Historical Report on the Chicago Haymarket Rioting and Bloodshed

CHICAGO, May 4.—The teachings of the Anarchists resulted in significant bloodshed in Chicago tonight, described as a tribute to the doctrine of Herr Johann Most.
Before daylight, at least a dozen men were expected to lose their lives following a violent confrontation between the police and a mob.
Throughout the day, skirmishes occurred between the police and various unorganized sections of the mob, with police winning every instance.
In the afternoon, a handbill printed in both German and English called for workingmen to meet at Des Plaines and Randolph streets in the evening.
The stated purpose of the meeting was to have "good speakers" denounce the shooting of fellow workmen by police the previous afternoon.

In response to the handbill, approximately 1,400 men gathered at the designated point.
The location was Randolph-street where it widens out (running east and west), known as the Old Haymarket. This plaza is approximately 2,000 feet long and 150 feet wide.
The crowd specifically gathered just off the northeastern corner of this plaza, around the corner into Des Plaines-street, 100 feet north of Randolph.
Due to a light rainstorm, about 800 people departed, leaving approximately 600 remaining to listen to speeches.
Speakers included:
- August Spies: Editor of the Arbiter Zeitung.
- A. B. Parsons: An Anarchist described as having a Negro wife.
- Sam Fielden: His arrival prompted the crowd to press closer, anticipating a more violent tone than the previous speakers.
Fielden's speech was initially mild but grew increasingly wild and violent as he proceeded.

Police Inspector Bonfield, monitoring the speech from the Des Plaines-street police station (less than 300 feet south of Fielden), observed the escalation.
Bonfield called out a reserve of 60 policemen, who marched up the street in two lines stretching from curb to curb.
As the police arrived, Bonfield forced his way to the wagon and issued a command: "I command you in the name of the law to desist, and you [the crowd] to disperse."
Immediately following this command, a bomb was thrown from an alley opening on Des Plaines-street (opposite where Fielden was speaking).
The bomb was described as carrying a "slender tail of fire" and landed squarely in front of the advancing police line.
The bomb exploded with terrific effect as the police were close enough to have stepped on it.
Men in the center of the line were killed or wounded instantly.
Following the explosion, Anarchists from every side opened fire on the police with revolvers.
The police returned fire with deadly effect. The conflict lasted approximately two minutes before the police became masters of the situation.

As of 1:15 A.M., the following partial list of the 33 injured policemen was available, with expectations that the death toll would reach a dozen:

Joseph Deegan: West Lake-street station; fell dead in front of the Des Plaines-street station in the arms of Detective John McDonald. He had walked from the scene of the shooting before expiring.
Lieut. James Stanton: West Lake-street station; shot in both legs; not badly hurt.
Jacob Hansen: West Lake-street station; shot in both legs.
Thomas Shannon: Desplaines-street station; shot in foot, leg, and arms; married with three children.
John K. McMahon: West Chicago-avenue; shot in thigh and calf of right leg; married with three children.
John E. Doyle: Desplaines-street; bomb wounds in leg, knee, and back; married with one child.
Timothy Flavin: Ranson-street station; shot in leg; resides at station; married.
John H. King: Desplaines-street station; bomb wound in neck, feet, and arms.
James Plunkett: Desplaines-street station; shot in the hand.
Edward Barrett: West Chicago-avenue; shot in knee and ankle; has wife and six children.
J. Simons: West Chicago-avenue; shot in side; has wife and two children.
A. C. Keller: Desplaines-street station; shot in side.
L. J. Murphy: Desplaines-street; shot in neck and hand, foot hurt by bomb; married.
T. Butterly: West Lake-street; shot in hand; has wife and one child.
H. T. Smith: Desplaines-street; shot in the right ankle; single.
Arther Conley: Desplaines-street; bullet wound in leg and right shoulder, and bomb wound in right leg; married.
C. Whitney: West Lake-street; wounded in the breast by a bomb; married.

Lieut. Bowler (Second Company, 24 men): Stated that every man in his company was wounded except for three. He led them to the wagon and witnessed the bomb being thrown from the wagon itself. He saw Officers Reid and Doyle knocked down. Bonfield, Ward, and Bowler were the only three to escape injury in that immediate area.
Conflicting Testimony on Bomb Source: Officer Marx agreed the bomb came from the speaker's wagon. Another wounded officer claimed it came from a window of the brick building on the northeastern corner of Randolph and Des Plaines streets. The report suggests it most likely came from the sidewalk.
Crowd Reaction: As bullets were fired, the crowd scampered east and west on Randolph-street. Some individuals were seen falling 500 to 600 feet up Randolph-street. People broke into neighboring stores to hide, being met with resistance (clubs and pistols) from store proprietors.

The squad room at the station house was converted into a temporary hospital.
The scene was described as "harrowing," with the floor red and slippery from pools of blood.
Wounded men were laid on the floor, tables, and benches.
Priests administered the sacrament of extreme unction to eight men before they were moved.
Surgeons used knives and saws to treat the wounded, while volunteer assistants provided stimulants and help to hold patients down during procedures.
The cries of women relatives were heard from an outer room, though they were barred from entering the medical area.
Officers with minor wounds (arms or feet) sat still, deferring help to those in greater agony.

Riot Alarm: The big bell in the police station tower tolled a riot alarm while telegraphers requested aid from other stations.
Arrival of Reinforcement: Patrol wagons arrived ten minutes later. The mob jeered and threw missiles at the wagons, but missed.
Grand Drive: At 11:30 P.M., the police made a final drive against the mob, which was increasing in size. Two volleys of blank cartridges were fired, followed by a chase as far as the Lyceum Theatre.
Total Dispersal: The crowd, covering Madison-street from curb to curb, fled past Halstead-street. By 11:45 P.M., the streets were mostly clear.
Arrest Orders: Orders were issued for the arrest of the "dynamite orators," with police believing the leaders fled quickly because they had prior knowledge of the bomb.

Approximately 15 persons were picked up by police, with expectations that one or two would die. Many injured civilians were reportedly carried away by their friends.
An unknown Bohemian man was found dead on the ground.
List of Injured Citizens:
- Robert Shults: A waiter on his way home from a cheap theatre; shot in the leg.
- John Sachman: Walking in Randolph-street; shot in the leg.
- Frank Wrovsch: Shot in the shoulder and sides; likely to die.
- Charles Shoemaker: Tailor; shot in the back.
- Emil Goltz: Shoemaker; shot in shoulder.
- Joseph Kucher: Shot in back.
- John Edlund: Shot in head.
- Peter Ley: Shot in the back.
- B. Le Plant (of Earl Park, Ind.): On his way home from the theatre; shot in the leg and shoulder.
Characterization of Attendee: The report claims the meeting participants were largely professional agitators with no visible means of support.