The Dead and the Wounded—Moans of Anguish in the Police
Station—Caring for Friend and Foe—Counting the Cost—A City’s
Sympathy—The Death List—Sketches of the Men—The Doctors’
Work—Dynamite Havoc—Veterans of the Haymarket—A Roll of Honor—The
Anarchist Loss—Guesses at their Dead—Concealing Wounded Rioters—The
Explosion a Failure—Disappointment of the Terrorists.
THE scene at the Desplaines Street Station was one which would appal
the stoutest heart. Every available place in the building was utilized,
and one could scarcely move about the various rooms without fear of
accidentally touching a wound or jarring a fractured limb. In many
instances mangled Anarchists were placed side by side with injured
officers. The floors literally ran with blood dripping and flowing from
the lacerated bodies of the victims of the riot. The air was filled
with moans from the dying and groans of anguish from the wounded. As
the news had spread throughout the city of the terrible slaughter,
wives, daughters, relatives and friends of officers as well as of
Anarchists, who had failed to report at home or to send tidings of
their whereabouts, hastened to the station and sought admission. Being
refused, these set up wailing and lamentations about the doors of
the station, and the doleful sounds made the situation all the more
sorrowful within.
Everything in the power of man was done to alleviate the suffering and
to make the patients as comfortable as possible. Drs. Murphy, Lee and
Henrotin, department physicians, were energetically at work, and, with
every appliance possible, administered comparative relief and ease from
the excruciating pains of the suffering. The more seriously wounded,
when possible, were taken to the Cook County Hospital. Throughout the
night following the riot, the early morning and the day succeeding, the
utmost care was given the patients, and throughout the city for days
and weeks the one inquiry, the one great sympathy, was with reference
to the wounded officers and their condition. The whole heart of the
city was centered in their recovery. Everywhere the living as well as
the dead heroes were accorded the highest praise. The culprits who had
sought to subvert law and order in murder and pillage were execrated on
all hands. For days and weeks, the city never for a moment relaxed its
interest. From the time the men had been brought into the station, it
was long a question as to how many would succumb to their wounds. Care
and attention without ceasing served to rescue many from an untimely
grave; but even those who were finally restored to their families
and friends, crippled and maimed as they were, hovered between life
and death on a very slender thread through many a restless night and
weary day and through long weeks and agonizing months. The devotion
of friends and the skill of physicians nerved the men to strength and
patience. That only eight should have died out of so great a number as
were mangled, lacerated and shattered by the powerful bomb and pierced
by bullets, attests the merits of the treatment.
The only one who was almost instantly killed was Officer Mathias J.
Degan. The following list will serve to show the names of the officers
killed and wounded, the stations they belonged to, their residences,
the nature of their wounds, their condition and other circumstances:
MATHIAS J. DEGAN—Third Precinct, West Lake Street Station; residence,
No. 626 South Canal Street. Almost instantly killed. He was born
October 29, 1851, and joined the police force December 15, 1884. He
was a widower, having lost his wife just before joining the force, and
left a young son. He was a brave officer, efficient in all his duties,
and highly esteemed.
MICHAEL SHEEHAN—Third Precinct; residence, No. 163 Barber Street.
Wounded in the back just below the ninth rib. The bullet lay in the
abdomen, and, after its removal by the surgeon, he collapsed and died
on the 9th of May. He was twenty-nine years of age, born in Ireland,
and came to America in 1879. He joined the force December 15, 1884,
and had only one relative in America, a brother, his parents still
living in the old country. He was a very bright, prompt and efficient
officer, and had excellent prospects before him. He was unmarried.
GEORGE MULLER—Third Precinct; residence, No. 836 West Madison Street;
was shot in the left side, the bullet passing down through the
body and lodging on the right side above the hip bone. He suffered
more than any of the others and was in terrible agony. He would
not consent to an operation, and finally his right lung collapsed,
making his breathing very difficult. He expired on the 6th of May.
He was twenty-eight years of age. Born in Oswego, N. Y., where his
parents lived, and to which place his remains were sent. Muller, on
coming to Chicago, began as a teamster, and became connected with the
Police Department December 15, 1884, being assigned for duty at the
Desplaines Street Station. He was a finely built, muscular young man,
and became quite a favorite with his associates because of his quiet
habits and genial manners. At the time of his death he was engaged to
Miss Mary McAvoy.
JOHN J. BARRETT—Third Precinct; residence, No. 99 East Erie Street;
was shot in the liver, from which a piece of shell was removed, and
he had a bad fracture of the elbow. The heel bone of one leg was
carried away. With so many serious wounds, he lay in the hospital
almost unconscious until the day of his death, May 6. He was born in
Waukegan, Ill., in 1860, and came to Chicago with his parents when
only four years of age. Here he attended the public schools, and then
learned the molder’s trade, which he abandoned on January 15, 1885,
to join the police force, being assigned to duty at the Desplaines
Street Station. He was a brave and efficient officer and always ready
to do his part in any emergency. He had been married only a few months
preceding his death, and left a wife, a widowed mother, three sisters
and a younger brother.
THOMAS REDDEN—Third Precinct; residence, No. 109 Walnut Street;
received a bad fracture of the left leg three inches below the knee,
from which a large portion of the bone was entirely carried away. He
also had bullet wounds in the left cheek and right elbow, and some
wounds in the back. Pieces of shell were found in the leg and elbow.
He died May 16. He was fifty years of age, and had been connected with
the police force for twelve years, joining it on April 1, 1874. He was
attached to the West Lake Street Station, and was looked upon as an
exemplary and trusted officer. He left a wife and two young children.
TIMOTHY FLAVIN—Fourth Precinct; residence, No. 504 North Ashland
Avenue; was struck with a piece of shell four inches above the ankle
joint, tearing away a portion of the large bone and fracturing the
small bone. He also had two wounds just below the shoulder joint in
the right arm, caused by a shell, and there were two shell wounds
in the back, one passing into the abdomen and the other into the
lung. His leg was amputated above the knee, the second day after the
explosion, and he had besides a large piece torn out of his right
hip. He died on May 8. He was born in Listowel, Ireland, and came to
America in 1880 with a young wife, whom he had married on the day of
his departure. He had worked as a teamster, and joined the police
force on December 15, 1884, being assigned to duty at the Rawson
Street Station. He left a wife and three small children.
[Illustration: THE DESPLAINES STREET STATION.
From a Photograph.]
NELS HANSEN—Fourth Precinct; residence, No. 28 Fowler Street;
received shell wounds in body, arms and legs, and one of his limbs had
to be amputated. He lost considerable blood, but lingered along in
intense agony until May 14, when he died. He was a native of Sweden,
having came to Chicago a great number of years ago, joining the force
December 15, 1884, and was about fifty years of age. He left a wife
and two children.
TIMOTHY SULLIVAN, of the Third Precinct, was the last to die from the
effects of the Haymarket riot; this brave officer lingered until June
13, 1888. He resided at No. 123 Hickory Street, and was a widower,
four children mourning his loss. The illness from which he died was
the direct result of a bullet wound just above the left knee.
The following is a list of the wounded officers belonging to the Third
Precinct:
August C. Keller; residence, No. 36 Greenwich Street; shell wound in
right side and ball wound in left side; wife and five children.
Thomas McHenry; residence, 376 W. Polk Street; shell wound in left
knee and three shell wounds in left hip; single; had a sister and
blind mother to support.
John E. Doyle, 142½ W. Jackson Street; bullet wounds in back and calf
of each leg; serious; wife and one child.
John A. King, 1411 Wabash Avenue; jaw-bone fractured by shell and two
bullet wounds in right leg below the knee; serious; single.
Nicholas Shannon, Jr., No. 24 Miller Street; thirteen shell wounds on
right side and five shell wounds on left side; serious; wife and three
children.
James Conway, No. 185 Morgan Street; bullet wound in right leg; single.
Patrick Hartford, No. 228 Noble Street; shell wound in right ankle,
two toes on left foot amputated, bullet wound in left side; wife and
four children.
Patrick Nash, Desplaines Street Station; bruises on left shoulder,
inflicted by a stick; single.
Arthur Connolly, No. 318 West Huron Street; two shell wounds in left
leg; bone slightly fractured; wife.
Louis Johnson, No. 40 West Erie Street; shell wound in left leg; wife
and four children.
M. M. Cardin, No. 18 North Peoria Street; bullet wound in calf of each
leg; wife and two children.
Adam Barber, No. 321 West Jackson Street; shell wound left leg, bullet
wound in right breast; bullet not extracted; wife and one child.
Henry F. Smith, bullet wound in right shoulder; quite serious, wife
and two children in California.
Frank Tyrell, No. 228 Lincoln Street; bullet in right hip near spine;
wife and two children; wife sick in County Hospital at the time of the
riot.
James A. Brady, No. 146 West Van Buren Street; shell wound in left
leg, slight injury to toes of left foot and shell wound in left thigh;
single.
John Reed, No. 237 South Halsted Street; shell wound in left leg and
bullet wound in right knee; bullet not removed; single.
Patrick McLaughlin, No. 965 Thirty-seventh Court; bruised on right
side, leg and hip, injuries slight; wife and two children.
Frank Murphy, No. 980 Walnut Street; trampled on, three ribs broken;
wife and three children.
Lawrence Murphy, No. 317½ Fulton Street; shell wounds on left side of
neck and left knee, part of left foot amputated; wife.
Michael Madden, No. 119 South Green Street; shot in left lung on May
5th, after which he shot and killed his Anarchist assailant; wife and
seven children.
The following belonged to the West Lake Street Station of the Third
Precinct:
Lieut. James P. Stanton, residence No. 584 Carroll Avenue; shell wound
in right side, bullet wound in right hip, bullet wound in calf of leg;
wife and three children.
Thomas Brophy, No. 25 Nixon Street; slight injury to left leg;
reported for duty; wife.
Bernard Murphy, No. 325 East Twenty-second Street; bullet wound in
left thigh, shell wound on right side of head and chin; not dangerous;
wife.
Charles H. Fink, No. 154 South Sangamon Street; three shell wounds in
left leg and two wounds in right leg; not dangerous; wife.
Joseph Norman, No. 612 Walnut Street; bullet passed through right foot
and slight injury to finger on left hand; wife and two children.
Peter Butterly, No. 436 West Twelfth Street; bullet wound in right arm
and small wound on each leg near knee; wife and one child.
Alexander Jamison, No. 129 Gurley Street; bullet wound in left leg;
serious; wife and seven children.
Michael Horan, bullet wound in left thigh, not removed; slight shell
wound on left arm; single.
Thomas Hennessy, No. 287 Fulton Street; shell wound on left thigh,
slight; has mother, who is crippled, and two sisters to support.
William Burns, No. 602 West Van Buren Street; slight shell wound on
left ankle; single.
James Plunkett, No. 15½ Depuyster Street; struck with club and
trampled upon; wife.
Charles W. Whitney, No. 453 South Robey Street; shell wound in left
breast; shell not removed; single.
Jacob Hansen, No. 137 North Morgan Street; right leg amputated over
the knee, three shell wounds in left leg; wife and one child.
Martin Cullen, No. 236 Washtenaw Avenue; right collar bone fractured
and slight injury to left knee; wife and five children.
Simon Klidzis, No. 158 Carroll Street; shot in calf of left leg;
serious; wife and three children.
Julius L. Simonson, No. 241 West Huron Street; shot in arm near
shoulder; very serious; wife and two children.
John K. McMahon, No. 118 North Green Street; shell wound in calf
of left leg, shell not found; ball wound left leg near knee, very
serious; wife and two children.
Simon McMahon, No. 913 North Ashland Avenue; shot in right arm and two
wounds in right leg; wife and five children.
Edward W. Ruel, No. 136 North Peoria Street; shot in right ankle,
bullet not removed; serious; single.
Alexander Halvorson, No. 850 North Oakley Avenue; shot in both legs,
ball not extracted; single.
Carl E. Johnson, No. 339 West Erie Street; shot in left elbow; wife
and two children.
Peter McCormick, No. 473 West Erie Street; slight shot wound in left
arm; wife.
Christopher Gaynor, No. 45 Fay Street; slight bruise on left arm; wife.
The following belonged to the Fourth Precinct:
S. J. Werneke, No. 73 West Division Street; shot in left side of head,
ball not found; serious; wife and two children.
Patrick McNulty, No. 691 North Leavitt Street; shot in right leg and
both hips; dangerous; wife and three children.
Samuel Hilgo, No. 452 Milwaukee Avenue; shot in right leg; not
serious; single.
Herman Krueger, No. 184 Ramsey Street; shot in right knee; not
serious; wife and two children.
Joseph A. Gilso, No. 8 Emma Street; slightly injured in back and leg;
not serious; wife and six children.
Edward Barrell, No. 297 West Ohio Street; shot in right leg; quite
serious; wife and six children.
Freeman Steele, No. 30 Rice Street; slightly wounded in back; not
serious; single.
James P. Johnson, No. 740 Dixon Street; right knee sprained; not
serious; wife and three children.
Benjamin F. Snell, No. 138 Mozart Street; shot in right leg; not
serious; single.
The following belonged to the Central Detail:
James H. Wilson, No. 810 Austin Avenue; seriously injured in abdomen
by shell; wife and five children.
Daniel Hogan, No. 526 Austin Avenue; shot in calf of right leg and
hand; very serious; wife and daughter.
M. O’Brien, No. 495 Fifth Avenue; shell wound in left thigh; very
serious; wife and two children.
Fred A. Andrew, No. 1018 North Halsted Street; wounded in leg, not
serious; wife.
[Illustration: THE HAYMARKET MARTYRS.
1. John J. Barrett.
2. Michael Sheehan.
3. Timothy Flavin.
4. Timothy Sullivan.
5. Thomas Redden.
6. Mathias J. Degan.
7. Nels Hansen.
8. George Muller.]
Jacob Ebinger, No. 235 Thirty-seventh Street; shell wound in back of
left hand; not serious; wife and three children.
John J. Kelley, No. 194 Sheffield Avenue; shell wound on left hand;
not serious; wife and three children.
Patrick Lavin, No. 42 Sholto Street; finger hurt by shell; married.
Officer Terrehll had a shell wound in the right thigh.
Patrick Hartford had an opening in the ankle joint. The shell was
removed. A portion of his left foot, with the toes, was carried away.
Arthur Conelly had a compound fracture of the tibia. The shell struck
him about two inches below the knee, tore away a piece of bone of the
fibula, perforated the tibia and lodged about the middle of the large
bone of the leg, a short distance below the knee. A piece of shell was
removed.
Lawrence Murphy had fifteen shell wounds, one in the neck, three or
four in the arms, and one in his left foot; the last, weighing almost
an ounce and a half, lodged at the base of the great toe and left his
foot hanging by a piece of skin. The foot had to be amputated about
two inches farther back. He had a piece two inches square taken out of
the anterior surface of his leg. He had two perforating wounds in the
left thigh and a number in the right.
Edward Barrett had two shell wounds in the neighborhood of the knee
joint, turning out large pieces of flesh and leaving ragged wounds on
the surface.
J. H. King was struck in the chin by a piece of shell which went
through his upper lip; another piece carried away about an inch of his
lower jaw-bone.
J. H. Grady had severe flesh wounds, both in the thigh and legs. Some
pieces of shell were taken out of them.
John Doyle had several wounds about the legs, in the neighborhood of
the knee joint.
The list shows the character of the wounds and the condition of the
officers just after the eventful night. Some of those who died lingered
along for some time after, but the name of Timothy Sullivan was the
last to add to the death-list. Some of the sixty-eight wounded men
have since returned to active duty, but many are maimed for life and
incapacitated for work.
It is impossible to say how many of the Anarchists were killed or
wounded. As soon as they were in a condition to be moved, those in
the Desplaines Street Station were turned over to their relatives and
friends. The Anarchists have never attempted to give a correct list,
or even an approximate estimate, of the men wounded or killed on their
side. The number, however, was largely in excess of that on the side
of the police. After the moment’s bewilderment, the officers dashed
on the enemy and fired round after round. Being good marksmen, they
fired to kill, and many revolutionists must have gone home, either
assisted by comrades or unassisted, with wounds that resulted fatally
or maimed them for life. Some of those in the station had dangerous
wounds, and they were for the most part men who had become separated,
in the confusion, from their companions, or trampled upon so that they
could not get up and limp to a safe place. It is known that many secret
funerals were held from Anarchist localities in the dead hour of night.
For many months previous to the Haymarket explosion the Anarchists had
descanted loudly on the destructive potency of dynamite. One bomb, they
maintained, was equivalent to a regiment of militia. A little dynamite,
properly put up, could be carried in a vest pocket and used to destroy
a large body of police. They probably reasoned that if it was known
that many more of their number had fallen than on the side of the
police, it would not only tend to diminish the faith of their adherents
in the real virtues of dynamite, but would prove that the police were
more than able to cope with the Social Revolution, even though the
revolutionists depended on that powerful agency. The public is not,
therefore, likely ever to know how many of their number suffered.