Massacre (September 10, 1897)
All that is really certain about what happened next is that the miners arrived at Lattimer and were promptly met by Sheriff Martin. Some sort of argument ensued and the deputies fired, killing at least 19 strikers and wounding 50 more. The miners claimed that Martin assaulted several of them, and he or one of his deputies gave the order to fire, leading to their merciless slaughter. Conversely, the deputies claimed that Sheriff Martin was attacked by the strikers, and deputies fired only as a last resort to save their lives. The stories of eye witnesses tended to corroborate those of the miners, as do the conclusions of most modern day historians. Read the accounts below to get a better idea of each side's story.
The Strikers' Accounts
"It was regular slaughter."
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“...Whether or not the order was given by Sheriff Martin I cannot say. Then the firing began. A stampede followed. Many of us who were in the front ranks could not believe that the deputies were using ball and shot. We thought they might use blank cartridges to frighten us, but when I saw men dropping and blood flowing I turned and ran toward the wood, followed by the deputies. It was a regular slaughter.” (click here to read more)
- John Eagler, leader of the march to Lattimer, report to The Sun on September 13, 1897 |
"...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..." (click here to read more)
- George Jancso, testimony in court
- George Jancso, testimony in court
"Massacre of Marching Miners by Sheriff Martin and Deputies at Lattimer, PA., on September 10, 1897" (click to enlarge)
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"...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 three hundred yards from them." (click here to read more)
- Andrej Sivar, testimony in court |
Sheriff Martin and the Deputies' Accounts
"I called upon the deputies to defend themselves and shoot"
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“...Then I called the deputies to discharge their firearms into the air over the heads of the strikers, as it might probably frighten them...The strikers then made a still bolder move and endeavored to surround my eathe force of deputies. I fully realized that the foreigners were a desperate lot and valued life at a small figure. I also saw that parleying with such a gang of infuriated men was entirely out of the question, as they were too excited to listen to reason, and that I and my deputies would be killed if we were not rescued, or if we did not defend ourselves. I then called upon the deputies to defend themselves and shoot. If they must to protect their lives or to protect the property that they had been sent to guard. The next second there were a few scattered shots fired, and a moment later the entire force of deputies discharged a solid volley into the crowd...” (click here to read more)
- Sheriff James Martin, report to The Sun on September 11, 1897, given before speaking to his lawyer (in all future accounts he would deny that he gave the order to fire) |
"[I felt] twenty-five pistols and maybe fifteen to twenty stones"
- Chief Deputy Samuel E. Price
- Chief Deputy Samuel E. Price
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"...I saw men with pistols in their hands trying to get at him. I rushed up and tried to raise the hammer of my riot gun, but could not. Then I tried to pump the under part, but it would not work. Just about that time I heard a shot. Then there was a volley. Then men were running. The sheriff was knocked to his knees. I was the nearest to him, but could not render any assistance." (click here to read more)
- Deputy A.P. Platt, report to the Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital on March 15, 1898 [claiming that the unarmed strikers fired on the deputies] |
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“...The strikers were far in excess of us in numbers and came toward us in an ugly threatening manner. Sheriff Margin met them and he was assaulted. A shot then came from their ranks and one of us was hit. I did not hear Sheriff Martin give the order to fire, but it was given, and we, fired only because our lives were in danger. ” (click here to read more)
- an unnamed deputy, report appeared in the Dallas Morning News on September 13, 1897 |
Eyewitness' Stories
 "Firing on the Miners" - a Philadelphia Inquirer staff artist's depiction of the massacre (click to enlarge)
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“...As the van confronted the armed men Samuel Price, of Hazleton, who had volunteered his services, stepped out in front of his line, whereupon one of the strikers cried ‘you, too, damn you!’ Price did not reply with words, but leveled his rifle at the strikers and fired. Almost as if Price’s shot was the signal, came the crash of the volley from the other men. The strikers were dazed for a moment, and then fled in every direction, most of them toward the school house. I thought one volley would suffice to disperse the strikers. It did, but it was not sufficient to satisfy the deputies. They no longer fired in volleys, but one after another, taking careful aim and firing to kill, and with deadly effect too, for man after man dropped as he ran for safety, screaming with fright...” (click here to read more)
- Charles Guscott, a school principal who witnessed the event from several hundred yards away, report to the Philadelphia Inquirer on September 12, 1897 |
"When the sheriff took out a paper, the strikers grew excited, but did not offer violence. They did not understand English, and it appeared to them that Martin had a warrant for their arrest. The next thing I knew there was a shot and then a fusillade. The men who did not drop in their tracks took to their heels. I saw deputies take careful aim and pick men off as they were running to shelter...” (click here to read more)
- John Alry, passerby that witnessed the massacre, report to The Sun on September 13, 1897
- John Alry, passerby that witnessed the massacre, report to The Sun on September 13, 1897
"Lattimer Marchers" - a photograph of the miners led by the American flag as they march towards Lattimer (click to enlarge)
Historical Consenus
"...someone yelled 'Fire!' and 'Give two or three shots!' (several eyewitnesses claimed it was the sheriff, though he would later deny this). A barrage of shots rang out. The flag bearer was the first man hit, crying to God in Slovak, 'O Joj! Joj! Joj!' as he fell mortally wounded. Several marchers at the front of the column realized that the deputies were not using blanks. Those who understood what was occurring immediately began to scatter..." (click here to read more)
-Pennsylvania Historical and Museuem Commision
-Pennsylvania Historical and Museuem Commision
Dr. Thomas Dublin, Professor of History at the State University of New York
"On September 10, the strikers marched to Lattimer and were stopped by a force led by Sheriff Martin. The unexpected halt led to confusion and jostling, and shots suddenly rang out. Nineteen of the miners were killed, and perhaps fifty more were wounded, in what became known as the Lattimer Massacre. Although the violence was committed by the so-called forces of law and was needless the sheriff had dispersed larger, rowdier crowds alone in previous confrontations no one was convicted for the murders at Lattimer."
- United Mine Workers of America
- United Mine Workers of America