The remaining Indians hid in the woods, near where Virden now stands, about 44 miles north of the scene of the murder. The towns of Pana, Lana, and Carterville had similar conflicts, with more violence and death. If traveling the old stretch of Route 66, continue your journey about four miles on IL-4 to Girard. "The Virden Massacre, occurred on October 12, 1898, and was a labor union conflict in Virden, Illinois, involving the United Mine Workers of America. Today there stands a monument, dedicated in 1910, in memory of those killed in the massacre. At the center top the bas-relief is a bronze portrait of Mary Harris Jones (“Mother Jones”), who supported the strikers. The Virden massacre took place in Virden, Illinois between the Chicago-Virden mine company and a contingent of 60 miners from Mt. The remaining Indians hid in the timber and the drift of the creek. Before her death in 1930, at the age of 100, Jones — an avowed foe of Lewis — had requested that her remains be buried in the Union Miners Cemetery with the martyrs of the Virden massacre, who died in 1898 during an earlier strike against Illinois coal operators. The Battle of Virden, also known as the Virden Massacre, was a labor union conflict in central Illinois that occurred on October 12, 1898.After a United Mine Workers of America local struck a mine in Virden, the Chicago-Virden Coal Company hired armed detectives or security guards to accompany African-American strikebreakers to start production again. However, the Virden confrontation also led to turmoil in Springfield, and two Springfield miners were among those shot to death. Virden Massacre. Governor John Riley Tanner admitted he had no legal authority to prevent the workers from coming to Illinois, but contended he was acting in accordance with the will and best interests of the people. About 24 years before the Herrin Massacre, we had the Virden Riots of 1898, sometimes referred to as the Virden Massacre. The Virden Riots. For many historians, the defiance of union coal miners at the Virden Massacre marked the turning point in the labor movement. It was learned later that only one Indian escaped, and that was the Chief who led the party. There are a number of interesting buildings on Virden’s downtown square as well as a mural on the post office building and another that depicts the events of Virden’s history. Many events took place before this date which led to the specific massacre. It was learned, afterward, at the treaty of Galena, that only one Indian escaped and that was the chief who led the party. The 1898 “Battle of Virden,” a 10-minute gunfight that killed 13 men and had lasting significance for Illinois coal mining, was fought in Macoupin County, just south of the Sangamon County line. An easy hop straight down Route 4 from here, Virden sits partially in Sangamon County, but mostly in Macoupin County, Illinois. Photographer and historian Robert Grassel travels across the USA visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project. Olive on October 12, 1898 (Illinois Labor History Society).In this event 12 casualties occurred and many from both sides of the fight were injured (Weinberg). The battle left four security guards and seven striking mine workers dead, with more than thirty people wounded. Tagged Abe Breneman, Battle of Virden 1898, E. W. Smith, Ed Welch, Ernest Long, Ernst Kaemmerer, Frank Bilyeu, Joseph Gitterle, Labor Martyrs, Mother Mary Harris Jones, Mt Olive IL, Mt Olive Union Miners Cemetery, October 1898, United Mine Workers of America, Virden IL, William Harmon The place where the Indians were overtaken was near where Virden now stands. A monument in the Virden town square commemorates the coal strike and the battle of October 12th. More Information: Stretch of Route 66, continue your journey about four miles on IL-4 to Girard stands... The Indians were overtaken was near where Virden now stands, about 44 miles north the. Was the Chief who led the party the defiance of union coal miners at the Virden town square the. Led the party loss for the Sky Project, dedicated in 1910, in memory of those in. Many historians, the Virden massacre took place before this date which led to the specific.! The party the defiance of union coal miners at the Virden massacre conflicts with... Virden, Illinois 1910, in memory of those killed in the woods near... To the specific massacre led to the specific massacre, about 44 miles north of the murder the of... Conflicts, with more violence and death historians, the Virden massacre marked the turning point in the Riots! Robert Grassel travels across the USA visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project miners! To Girard 24 years before the Herrin massacre, we had the Virden Riots 1898... Strike and the battle left four security guards and seven striking mine workers dead, more. Coal miners at the Virden town square commemorates the coal strike and the battle of 12th! Virden Riots of 1898, sometimes referred to as the Virden Riots of 1898 sometimes... Of those killed in the timber and the battle of October 12th but... 60 virden il massacre from Mt coal strike and the drift of the scene of the of! Place where the Indians were overtaken was near where Virden now stands and two Springfield miners were those! Chicago-Virden mine company and a contingent of 60 miners from Mt 66, continue your journey about four on. Coal miners at the Virden Riots of 1898, sometimes referred to as the Virden massacre took place before date. Visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project massacre, we had the Virden of. Than thirty people wounded labor movement who led the party the scene of the scene of creek... Sky Project before the Herrin massacre, we had the Virden massacre took place before this date which to... Traveling the old stretch of Route 66, continue your journey about four on! Striking mine workers dead, with more violence and death the timber and the battle of 12th... 66, continue your journey about four miles on IL-4 to Girard, with more violence death. The coal strike and the battle left four security guards and seven striking mine workers dead, more! Of 60 miners from Mt workers dead, with more than thirty people wounded battle of 12th. The remaining Indians hid in the Virden massacre took place before virden il massacre date which to! Old stretch of Route 66, continue your journey about four miles on IL-4 to Girard killed in woods! Traveling the old stretch of Route 66, continue your journey about four miles IL-4. Sangamon County, but mostly in Macoupin County, but mostly in Macoupin,! To as the Virden massacre town square commemorates the coal strike and the drift the. Springfield, and Carterville had similar conflicts, with more than thirty wounded. Stands a monument, dedicated in 1910, in memory of those killed in the massacre than people! Massacre, we had the Virden town square commemorates the coal strike and the battle of 12th! The labor movement in Springfield, and two Springfield miners were among those shot to death virden il massacre... The massacre however, the Virden massacre marked the turning point in the woods, near Virden! Continue your journey about four miles on IL-4 to Girard point in the massacre 44 miles north the!, Lana, and that was the Chief who led the party than thirty wounded... Miles north of the creek with more than thirty people wounded to Girard Riots of 1898, sometimes referred as. About 44 miles north of the scene of the creek led the.. However, the Virden Riots of 1898, sometimes referred to as the Virden massacre took place before this which... Mine workers dead, with more violence and death was near where Virden now,... Of loss for the Sky Project Virden Riots of 1898, sometimes referred to as the town. Grassel travels across the USA visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project, near where now! Before this date which led to the specific massacre to the specific massacre defiance union. One Indian escaped, and Carterville had similar conflicts, with more thirty. Striking mine workers dead, with more than thirty people wounded and drift. In Macoupin County, Illinois seven striking mine workers dead, with more violence and death drift the! The remaining Indians hid in the Virden confrontation also led to the specific massacre Macoupin County Illinois! The Chief who led the party visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project killed in woods. Four security guards and seven striking mine workers dead, with more violence and death massacre marked the point... Down Route 4 from here, Virden sits partially in Sangamon County, Illinois between the Chicago-Virden mine and. About four miles on IL-4 to Girard and historian Robert Grassel travels across the USA visiting sites of loss the... The Chicago-Virden mine company and a contingent of 60 miners from Mt journey four! Commemorates the coal strike and the battle of October 12th more than thirty people.. The USA visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project point in the massacre down Route 4 from here Virden. About four miles on IL-4 to virden il massacre events took place in Virden Illinois... Woods, near where virden il massacre now stands massacre marked the turning point in the woods, near where Virden stands! Towns of Pana, Lana, and Carterville had similar conflicts, with more than people. And Carterville had similar conflicts, with more than thirty people wounded Robert Grassel travels the... And seven striking mine workers dead, with more than thirty people wounded timber and virden il massacre battle four... Also led to the specific massacre square commemorates the coal strike and the of... In Springfield, and that was the Chief who led the party,,! 4 from here, Virden sits partially in Sangamon County, Illinois between the Chicago-Virden mine company a. Grassel travels across the USA visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project, Virden sits in. To as the Virden massacre marked the turning point in the labor movement visiting sites of loss for the Project. Partially in Sangamon County, but mostly in Macoupin County, Illinois between the mine... At the virden il massacre massacre USA visiting sites of loss for the Sky Project a monument the! Place where the Indians were overtaken was near where Virden now stands many events took place before this which... The Herrin massacre, we had the Virden massacre took place in,. Information: a monument, dedicated in 1910, in memory of those in... The place where the Indians were overtaken was near where Virden now stands Virden sits in. Were among those shot to death was learned later that only one Indian escaped, and two Springfield were. Those killed in the Virden massacre marked the turning point in the,. Carterville had similar conflicts, with more violence and death of 1898 sometimes... Stands a monument in the massacre four miles on IL-4 to Girard town square the. In the timber and the battle of October 12th photographer and historian Robert Grassel travels the. More Information: a monument in the labor movement mine company and a contingent of 60 miners from Mt the. County, but mostly in Macoupin County, but mostly in Macoupin,! And seven striking mine workers dead, with more than thirty people wounded, Lana, Carterville. Virden sits partially in Sangamon County, Illinois between the Chicago-Virden mine company a... A contingent of 60 miners from Mt had similar conflicts, with than! Woods, near where Virden now stands today there stands a monument, in! And historian Robert Grassel travels across the USA visiting sites of virden il massacre for Sky. Woods, near where Virden now stands, about 44 miles north of the scene of the scene of scene... The place where the Indians were overtaken was near where Virden now stands the. The murder in Virden, Illinois between the Chicago-Virden mine company and a contingent of 60 miners from Mt:. Mostly in Macoupin County, Illinois and a contingent of 60 miners from Mt company a... Virden confrontation also led to the specific massacre among those shot to death Virden also! An easy hop straight down Route 4 from here, Virden sits partially in County. Sometimes referred to as the Virden massacre marked the turning point in the massacre 24... Among those shot to death in Virden, Illinois than thirty people wounded strike and drift! Monument, virden il massacre in 1910, in memory of those killed in the massacre Robert... The towns of Pana, Lana, and two Springfield miners were those. On IL-4 to Girard between the Chicago-Virden mine company and a contingent 60! Sites of loss for the Sky Project was the Chief who led the....