The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in Chicago — John Shaqi
The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in ChicagoMcLean, George N.
History
The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in Chicago
McLean, George N.
Anarchists -- United States; Haymarket Square Riot, Chicago, Ill., 1886
"Who drilled you?"--"The man that came in with the sword; I didn't
ascertain his name. At the expiration of that time the drill-instructor
stated that he would now introduce some of the members of the first
company of the German organization. He went outside and in a few
minutes returned accompanied by ten other men, dressed as he himself
was, each one armed with a Springfield rifle. When they all got into
the room he placed them in line facing us and introduced them as
members of the first company of the Lehr und Wehr Verein. He said
that he was going to drill them a little while to let us see how far
they had got with their drill. He drilled them about ten minutes in a
regular musket drill. At the end of that time a man in the employ of
the proprietor of the saloon at No. 54 West Lake street came into the
room with two tin boxes, which he placed on the table at the south end
of the room. The drill-instructor then asked all those present to step
up and examine the two tin boxes, as they were the latest improved
dynamite bomb. I stepped to the front with the others, and examined the
two tins."
"Describe them as near as you can."--"They were about the size and
had the appearance of ordinary preserved fruit cans. The top part
unscrewed, and on the inside the cans were filled with a light-brown
mixture. There was also a small glass tube inserted in the center of
the can. The tube was in connection with a screw, and it was explained
that when the can was thrown against any hard substance it would
explode."
"Was that mixture a liquid?"--"Inside of the glass tube was a liquid."
"Was there anything around that glass tube?"--"Yes, sir; it was a
brownish mixture."
"Was that a liquid?"--"No, sir; it looked more like fine sawdust."
"Did you feel of it?"--"I did not. The drill-instructor told us we
should be very careful about selecting new members of company, because
if we were not, there was no telling whom we might get into our midst.
The next proceeding of the evening was to select officers. A man
named Walters was chosen Captain, and Parsons was chosen Lieutenant.
Some discussion arose as to what the company should be called. It was
decided eventually that we should be called the International Rifles.
The drill-instructor then suggested that we ought to choose some other
hall, as we were not quite safe there. He added: 'We have a fine place
at No. 636 Milwaukee avenue. We have a shooting range in the basement,
where we practice shooting regularly.' Parsons inquired whether it
was not possible for us to rent the same place. The drill-instructor
informed him he did not know. The question of renting another hall was
postponed, and our next meeting was fixed for the next Monday."
Mr. Salomon--"A meeting of what?"
Witness--"A meeting of the armed section of the American group."
Mr. Grinnell--"Who drilled that company that night?"--Witness--"That
German, and Parsons and Fielden."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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