Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-07-18
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The MINERS STRIKE IN THE Coal REGIONS
The Pottsvile Journal, Of the lIth inst, gives the
following account Of the miners strike in the sha
mokin, schuylkill and Lehigh coal regions Tho
strike for eight hours work os days labor, togo
ther with the demand for increased wages has be.
come general no doubt, in all the coal regions by
this time, On Monday last it commenced at Mount
Carmel and Locust Gap, in Northumberland county,
and large number of men marched to Ashland and
in the Mahanuy Valley, and stopped all the collier
les in that region on Tuesday. On Wednesday they
stopped the collieries on tho ost Branch Cass ST.
Clair and in the schuylkill Valley, and continued
on thoir way to the Lehgh and wkosbarre Re.
gions. On Thursday the Lehigh Coal Company
men struck and we presume the turnout will be
general.
Aswo stated last week, that if a strike must take
place, this was the most desirable time, while the
trade is extremely dull If the strike has become
general in all the Anthracite regions and continues
for several weeks it result in raising the price
of coal Without nn advance il is impossible for
the coal operators to reduce tho hours Of labor,
advance pricesi the only other alternative will be
TO leave the collieriesaie idle Many are working
thus prevent arrangement in these collery estab-
lishmcnts, hoping for an improvement to take place
in tho trade.
correspondent of the rroSs writing from Potts
vile Friday last, 10th inst, says Tho excite
mont here in regard to the miners riot has some
what subsidized, they having dispersed from this
vicinity. Through the county, however, they are
still continuing their operations of notifying all mills
furnaces. la
rators who have not been notified will be compelled
to cease in few days. from the want of coal. The
large furnace of Adacks & Co., near this places
stopped last night from this cause. There is re-
ported to be detection among tho rioters, in
consequence of the miners in the adjoining counties
not joining them The main body, however, threat
on to malreat oil the scccdcrs and most of them
will be intimidatcd from resuming work.
Last night committee of throe miners visited
prominent operator here and had the impudence to
ask for hundred dollars to support the strike.
The coal trains all coming down the different
roads empty, and leaving the at schuylkl
Haven.
Last night three hundred men were enrolled at
Port Carbon, and this morning papers being
signed hero by numerous persons, plcdging them
selves to be ready at short notice if any force is
quired to suppress the insurrection.
1t is reported that the strike is supported by spec
ulators, who wish to raise the price of coal. The
mode of operations of the rioters is assemble tho
vicinity of town, and the mob is generally
under the control of the largest man thuy az: mus
ter. dcachments are sent by him to the different
mills. They proceed armed with clubs, guns and
revolver and order all the employees to work
under pens,ty of death.
The Shamokin HcraH, Of Thursday last, says: -
Work at the collieries in this region, with the
ception of two or three, has been suspended
count of an attempt on the part of some of the
miners to compel the adoption Of the eight hour law
which by act of the last legislature, went into effect
the lst inst. The operators, unwilling to pay 10
hours wages for hours work, notified their
accordingly before that date and most of them
accepting the terms work continued without
interruption until Friday, whom party of strikers
from Schuylkill county ard Locust Gap visited the
collieries between the latter place and the Green
back, and compelled every man to stop work, wheth
or he felt disposed to do 50 or not
On Saturday the same party proceeded to tho
eoieres around this place, and stopped all that were
found in operation, except the Buck Ridge and Big
Mountain, at which the hour system had been
adopted. They compelled some of the from
each operation visited, to join their ranks, and when
passing through tho town in the afternoon their
return from Big Mountain, the party numbered from
$50 to 175 They marched to tho music Of tho fife
and drum, and carried in front an American flag
and board stuck upon pole. with the words
Eight Hours" painted upon it, The first six OF the
party carried guns and marched in ranks of two,
while the remainder were armed with clubs and
marched in more or less disorder. They proceeded
without hating until reaching the site of tho now
banking house, where they notified the stone -cuters
to quit work. Resumiug their march down Sunbury
street, the masons at work at Mr.. r. Fagelys resi-
dence were next notified. Here ono of the party
with guns because Mr.. J..W Young called out to
the to continue their work if they wished to,
deliberately fired toward him, the shot entering the
weather boards of his house, within few feet of the
door, where he stood. The shot evidently fired
with the intention of intimidating Mr.. Young and
other citizens who felt disposed to dsperse the party,
but it had not that effect for he stood his ground
until better reason prevailed among them, and they
started down the street. The Cameron colliery
next visited, after which the party returned to and
left the town, without further breaking the peace.
On Monday morning it was reported that the sri-
kers would again visit their way to Carbon
Run, and it was determined, for the safety as well
the credit of the place, to prevent them from
| rying guns through tho town. Accordingly, an or
ganizaton Of tho citizens of the town effect
| ed, ohcored by and composed largely of veteran
soldiers, and after all necessary preparations had
been made to insure the success of their undertaking
committee was sent out beyond the borough Limits
to moot and read to the strikers notice from tho
Chief Burgess that they would not be allowed to
enter the borough with fire arms The committee
met md read the notice to them, and upon being
assured that they were unarmed and would modest
no person property in the town, they allowed
to go through, which they did in peaceable man
ner.
They visited the Burnside and Bear Valley col
lieries, and stopped the latter but allowed the former
to run on, learning that the men were working by
the hour On returning, they kept their promise,
and passed quietly through town.
How long the strike will continue, and how end f,
their is telling at present Most of tho operators
Of this region cannot afford, at the present price of
COAL to lose the 20 per cent. which the adoption of
the eight hour sysom would entail, and as there is
no immediate prospect Of advance, the future
looks gloomy enough.
SEvBRE STORM AT SHAMoKIS. Shamokin
Herald, of the 9th inst, says; Between and 4
o'clock on Sunday afternoon, perfect tornado Of
wind visited this place. driving clouds of dust before