STRIKERS SHOT DOWN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9081, 22 February 1908, Page 7

STRIKERS SHOT DOWN.

TROOPS KILL 200. Iquique, the principal Chilian port for the export of nitrate of soda which is found there, witnessed a terrible tragedy on a recent Sunday. The workers at the .nitrate beds of Pampa del Tamarugal, who are out on strike, came into collission with the troops, who turned their machine guns on them, with the result that two hundred were killed and many wounded. There are many Englishmen engaged in the nitrate business in Chili, but chiefly as overseers, engineers, etc., the unskilled labour being done by Ohilenos. The latter are very pugnacious, and no doubt form the majority of the strikers who have been shot down. Iquique is peculiar as being a town that possesses no natural fresh water. All the water for domestic purposes is condensed from sea water, and supplied to the town* by an English company. Within ten miles of the town there are mines rich in silver, but these cannot be easily worked on account of the absence of water.. The port is a bad one, dangerous reefs preventing ships from coming nearer the shore than: two miles. Lighters are therefore used for the purpose of loading the vessels with the fetrllising products.