The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-04-14

A serious riot occurred at Scranton
last week, inaugurated by the miners
on strike, against those at work. OF
course many exaggerated reports were
soon put afloat, and foolish proclama-
tion of Gov. GEARY only added to the
excitement. The following history of
the case, which we cut from the Harris.
burg. Patriot, we believe to be reliable,
to wit:
WILKEsBARRE, April 0.-The dis
turbances in this region have entirely
subsidized. On examination 1t appears
the reports have been greatly exagger-
ated. During interviews to-day with
GENERAL OSBORNE, commanding this
division of the State, and also Sheriff
RHODES, of Luzerne county, both gen.
tlemen pronounced the excitement
groundless. AS nearly as can be CLEANED
the facts were as follows: Trips slope
in Scranton has for some time been
working contrary to the wishes of the
Workingmen's benevolent association,
and last Thursday afternoon the miners
who had been warned to stop work
were set upon and one of their number
beaten. On Friday the attack was re-
newed, and number of miners coming
to work were more or less beaten and
wounded with stones and other missiles,
four or five of whom We're seriously in.
!ured, and one it is thought fatally.
This created the widest excitement in
Scranton. Dispatches were sent to Gen
eral OSBORNE, Sheriff RHODES and
Governor GEARY announcing o serious
riot, and stating that three men were
shot and several were wounded, and
calling for the military. The sheriff at
once repaired to Scranton, and met q
squad of about fifty men and boys
marching through the streets, and was
informed that these were the rioters
They seemed entirely unarmed with
the exception of a few sticks, and after
parading around for q while quietly
dispersed about eight p. NJ.
The old breaker abandoned sometime
ago but recently started again to pre-
pare coal for the local trade, known as
the Nay Aug breaker, was burned.
General OSBORNE in the meantime
called out the militia ordered by the
Harrisburg authorities, and had nine
hundred men on the ground by nine
O'Clock on Friday evening. This was
the greatest number of troops in Scran-
ton at any one time. They found every
thing quiet on their arrival and it has
continued so ever since, except that an
unfinished house being built for the
mining boss near Hyde Park was burnt
on Friday night. The sheriff visited
the conilagration and found iiremen
there, but number of miners were
sitting around the house making no
effort to stay the progress of the flames.
He was unable to discover the incen-
diary, if any there was. The house was
Uttered with shavings, and fires were
used in it to dry plaster, so that it may
have been an accident.
On Saturday General OSBORNE with
drew his troops with the exception of
about 200 men left as a permanent guard
under Major SwENK, commanding n
battalion of OSBORNE'S troops. These
were employed last night on patrol duty.
During the night fresh alarm was
created in the camp of the Hazleton
zouaves, caused by the dreaming of a
man who was sleeping in the back part
of the barracks, who started up with a
cry. Several muskets were discharged,
killing man named WILLIAM CARR
and fatally wounding Lieutenant MILES
WEAVER.
This is the full history of the affair.
The sheriff is confident that with twenty
armed men he could have quelled the
ulSturDdnceS anu dTTeSleu all tHe TlOteTs
but he could find none to go with him.
He, however, arrested one man, seizing
him in large crowd who, made no
effort to release him.
The following are the mines now
working. II. w. SwoYER's, Enterprise
and Pleasant Valley collieries on the
plank road, and BRoDERICKs & Co.'S,
Nottingham, Washington and Chauncey
collieries at Plymouth. Their men are
working on the five dollar basis, with
the understanding that they shall re-
ceive for the whole period of suspension
such wages as shall be agreed on when
work is resumed.