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Following the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, Sophie by a Bosnian Serb, tension grew between the countries of Serbia and Austria-Hungary. On July 28, 1914 Austria declared war on Serbia. This would lead to the major powers of Europe joining the conflict which we know as World War I. The United States would not enter the war until 1917 but in Globe, Arizona in 1914, a small battle of sorts would take place with ties to the European War.
In 1914, there were quite a number of immigrants working in the United States. This included miners of many different ethnicities working in the mines in Globe. As the war approached, relationships between Austrian and Serbian workers dwindled. Many of the workers had families back in the old country. There was even talk that if war broke out, many would return to their homelands to fight.
When Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia, the tension turned into hostility on July 31. On August 1, 1914 the Bisbee Daily Review newspaper reported a “Race Clash At Globe”. The article said: “The first clash between Austrians and Serbians occurred tonight, resulting in many broken heads but no serious injuries, trouble is feared as the result of tense feeling between the two nationalities. 500 Austrians have notified their consul in Denver that they are ready to return home for war. 300 Servians are preparing to return to the fatherland.” The book, History of Mining in Arizona, said that the two nationalities “mixed it up in the International Saloon on Broad Street”.
Ten days later, again at the same saloon, a bigger battle erupted. This time they fought with fists, billiard sticks, beer bottles, rocks and clubs leaving the saloon in shambles. Forty Serbians and twenty Austrians were involved. The melee must have spilled out into Broad Street as it was reported that a large crowd of Globe citizens watched them fight. The Arizona Daily Star reported that “twenty one were injured, none fatally. Fifteen rioters were arrested. Many of the two nationalities are coming to the city and further trouble is feared.”
Arizona was not the only state to see violence between the two nationalities. Los Angeles reported hundreds of Serbians and Austrians fighting in the streets with perhaps two fatalities. In Joliet, Illinois in the large foreign settlement of steel mill workers, a riot broke out. The riot started when several hundred Austrians invaded a meeting of Serbians and jeered the speakers. Fights broke out with fists and clubs. It spilled into the street and revolvers were drawn and shots fired.
World War I was a horrific war. The introduction of mechanized warfare, poison gas and aircraft led to many deaths. Military deaths by battle wounds or disease were 8,500,000. Of those 45,000 were Serbians and 1,200,000 Austrians. I wonder how many of those men fighting in the streets and saloons of Globe returned to their homelands to fight and die on the fields in Europe.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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