said, ‘That was the trouble with you people. You do not understand the law. If there was English-speaking people that would not happen.’ I said, ‘Yes, it would happen.’ Then Turnbach said the sheriff went up to arrest them. I answered he did not try to arrest them. With that my conversation ended. I have to add that I know Sheriff Martin very well. I did not see him until the shooting was over. As I was but about 25 to 30 yards off, I ought to have seen the sheriff if he would have stopped or spoken with the strikers. I saw only Hess to speak with the strikers. My statement is correctly written down, and I have but to add that I was present when Joe Costello, a resident of Hazleton, asked the sheriff after the shooting was over how he (the sheriff) was. The sheriff answered, ‘I am not well.’ Then I said, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves for the shooting of to-day.”
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Proceedings held by order of the imperial and royal consulate at Philadelphia, in Hazleton, Pa., September 16, 1897.
Present: Those whose names are signed below.
John Eagler, 19 years of age, born in Tajo County, Zemplin, a Hungarian subject, appears and, being questioned, makes the following statement. After reading the deposition, the same is taken in the English language:
“I am in America since sixteen years, but as not of age I am not yet American citizen. I am secretary of the United Mine Workers of America, of local number 84. I am employed at the C. Pardee Company. September 3 we, laborers at Harwood and employees of the aforesaid company, started to strike, owing to the inducement from the laborers at McAdoo, where the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Company have its mines. We struck against the company stores and company butcher and for the reduction of the price of powder. As we paid for a keg of powder $2.75, we wanted a reduction to $2. From the side of the laborers at Lattimer, who were also [Page 55] employed by the C. Pardee Company, many a time there was sent word to us that we may come over to them and they are willing to come out on strike for the same as us. According to these requests, we called together a meeting Thursday, September 9, and it was resolved, firstly, that we laborers at Harwood shall march Friday, the 10th, at 1 o’clock; secondly, that no cane or weapon is allowed to be carried along with us. I wrote to the president, Alex. McMullen, of the United Mine Workers of America, to McAdoo, notifying him of our decision and asking him altogether that he may send to us some of his men and an American flag. I was answered from McMullen that as them in McAdoo had a meeting he could not comply with my request, and in the same time he let us know that we could not march without an American flag. Friday morning I was told that a certain John Glanati came over from Lattimer to induce us to march. In the meanwhile I and the committee, consisting of four members, to wit, Andro Sivar, Joe Mehalto, and August Kosko, went to Humboldt for a flag, which we received from a certain Turith at half past 12 o’clock. We returned with one flag to Harwood, where, about at half past 1, the march was formed, and we started in two parts, who came together at the crossroads near Harwood, at the picnic ground. Therefrom we started toward Lattimer. We intended on our March to Lattimer to go through a part of West Hazleton. I was about 50 yards from the head of the line when we approached West Hazleton, and when we met a man who told me afterwards that he was the sheriff of the Luzerne County. There were with him deputies, but I could hardly tell the number of them; there might have been from 50 to 75 of them. While we were marching on the road they had their guns up and commanded us to stop. The line all broke up then, and some of them (I mean our people) run away, and I was talking with one of the deputies and the latter called the sheriff. The sheriff came and told me that we are going against the law, at what I answered that as far as I understood we were not going against the law, because we have no weapons, either sticks. I proceeded to tell the sheriff that we are not going to destroy property or to commit murder, but that we are marching because our fellow-employees at Lattimer told us when they see us coming they would drop their tools and quit work. Whether the sheriff said or not that we are allowed to proceed on the public road I could not tell. By hearsay—but I do not remember who told me so—I know that the chief of the police of West Hazleton, M. Jones, told us to take the outskirts of the borough and they (the deputy sheriffs) would not be allowed to shoot at us. So at least we did, to say we took the outskirts of West Hazleton, and we went toward Lattimer. I was then in the first row, and when we came to about 25 yards off Lattimer the sheriff came up to us and told us we had to stop. The sheriff went to about the middle of the first row, and some fellow of the second or third row said, ‘Go ahead’ and the sheriff caught a young fellow by the name of Mike Malady. The latter said to the sheriff, ‘It was not I.’ Then the people of behind said again, ‘Go ahead’ and pushed ahead. Then the sheriff caught a hold of another fellow, as it seems to me, by the name of Nuvosny, and put a revolver right to his breast. I heard a snap of the revolver, but it did not take any effect. While this happened and the crowd pushed forward the firing started. Mike Gesslak, a colaborer of mine, who was standing beside me, dropped to the ground and I dropped with him, but still believing that there were blank cartridges the deputies were shooting with. But when lying on the ground I saw blood. Then I got aware of the danger, and I got up, bent down, and kept running till the firing stopped. The firing lasted about one or two minutes, while all of us were running, and I am quite positive that the deputies shot while we were running and while we had our backs turned toward them. I am also positive that the sheriff did not at Lattimer show his proclamation. Standing in the first row and being close to him, I ought to have seen the proclamation if he would have shown it. I may add that the sheriff at West Hazleton showed to me a folded paper, telling to me altogether that this paper contains his proclamation; but as he put this paper in his pocket without reading or even unfolding it, I could not know whether that paper was his proclamation or not. At Lattimer he (the sheriff) did not show said paper at all, and I am quite positive about that. Five minutes, about, after the sheriff had stopped us at Lattimer the firing began. When the firing was over I was about 100 or 150 yards away from the deputies. I turned back then and found a fellow of Cristalridge with one bullet in his arm and the other in his back, and he asked me to loosen his suspenders, and so I did; and then there was another fellow, by the name of Frank Tages, telling me to pull off his coat, and he asked me what he will do, and I informed him to go down as close to the railroad as he was able and they would put him on the car and take him to the hospital. As I saw the people and some of the deputies giving to the wounded water and tending to them, I started on my way home. I add that after the shooting I did not see the sheriff at all.”
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of September, A. D. 1897.
Transcript of the docket of H. J. Boyle, undertaker at Hazleton, concerning the bodies of the men shot September 10, at Lattimer, by the deputies of the sheriff, Martin.
John Turnactick, 37 years old, wounded in the back; hall entered in the right side of spine, came out near the heart.
Frank Kadel, 18 years, shot in back between fourth and fifth ribs.
Mike Listak, shot in back; ball came out of stomach.
Adam Smishkay, six gun wounds in the face, gash on the right side of head.
Not identified, supposed a Slovak; shot in the back of skull.
Not identified, wounded through right shoulder; ball came out between fourth and fifth ribs. Another ball wound in the back on the base of the spine.
Anthony Grekos, 24 years old, wound from behind between the shoulders and ball from behind through hip.
George Gamgok (Harwood), two shots in back part of head and one wound in back near spinal column.
Fr. Sracoski (Harwood), shot in the left side and one ball through the left arm.
John Franks (residence, Humboldt), ball in back of neck and one in lower part of back, right side.
Andrew Netzkolski (residence, Harwood), two shots in back and one through back of his neck.
The foregoing is the correct transcript of my docket. I may add that I identified the bodies by countrymen of the deceased and that I spelled the respective names as I was told to do.
Sworn to and signed before me this 17th day of September, A. D. 1897.