Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-02


in Pennsylvania. Having had previous
ly some fifteen years experience in the
coal regions, and having at that time in
innate relations and dealings with almost
every ionaiity-GcrmanS, Scotch, Eng
liSh. Irish, and even 4 lcW SwedcS, |
could not he considered rs Il green hand,
or unfit 10 ill the place did. | certain
ly knew something of the huSines, | had
undertaken My colliery was Tie far.
lhcst from the market OF amy OF the re
gion. consequently it occupied an isolat-
cd position. No public road was near it..
it was several miles from town, and the
American population was sparse and
scattered.
When iirl took the mines found
cyely Jhing much disorsauizcd The lor-
mer lessee had failed through incapaciIy,
having had no administrative ability
whatever Drunken engineers. worth
les iircmen, aud lazy fellows OF every
descriptions seemed To reign upremc. |
had to alakc changes very cautiously, but
n knew so much depended upon hay.
ing tiusty, sober engineers, fist dis
charged the old ones, and pu. two sturdy
rcsolut, Germans in their place. This
step offended the Irish miners. rs they
we've very Jealous of the Germans |
placed two American, in offices oi trust
and responsibility. One. q middle.agcd
man. had charge ol the office. books. aud
fire proof the other, a younger n,had
charge of the store and mine supplies
\ stout. able bodied Pennsylvania DnIch
man had charge OF tie stables.
The important office ol mining boss
Was liled by AN Engiishman, as line "a
looking fellow aS one could meet with in
"a days march After events, however.
proved him To he lamentahly deficient,
both in physical and moral courage. Il
thing quitc rare in his counlrymen. as |
have generally found them as courageous
rs bulldogs. and, truth to tell about as
obs mate. How | was So deceived in
this man know not Now. unless u
mining boss poS>cas both physical and
moral courage. and that in great lc.
gree. he can exercise bat little power and
influence over the mcr, FOR they seem TO
define instinclivcly his weakness. and
govern themselves accordingly. The
outside boss was - blayc, quiet Eng
liShmau-uo giant but firm and rcSolulc,
u man ot few words. The miners and
laborcrs were ully scvcnty-fve per cent.
Irish. so YOU see Paddy was decidedly in
the majority.
tried to cqualizc the men by putting
in more Germans and Welsh But this
by no means pleased my Celtic friends,
and a two weeks strike WAS the result.
which. however. ended by the new com.
ers being allowed to WORK. WAS ohlig-
ed. however. Ia move very cautiously,
especially ~ many of hc men had dis
charged lived in my houses. aud could
not eicc, them at once without causing u
riot. Why did YOU not pitch them out?
SAYS the reader SOFTLY. my friend, i, is
more easily said than done. We have
assisted at such thing. in times past, and
can assure YOU ON oGr personal honor
that il is not very pleasant job 10 mdc:.
take.
Visions of an nate. redhcaded yirago.
armed with Il large red hot poker. with
scalding water ~ an accompaniment. !
huge, ruliianly fellow with 4 crow bar,
and another with Il miners pickaXc, float
through our brain. AMI n such thing are
apt 10 leave Il striking impression, We
are decidedly OF the opinion that the eject
ing process is by no means II p'ea>aEt
one.
Nevertheless. when it had to be doae
we did il III all hazards, bat we generally
preferred q Worry them out In spite of
the seeming peace. found out that Il
plot had been hatchcd to drive off all the
new men had employed. Whispers
were heard that Their fivc> were not safe,
and as natural consequence many of
them took their tools ont Of the mines
and left The Germans however, stolid-
" kept III work Under these circum.
stances it really seemed rs if ii would be
no use in coniending. might as well
give up all control oil the mines, remain
mere locker ON, Il catspaw, to be used
as Il brutal, irresponsible set of ruiiians
should think it best.
But this was part of the programme
felt by no means inclined to carry out.
Ii WAS to be beaten it should not be
without gallant fight, to the death if
necessary. already carried about me
the marks inflicted by a gang Of ruflian
means increased my charitable feelings
towards them. They then thought they
had given me the quietus, and owe nc
thanks to them that am alive this day.
From the bad feelings existing among
the men, was sure matters would cul.
inmate before long, but could not tell in
that particular way Several times in
three months The men had 'turned out,
and each time for some trifling c'use.-
Matters finally came to head on Tues
day. | had left the mines on Monday TO
&c to New York on business, everything
apparently going IN well, men all nj
work, cars loading and no indications OF