BOTH GUNS
Were Emptied When Deputy Marshal and Nonunion Man Met, and Each One Was Hit.
Special Dispatch to the Enquirer, The Cincinnati Enquirer April 25, 1904
Ironton, Ohio, April 24. – Two men were shot at Hanging Rock, a village just below here on the Ohio River, this afternoon as the result of the strike at the plant of the Hanging Rock Iron company. The wounded men are Deputy Marshal Mike Brannigan and Alonzo Wiseman, the latter from Catlettsburg, Ky., who came here to work in place of a striker.
Wisemans had been spending the day at a nearby village, and on his return, after leaving the car, was seen flashing a gun. Brannigan was notified and went to arrest him. As soon as he saw the officer coming, Wiseman fired, wounding the officer in the left breast. The fire was promptly returned, and both men emptied their revolvers, Brannigan receiving another flesh wound and Wiseman also slightly wounded. The officer finally landed Wiseman in jail.
Much excitement prevails in the village over the shooting, and further and more serious trouble is feared.
Photos from Cincinnati Enquirer June 1904
From: Cincinnati Morning Edition Times-Star, Saturday, June 3 & 4, 1904
SCENES IN HANGING ROCK ARE NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MILITIA.
Picture captioned:
Where Sheriff Payne is standing is where Supt. Jeffries stood when he was shot.
Picture captioned:
Members of Company G at Hanging Rock
Picture captioned:
Maj. E. E. Corn, Commander Third Battalion
Picture captioned:
The main street shows houses scarred by shots negroes fired.
Picture captioned:
This group shows Sheriff Payne (citizen’s clothes), Maj. Corn, Capt. Surgeon, Alcorn, Capt. Cooley, Capt. Thompson and Lieut. Searl.
STRIKERS SURRENDERED THEIR GUNS TO THE MILITIA OFFICERS AT HANGING ROCK, WHO HAD HEARD THAT TROUBLE WAS THREATENED AFTER THE SOLDIERS DEPARTED.
All Sorts of Guns Were Secured by the Officers, Who Made a House-to-House Canvass, Accompanied by Some of the Prominent Leaders of the Strikers.
Attempts of the Secretary Bishop of the State Board of Arbitration to Settle the Trouble Have Not Resulted in an Agreement, and the Negotiations Will Be Continued.
BY DONALD DUNBAR, STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
(TIMES-STAR SPECIAL DISPATCH.)
Ironton, O., June 3. – Appearing like a nondescript army, the party composed the conference, which so far as it bore directly upon the end of the strike, was fruitless and returned to headquarters at noon. All kinds of arms were taken in for surrender to the troops – revolvers, muskets, rifles, and shotguns, more than a score in all, were carried in, and a special guard was now set over the arsenal of confiscated weapons. Early this morning, unknown agents said empty threats had been made in the village to resume the warfare.
WHEN THE MILITIA IS RECALLED.
Col. Thompson and a squad were accompanied from house to house by the strike leaders, who asked the members of each household to produce such arms as they had. One man surrendered an ancient rifle which was loaded and capped. As one Winchester was offered, the owner explained with frankness’ “This is the gun that I ran that —- out of his hole with the other night.”
I WOULD NOT USE FORCE.
A gray-haired woman acknowledged ownership of a revolver. But refused to surrender it. Maj. Corn would not use force. The strike leaders, it is said, were not in a receptive mood, and Sec_______ a strike settlement was disappointed. It is apparent that the expected progress, therefore, has been abandoned for the present.
SHERIFF PAYNE IS SATISFIED.
Though practical disarmament of the strikers has been accomplished, the way to peace is opened wide. While soldiers and sheriff were preparing to take drastic action to subdue and ______ stirred many to rioting and arrests were in contemplation that wou_____ Secretary Bishop (can’t make out this paragraph – hole in paper)
THE CAMP WAS AS QUIET AS A GRAVE
when from the direction of the New Castle, pike shots rang out. Last night the guard lines stretched out along this road of the mire. The night before, limits were not so far extended. Instant activity on the part of the soldiers followed the shooting, which was directed at no known object or human. At double-quick Capt. Batterson led a patrol across the fields, skirted the hills, and reached the pike, where guards with leveled rifles were calling vain commands of halt into the darkness of the woods.
Col. Thompson and Maj. Corn was at the old bridge. All outpost sentries were called in, and a second patrol formed, which Col. Thompson led. They took the railroad track and beat in a semi-circle toward the shooter’s position. Capt. Batterson’s men and the guards could find no trace of the shooter and be coming along the railroad to deploy and search back toward the camp when the second patrol heard their footsteps hastening toward them.
(continued on Page 7)
HANGING ROCK TROUBLE
(continued from Page 1)
COL. THOMPSON ORDERED THEM INTO THE DITCH
and over the edge of this entrenchment peeped a score of menacing rifles with a finger on every trigger. On came the first patrol, and they were upon their comrades in ambush when the cry of “Halt!” rang out. There was swift facing and the clatter of Krags going to shoulders. For an instant, Capt. Batterson and his men stood knowing not what menaced. Every man on both sides was on the quiver. Then Col. Thompson cried out the recognition of the patrol. It had been a situation of fearful peril. The patrols then joined and searched vainly for the man who had caused the alarm. He had successfully eluded pursuit in the woods.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESS.
By Donald Dunbar, Staff Correspondent
(Times-Star Special Dispatch)
Ironton, O., June 3 – After much difficulty, Secretary Gibson of the State Board of Arbitration succeeded at 9 o’clock in arranging a secret conference. He said: “If this conference is successful, a second meeting will be called immediately.”
Those who attended the conference were Secretary Bishop, Col. Thompson, Maj. Corn, Sheriff Payne, Mayor Thos. Farmer Marshal John Woolum and the committee of the local union, headed by President Cameron and National Vice President Hardy. They discussed the terms under which the strikers would return to work. Mr. Bishop regards these as favorable.
He will at once go into conference with officials of the iron company. There is no accord between Col. Thompson and Sheriff Payne upon the necessity of keeping the soldiers on the scene. The sheriff wants the troops to remain for some time. Col. Thompson looks for a quick adjustment of the situation, so far as the militia is concerned. The soldiers as a body believe they will be recalled Sunday or before.
Regimental Chaplain Rev. W. H. Hampton joined the camp this morning.
TRYING NIGHT WAS PASSED.
By Donald Dunbar, Staff Correspondent
(Times-Star Special Dispatch.)
Hanging Rock, O., June 3. – A metamorphosis of war and peace is a synopsis of the situation confronting the citizens and soldiers today. The strikers are under a pledge of absolute relaxation. The soldiers stand, on the other hand, as figures of strife.
The situation will not remain long as it is. Both sides have grasped the element of contradiction, and before night two militia companies may be sent back to their armories. At the same time, the reign of martial law is not expected to last to any degree beyond Friday unless the violence, which no one expects, breaks out anew.
The little hamlet is still fast in the grip of State power. The people still feel the rigor of martial law, and there has been no loosening of the reins that Col. Thompson has drawn taut over the tiny valley at the behest of Sheriff Payne and the order of Gov. Herrick. It is the topography of Hanging Rock and its immediate environs that brings the
POSSIBILITIES OF THE SITUATION
to the critical point. The valley where the village lies, and it might be measured in yards, is under the sway of the military complete, but just above towers, two forest-crowned hills still serene in their majesty of nature’s endowment, untrod by men in that shade of blue which Uncle Sam..(I NEED TO FINISH THIS LATER)
Natchez Democrat – Natchez, Mississippi
June 3, 1904 – CRISIS IN HANGING ROCK STRIKE SITUATION EXPECTED SOON. Hanging Rock, O., June 2.
A crisis in the strike situation here will be reached soon. The soldiers will take into custody a union man and striker who is said to be a leader of the forces the troops have been sent to quell.
More drastic than this is an action under contemplation to place several men under guard. It was reported to Mayor Corn today that women of the village were jeering the soldiers and attempting to cite men to violence in-.
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Mayor E. E. Corn, militia leader and district prosecuting attorney and counsel for the mill company. -
Hanging Rock Strike Headquarters 1904 -
Sheriff J. M. Payne
THE HANGING ROCK STRIKE
The News-Journal, Lancaster, PA June 6, 1904
The Troops Are Expected to Be Withdrawn Today. Ironton, O., June 5.
While there is no change tonight at the Hanging Rock furnaces, martial law will soon end as far as the settlement of differences is concerned. Sheriff Payne wired Governor Herrick today: Barring any demonstration today or tonight, in my opinion, the troops at Hanging Rock may be safely withdrawn tomorrow. Affairs being in charge of Adjutant General Critchfield, that officer will order the withdrawal of forces tomorrow.
Sheriff Payne said tonight that he would follow the suggestion of the adjutant general and exercise power conferred upon him by Judge Blair to appoint deputies after the removal of the troops, maintaining guards in such numbers as may be deemed necessary. Except for one shot fired at a skulking form, last night passed without incident. The militiamen say the non-union negroes were gradually leaving. The furnace owners are still attempting to secure a full complement of men.
Grand Jury Will Investigate
Norwalk Daily Reflector June 8, 1904
Ironton, Ohio – June 8 – The strike trouble at Hanging Rock will assume another phase. The withdrawal of the troops and the restoration of peace in the village is to be followed by a Grand Jury investigation into the facts in the case.
Maj. Corn, who was in command of the battalion of troops at Hanging Rock, is the prosecuting attorney of this county, and Tuesday, he asked Judge Blair, who is on the Common Pleas bench, to call a special Grand Jury to make the investigation. Judge Blair signified his willingness, and the jury may convene today.
Hanging Rock Strike is Called off by Union No Reference is Made to the Terms of the Settlement
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune October 15, 1904
Ironton, Ohio, October 14 – The strike at Hanging Rock, which involved the 200 employees of the Hamilton furnace, was today declared off without reference to the terms of the settlement. The company is at liberty to hire whoever of the union it desires and is left unhampered in its operation. Plant.
More Trouble is Apt to Break Out at Hanging Rock, Says Sheriff
Sandusky Evening Star June 14, 1904
Columbus, Ohio – June 14 – Sheriff J. M. Payne of Lawrence County here Monday with a penitentiary prisoner, expressed decided apprehension that more trouble might result from the strike at the Hanging Rock Iron Furnace.
Neither the company officials nor the strikers have evinced any disposition toward settling,” said Payne. “The feeling among the strikers is very bitter. Just now, we have the situation well in hand. Currently, a limited number of men are employed on the repairs, but later the entire furnace will have to be manned.
From the feeling now existing, it looks like the strikers will determinedly resist the importation of outside workers. This would inevitably mean more trouble.
The Grand Jury has been investigating the cases, and some indictments may be returned when the jury reports tomorrow.
Where a Strike Occurred
Lima Daily News April 12, 1905
Ironton, Ohio, April 12 – The Hanging Rock Iron Company of Hanging Rock, where the noted strike occurred last summer, has posted a notice of an increase of wages of 15 cents per day, affecting all employees.
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