Begging and blood shed, the 1889 strike

By: 
Sandy Vasko

    In our continuing look at the strike of 1889, we have arrived at July 2. On that date the miners' representatives went to Springfield begging. But no one seemed to listen.
    The strike/lock-out was about two months old. And still no one was at the table, no negotiations were taking place. The miners' union was frustrated as they could not negotiate terms if the companies refused to sit down with them.
    We read in the Tribune, “W. D. Ryan, of Braidwood, Peter McCall, of Streator, George Hunter, of LaSalle, and W. E. Smith of Braceville, representing all the miners in Northern Illinois at present out of work through the operation of the great lockout in that part of the State, called on Gov. Fifer today and asked his intercession with the operators who, as the miners allege, repel all advances made in the direction of arbitrating the existing difficulties.”
    And how did the Governor respond? In very politically correct terms. He told them that he too was a child of hard working people, and that of course, if their allegations were true, something would be done about it. Certainly, he would look into the matter. But as is usual, the wheels of government turn too slowly.
    On July 13, matters came to a head. In Godley, there were still some mines open, and a few miners who remained on the job. We read, “A largely attended meeting of striking miners was held in Braidwood Friday night, July 12, in which it was resolved that all present should go to Godley at daylight and induce the miners there to refrain from going to work - peaceably if they could, forcibly if they must.”
    “A Bohemian woman conveyed the news to the authorities at Godley shaft where Sheriff Houston and 25 deputies, together with six Pinkerton men were on duty.”
    “At 6 o'clock this morning the intimidators were on hand, expostulating with the working men and frightening some of them so that they returned to their homes. An Italian named Albert Pomey, in broken English said that they had clubs, and that he wouldn't attempt to work for any money.”
    “There were three different crowds, one from Braceville, one from Braidwood and one from Eureka, making altogether about 200 men. The latter crowd advanced on the road dividing Will and Grundy counties.”
    When opposite the shaft the Sheriff warned them repeatedly that they could trespass no further. They answered him with insulting taunts and jeers, and when the sheriff flourished a buggy whip, they snatched it from him.”
    “He pulled his revolver and fired twice, as he supposed, in the air, and then, ordered his squad of 14 men, including two police, to charge and use the butt of their pistols as clubs. They did so, inflicting many heavy blows, under which the crowd, numbering 100, ran and dispersed on the Grundy County side of the line.”
    “Dan Lillis was found to have received a very severe scalp wound from a pistol ball, and a striker named Lawless was also shot. It is said that the wounded man went to Morris and got warrants for the arrest of Sheriff Houston.”
    Starvation was facing the miners and their families in the face. On July 22, 52 tons of provisions were sent by rail to Coal City, where a special relief committee distributed it among the miners. It was just a drop in the bucket. We have the following statistics taken from the Tribune.
    “The number of strikers in the towns embraced in the mining districts is as follows: Braceville, 800, Braidwood and its vicinity, 1,200; Coal City, 1,000; Diamond, 500; Gardner, 160. This is a conservative estimate of the number, obtained from an impartial investigation.”
    “The striking population of these towns, inclusive of wives and children, is at least 30,000. The number of men, women and children who have been suffering the pangs of hunger for the past six weeks is fully 18,000.”
    “The average wages per month was $18.25 ($495 today), and none earned over $30 ($812) per month. The married men had to pay $5 ($135) a month or more for house rent, and the companies who own the “truck” or general store, charge exorbitant prices for the necessaries of life and intimidate them into buying at these stores.”
    “The companies gave their men credit because they held their wages as security for payment, and if the oppressed strikers purchased food or clothing at private stores, the mine bosses cashed the accounts in.”
    As the August days heated up, the tempers on both sides did as well.
    
 

Category: