Springside Mine gun battle at Pana, Illinois

Background. The conflict arose from labor disputes in central and southern Illinois between 1898 and 1900. The Chicago–Virden Coal Company refused to pay union-scale wages, leading to strikes. Management brought in African-American strikebreakers from Alabama to bypass the striking white union miners, creating tension between the groups.

The Gun Battle. In April 1899, a violent confrontation broke out in Pana. Initially, a white man was killed, later discovered to be by a policeman. White union miners then attacked black replacement workers. Six additional people were killed, including five blacks and one white, while six more black miners were wounded.

Casualty Breakdown. Seven people were shot and killed during the battle. The breakdown includes five African Americans and one white man. Six additional black miners were wounded during the incident. The specific roles of the white victims are not detailed in the supplied passages.