Mr. Sherman to Mr. Hengelmüller.
Washington, January 20, 1898.
Sir: Referring to my note to you, No. 208, of the 8th instant, in relation to the circumstances under which several Austro-Hungarian subjects were killed and wounded at Lattimer, near Hazleton, Pa., on the 10th of September last, and in particular to my promise to communicate further with you on the subject so soon as I should be in possession of the reports and statements in regard to that occurrence, to be furnished to me by the governor of Pennsylvania, I have now the honor to advise you that I have received from his excellency, the governor, the papers in question, being a statement by Mr. Martin, the high sheriff of Luzerne County, and a report by Brig. Gen. J. P. S. Gobin, who commanded the Third Brigade of the National Guard of Pennsylvania at Hazleton during the riots, and also copy of the report of Gen. Thomas J. Stewart, adjutant-general of Pennsylvania, relating to the same subject.
By a collation of these three statements, which are mainly in substantial agreement, the circumstances of the occurrences near Hazleton appear to be as follows.
About the last of August or 1st of September the employees of one of the collieries near Hazleton ceased work because of some difficulty with the superintendent. The employees at other mines followed in sympathy, and the movement developed into large marching parties, which began to assemble and move upon the workings and drive the workmen from their places. The sheriff, whose office is at Wilkesbarre, was apyealed to by the owners of the mines for protection from the interference. He went to Hazleton and summoned and swore in a large number of armed deputies to preserve the public peace. At different times prior to September 10 marching bodies attempted to drive the workers from several mines, and were turned aside or dispersed by the sheriff and his deputies. On September 10, a body of men, estimated at from 300 to 600, started from Harwood to visit Lattimer for the purpose of compelling the men there to cease work. They were met at West Hazleton by the sheriff, who, in the name of the law, commanded them to disperse. They refused and moved on. The sheriff summoned his deputies, and with them reached Lattimer in advance of the mob. As the mob approached, the sheriff, unattended, stepped forward to meet the ringleaders, announced the penalties attending such unlawful acts, and endeavored to persuade the riotous assemblage to turn back. He was surrounded by the mob, some members of which struck him down, the greater number going toward its destination. During the struggle which ensued between the sheriff and the mob, at which time he was entirely surrounded by the rioters, a number of the deputies fired into the mob, as it would seem, without having been commanded to do so, resulting in the killing or mortally wounding of 18 men. The rest of the mob then dispersed.
[Page 78]These statements, as will be perceived, suggest doubt as to the accuracy of the reports heretofore current that the assemblage of striking miners at Lattimer was peaceably dispersing when orders to fire upon them were given by the sheriff. The facts would rather appear to be that, upon the sheriff advancing unattended in order to meet the ringleaders, he was dangerously assaulted and that shots were fired, without command, by the deputies in the attempt to rescue him. However this may be, I deem it proper to suspend all judgment upon the merits of the question at issue pending the trial which is about to take place, in the course of which I may assume that the true facts of the occurrence will be elicited.
Following a precedent which has been set in some cases heretofore it is proposed to have a representative of the Federal Government present at the trial to watch the proceedings and report thereon, to the end of thoroughly investigating the matter with a view to such further treatment as may be just and proper.
Accept, etc.,