Militia in Lemont 1893

Limestone quarries were the site of several large and occasionally violent strikes by its workers seeking higher wages.

From the Waterloo Courier, Iowa, August 7, 1897

QUARRYMEN QUIT.
Big Strike of Men Who Get Out Stone in Illinois.
DEMAND AN INCREASE OF WAGES, And Failing to Get It Walk Out to the
Number of About 1,200—All the Quarries in the Joliet District Idle—

Joliet, Ills., Aug. 3.—Between 1,000 and 1,200 employees In stone quarries at Lemont went out on strike yesterday morning. They had been refused an increase in wages of 20 cents per day. All work in the quarries is at a standstill. The trouble was started by employees in the quarries of the Western Stone company. "When the time came for work forty men congregated in quarry No. 5, and sent for Superintendent Breier. In a few minutes the superintendent appeared, and was told that work would stop unless the company kept their alleged promise of restoring the $1.50 rate for a day of ten hours, which was reduced to $1.25 last spring.

Increase Is Promptly Refused.

Superintendent Breier remonstrated with the men for their step without giving- the company warning', but they insisted that they have an answer immediately, so the superintendent went to the telephone and communicated with the Chicago offices, 320 Chamber of Commerce building. He returned in a short time and announced that the company would grant no increase, and that the men might stop work if they wished. The workmen then formed in line and marched to quarry No. 4 {adjacent to New Avenue in Dupage Township, Will County, near the Cook County line}, and from there to all the other quarries of the company. Without exception the men stopped work and joined the strikers. The latter then went to the quarries of the Illinois Stone Company, where they were joined by seventy-five dissatisfied workmen.

What the Men Are Claiming.

At the Joliet limestone quarries between 300 and 400 men laid down their tools and fell into line, and nearly 100 quit at the plant of the Phoenix Stone company. "When the quarries had been abandoned the men marched back into the village, where they dispersed, the most of them going to their homes. No disturbance of any kind was made, although the strikers seemed to be without a leader. When the strike was planned no one in Lemont seems to know, and the strikers refused to tell of any meetings having been held recently. The men claim that when they accepted the reduction of 25 cents a day last spring the company promised to restore wages with the coming of more prosperous times.

Cannot Afford More Than $1.35 a Day.

The knowledge having come to the employees of a number of large contracts recently secured decided them to make the demand and stop work if it were not met. The representatives of the Illinois company say they will stand out against the men. They do not anticipate any trouble and believe the men will return to work at the old scale within a few days. They say $1.25 per day is all that can be paid the men with any profit to themselves. The hard times, coupled with the small demand for stone, they say, does not warrant the payment of a larger scale.

Note that the $1.25 per day was lower than the $1.65 rate paid of some 12 years earlier.

From Manitoba Daily Free Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 5, 1885

A Labor Riot.

Serious Strike of Quarrymen In Illinois.
The military Called Out to Put Down the Mob.
Shooting; at Joliet and Lemont—Conflict With the Militia at the latter Place -- A Bloody Business.

LEMONT, Ills., May 4.—The strike among the quarrymen here and at Joliet has finally assumed proportions of considerable magnitude. The men, who went out beoause they failed to receive an advance of wages from $1.60 to $1.75 per day, have been in a turbulent condition for four weeks, during which period the quarries have all been idle. A number of quarry owners had repeatedly tried to resume operations, but the strikers invariably drove the workmen away, and for two weeks have dominated, and in a measure terrorized, the entire surrounding region.

It became evident on Friday that the county authorities could not control them, and the Governor was asked to send troops. He responded promptly by sending five companies from Joliet, Ottawa, Lasalle, Streator and Bloomington. The first meeting between the troops and strikers occurred between Lemont and Joliet on Saturday afternoon, but 400 strikers who were marching on Joliet from Lemont fled when exposed to a sudden attack by the militia. Seven hundred of their number, however, were captured by the troops, disarmed and marched to Joliet under guard. On Sunday morning, however, the sheriff of Will County released the prisoners, and they returned to Lemont, where they are credited with provoking trouble which resulted in the serious rioting of today. The occasion of bloodshed of today is, therefore, generally attributed to the ill-advised action of Sheriff Pritz, of Joliet, who has been charged in some quarters with having sympathized with the rioters.

Matters remained quiet over Sunday, but when the troops arrived from Joliet this morning to protect the quarries at Lemont they wore met by very large and apparently well organized mob. Prior to the coming of the troops, the rioters had boarded several passenger trains on the Chicago & Alton road, armed with clubs, to prevent the disembarking of any troops. The troops were landed, however, one mile south of Lemont at 6:30 this morning. Colonel Bennett, commanding the troops at Joliet, received orders from the Governor to proceed to Lemont.

A special train was in waiting, and at 8 o'clock four companies of the Fourth regiment, with a detachment of "C" battery of artillery of Joliet, and a gatling gun and camp equipments, left for Lemont. About one mile from town they wore met by deputy sheriff Patter, when the troops disembarked. The sheriff ordered the Colonel to deploy his men, as there was a large crowd assembled at the depot waiting for the train. Company "D" Ottawa, was extended as a skirmishing line through the quarries, the line extending from Carroll to the Bluffs.

The main body, consisting of Company "A" of Streater, under Lieut. St. Clair, Company "G" of Joliet; under Capt. Jackson, Company "G" of Bloomington; Captain Smith and a Gatling gun detachment under Lieut. Kimber, of Springfield, moved north along the Bluff road until they reached the street crossing at right angles to the bluff when they were met by the City Marshall, followed by a crowd making demonstrations. The Marshall ordered the troops to halt, but he was told by Colonel Bennet to "retire" or he would be placed under arrest. He complied. Company "G" moved across the street, and going three streets north took up a commanding position, with the Gatling gun detachment under cover. Deputy- Sheriff Potter then went forward and ordered the mob to disperse. They refused, and Companies "A" and "B," in columns of' companies advanced up the street and '' drove the mob back at the point of the bayonet.

The mob then retired into the houses and yards, but a portion forced the troops, making demonstrations and throwing stones. Soon those who had gone into the houses returned and attacked the troops in the rear, the signal being given by the firing of a pistol from the window. Company "A" suffered severely, no less than sixteen men being hit by stones, and one of them, Private George Boggs, was badly hurt. The rear rank of the company faced about and opened fire. Company "B" was attacked on the right flank further north, and the first four of the company was deployed across as the mob pursued the attack. Some ten shots were fired, and Company "A" charged the mob, which retired. It was here that the casualties occurred. The command then advanced up the street, and were joined at the railroad depot by Company "B," who had been skirmishing along the railroad at the point of attack, and advanced with the main body to the center of the town, where the command was halted, covering all the streets. Company "D" going to Carroll bridge.

The command then went to Singer and Talcott's quarries, but returned as the mob gathered again, and quickly dispersed them. The troops then went into camp, and though there are large crowds hanging around, everything at present is quiet, but there are grave fears of . disturbances as soon as nightfall appears. Adjutant-General Vance has arrived, and made his headquarters at Singer's quarry. The troops have just received their rations, and are pitching their tents. It is claimed that a woman was wounded accidentally. She had advanced towards a soldier with a rock, and seized his musket, when he tripped her up. In falling she fell against the bayonet.

THE CASUALTIES.
The following; is a full list of the casualties:—Jacob Kugawu {Kujawa?}, killed, shot in jaw;

Henry Stetter, killed, shot in head;

Mrs. Lemnah, bayonet wound;

John Palitach {Powalisz?}, bayonet wound;

Adolph Waller, bayonet wound in arm.