EVERETT, Wash. -- At least six are dead, and fifty or more were seriously injured, is the latest estimate of the casualties growing out of the attempted landing of a boat load of I.W.W. sympathizers from Seattle yesterday afternoon, responding to a call for help from their local workers.
The landing party made a determined assault upon the sheriff's forces, more than one thousand shots being fired. Governor Lister has ordered Adj. General Maurice Thompson of the Washington National Guard, to go to Everett and report conditions there.
After the battle at the Everett wharf the steamer carrying the I.W.W. invaders returned to Seattle carrying at least four dead and a score of injured. The National Guard is being held in readiness if further trouble develops.
Major C.D. Pennington, who was put in charge of the military situation here by Adj. General Thompson, was uncertain early today whether the Seattle militia would be ordered here. This force consists of four companies of infantry and two division of naval militia.
When the steamer Verona carrying the invading I.W.W.'s reached the wharf early Sunday afternoon Sheriff McRae and a citizen's posse of one hundred and fifty men, met it. Many of the poses were unarmed but some carried pistols and revolvers.
As the gang plank was lowered Sheriff McRae stepped forward and told the I.W.W. men that they could not land. One man stepped forward and attempted to make a speech. While he was speaking someone on the Verona began firing an automatic revolver. The first bullet struck the sheriff in the leg. Other members of the I.W.W. are then declared to have taken up the fire and eighteen of the citizens posse fell.
It is feared that several of these may die. G.W. Curtis formerly a national guard officer, was killed instantly.
Unarmed members of the posse fled but those with revolvers sought shelter and opened fire on the boat. A fight was carried on for several minutes before the Verona suddenly pulled anchor and steamed away. Latest reports indicate that five of the men on the Verona are dead and at least twenty-six are wounded.
When the Verona reached Seattle Mayor Gill ordered the police to guard the vessel and to arrest all belligerent members on the Verona. The police at once raided the organization headquarters and a number of men were taken into custody. All of those on the Verona who are unhurt were taken to jail.
Captain Clarence Wenmin of the vessel declared today that the first shot was fired by some one on board the Verona, after the shriff had thrown back his coat and revealed a gun strapped to his waist. He did not know who fired the shot. He said that the fire was so great that the bullets riddled the pilot house of the Verona and jeopardized his life. He denied that he had chartered the steamer to the I.W.W. organization, saying all on board made the trip from Seattle by paying full fare.
The Everett citizens issued a statement today reciting the history of the trouble with the I.W.W.
EVERETT, Wash. -- The number of dead in the I.W.W. battle at Everett Sunday was raised today to seven when S.S. Beard, former sheriff of Snosnis county, died of his wounds.
None of the wounded in Seattle are expected to die, but E.P. Bucher, janitor of the Everett high school, is fatally wounded. Although peace reigned today 100 business men remained all night in the club rooms to be ready for any emergency which might grow out of Sunday's battle. Sheriff McRae, who is in the Providence Hospital with three wounds in his leg, described the battle while propped in bed.
"There were probably 135 armed deputies on the dock," said McRae. "While others lined the shore when the steamer bearing the I.W.W.'s arrived. When I told them they could not land and they began firing, there were probably fifteen shots fired before a single shot was fired from shore. I can't understand how I escaped with the injuries I did."
Coroner A.B. Maulsbery is dragging the waters today in the belief that some of the I.W.W.'s said to have fallen overboard when shot, perished. Estimates vary from to two to twelve of those who fell in the water.
