The anarchist papers exhorted their adherents to provide themselves with arms and even published instructions for the use of dynamite.
Political and industrial conditions thus supplied material for an explosion which came with shocking violence.

On May 4, 1885, towards the close of an anarchist meeting held in Chicago, a dynamite bomb thrown among a force of policemen killed one and wounded many.

Fire was at once opened on both sides, and, although the battle lasted only a few minutes, seven policemen were killed and about sixty wounded; while on the side of the anarchists, four were killed and about fifty were wounded.

Ten of the anarchist leaders were promptly indicted, of whom one made his escape and another turned State's evidence.

The trial of the remaining eight began on June 21, 1886, and two months later the death sentence was imposed upon seven and a penitentiary term of fifteen years upon one.