Carterville Mine Riot facts for kids

The Carterville Mine Riot was a serious event that happened in Carterville, Illinois, in 1899. It was part of the "coal wars" in Illinois, which were conflicts between coal miners and mine owners. These fights often involved workers trying to form unions and get better pay and working conditions.

In 1897, a big coal strike by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) ended in Illinois. Most mine owners agreed to the union's terms: fair pay per ton of coal, an 8-hour workday, and recognizing the union. However, some mine owners in places like Carterville refused these terms. They decided to hire African-American workers from other states, like Alabama and Tennessee, to keep their mines running. These workers were called "strikebreakers." At the same time, there was a lot of tension and unfair treatment towards African-Americans in these mining towns.

Why the Conflict Started

Before the Carterville Riot, there had already been other violent clashes in Illinois coal towns, like the Virden Riot in October 1898 and the Pana Riot in April 1899. These events showed how difficult and dangerous the situation was.

In Carterville, a mine owner named Samuel Brush brought in African-American workers from Tennessee in May 1898. He created a new camp for them called Dewmaine, right next to Carterville, which was mostly white. Even though some white miners also worked as strikebreakers, the tension between the groups grew.

In March 1899, Mr. Brush decided to give his non-union workers an 8-hour day and slightly better pay. But he still refused to recognize the UMWA union. The union then convinced about half of his workers, both white and some black, to go on strike.

After this, Mr. Brush brought in even more African-American strikebreakers from Alabama. These workers had just been forced out of Pana due to violence there. On June 30, a train carrying these new workers, along with Mr. Brush and guards, was stopped by union miners. Shots were fired, and a woman named Anna Karr, who was with the strikebreakers, was killed. About 20 others on the train were hurt.

That night, hundreds of union miners surrounded the Brush mine and started shooting. Strikebreakers shot back at a group of houses built by the union for black workers who supported the union. The people living there ran away, and the houses were burned. No one died in these specific fights, but troops were called in to restore order on July 2. Mr. Brush continued to bring in more workers, and the mine kept operating.

The Riot of September 17

The troops left the area on September 11, 1899. A few days later, on September 15, some African-American workers tried to enter Carterville but were turned away by white miners.

Then, on September 17, a group of 13 African-American men, some carrying weapons, tried to walk from the mine to the Carterville train station for their own reasons. They were met at the station by about 30 armed white men. According to reports from that time, this is when the shooting started.

Shots were fired, and some of the black men ran through the streets, while others tried to go back towards their homes along the train tracks. The white miners chased after them. One of the black men shot at his pursuers, and the miners shot back. Five of the African-American men died right away, and several others were injured. When the survivors made it back to their community, nearly 200 black workers rushed to the mine's storage building, where there were guns. However, Mr. Brush's son stopped them from getting the weapons.

What Happened Next

After the riot, troops were called back to Carterville. Twelve white men were charged with murder for their part in the riot, but none of them were found guilty.

The mine continued to operate with the strikebreakers until 1906. At that point, Samuel Brush sold his mine to the Madison Coal Company. The new owner recognized the UMWA union, and the African-American miners were allowed to join. Mining then continued.

Over time, the Dewmaine camp, which was originally for the black workers, grew into a real town. It had its own post office, a school, and even a clinic with two doctors. Life there became more normal, much like any other small coal town. However, the Madison Coal Company closed its mine in 1923, which was a big blow to Dewmaine.

Lasting Impact

The Carterville Mine Riot had a different outcome for African-American coal miners compared to similar conflicts in Virden and Pana. In those places, black miners were often forced to leave for good. But in Carterville, they were able to stay and build a community for 24 years. They had steady jobs and eventually even union representation.

Some historians now believe that for African-Americans at that time, working as strikebreakers was sometimes a way to survive and find work when other options were limited. It was a strategy to deal with a difficult society, rather than just breaking ranks with other workers.