Hellraisers Journal: Fellow Worker Thomas Manning Laid to Rest in Butte as Thousands March in Funeral Procession

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Quote Butte Striking Miners re ACM Massacre Butte, BDB p1, Apr 28, 1920———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday April 29, 1920
Butte, Montana – Fellow Worker Thomas Manning Laid to Rest

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of April 28, 1920:

ACM Massacre Butte, Manning Laid to Rest, BDB p1, Apr 28, 1920———-

FIRST OF VICTIMS OF A. C. M. MURDERERS
TO DIE SHOWN LAST HONOR
———-

This morning, a week to the day, since Thomas Manning fell on Anaconda road, riddled with bullets fired from guns in the hands of the notorious Roy Alley and his gang of hired murderers of the Anaconda Copper Mining company, the mortal remains of that martyr to the cause of the rights of workingmen were laid at rest in Holy Cross cemetery. And though his mangled body lies beneath six feet of cold earth, the dauntless spirit which impelled Manning, unarmed except with the conviction that he was in the right, to face the hordes of killers on the hill last Wednesday [April 21st], is still with his fellow workers and fellow victims.

In Ireland, an aged father waits in vain for the return of his son from America-reputed land of the free, where justice is supposed to dwell and where the workingman is presumed to have equal rights with the millionaire.

In Ireland, also, a loving wife, who as yet does not know that she is a widow, waits patiently for the letter from her man whom she thinks is working in this land of unexampled wealth to amass the nest-egg on which her husband and herself will be enabled to keep the wolf from the door. And, perhaps, she is awaiting that letter which will tell her that Tom has saved up enough money to bring her to the United States to make anew their home in glorious, free America.

It is also possible that Mrs. Manning, as she hears of the killings and riotings in British-ruled Erin breathes a silent prayer that her loving Tom is in America, where British soldiery with their guns are now unknown, and where, as she mercifully believes, such despicable creatures as armed company gunmen have no existence.

In Ireland also, a young child, progeny of Tom Manning, possibly plays about an Irish cottage, as yet unaware that he will never again view the face of his father.

However, the letter she will soon receive, instead of breathing the love of her husband for herself and their little tot, and of telling her of the progress he is making toward their savings fund,i of being from Tom will be written by another’s hand and will inform her that the man to whom she gave herself for life is now cold clay, that his happy smile is gone forever, his loving voice stilled for eternity.

Despite the fact that thousands of striking miners have left Butte during the last few weeks, and particularly since the massacre of last Wednesday afternoon, approximately 3,000 persons in addition to those who merely attended the church services, marched behind the hearse through the streets of Butte.

Included among the marchers were many women, some carrying babes in their arms.

In front of industrial headquarters on North Wyoming street and at North Main and Quartz streets, early this morning, those who had worked with Manning, who had gone out on strike with him to enforce the rights of the miners to decent living wages and decent working conditions, and many of whom were with him on Anaconda road the day that the Anaconda company’s murderers fired volley after volley into the unarmed workers, assembled. From those two points the workingmen marched to the home of Thomas Scanlon, 316 North Idaho streets, where the body had lain in state for the last several days.

From the home the long procession marched down Washington street to St. Patrick’s church, where requiem mass was celebrated. After the services, the main body of the mourners accompanied the cortege to Montana street, thence north to Park street, east to Arizona, south to Front street and south on Harrison avenue to the cemetery.

Many beautiful floral offerings, mostly from workingmen’s organizations and from friends were sent to the Scanlon home. Flowers, too, were received from persons not connected with the labor movement, but who were aghast at the brutal acts of the company’s hired thugs.

———-

ACM Massacre Butte, Cartoon by Ellia, BDB p3, Apr 28, 1920

———-

[Emphasis added.]

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SOURCE & IMAGES
The Butte Daily Bulletin
(Butte, Montana)
-Apr 28, 1920
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045085/1920-04-28/ed-1/seq-1/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045085/1920-04-28/ed-1/seq-3/

Note: despite much searching, I have been unable to find information on Cartoonist Ellia. More research needed.

See also:

Tag: Anaconda Road Massacre of 1920
https://weneverforget.org/tag/anaconda-road-massacre-of-1920/

More from Butte Daily Bulletin of April 28, 1920:

“Your Day Is Almost at An End; Ours Will Soon Be Dawning”
-Statement of Striking Miners of Butte

“Your Day Is Almost…”
-statement of striking miners continued

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The Red Flag – Socialist Victory Choir
Lyrics by Jim Connell -1889