The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-04-13
Miner VIZ. OperatOr-The' True
Story of the situation.

wiutcr. The out break. slch ns It
was, was brought about through the
s,ubbornncss of q few miners, who,
while protesting good feelings toward
the strikers. continued working in the
coal establishment after the operators
had broken their agreement with the
general body Of the mioers.
Scranton is the conire OF a vast coal
mining roagion, and on the circle Of
hills surrounding the city some Of the
most extensive coal producing works
in the conutry are carried on. In the
city 'alone over 10000 men find cm.
ploymcnt in working the mines, and
in the country Immediately surround
ing there are not less than 1000 cm-
ployed in the same industry. This
whole body has been idle si6ee De-
ccmbcr last. and up TO Thursday bore
very quietly tho deprivation aud dis.
couragcments of the dismal situation
"A position into which they were fore
ed. they claim, by the grasping policy
Of he operators in the first place, aud
continued in, through the high. handed
action Of the great transportation com.
ponics. SO long as there appeared n
iair prospect Of equitable adjusimesi
Al Harrisburg these mon seemed to
have behaved peaccably, but when
the examination resulted in all appar-
cnt triumph Of the companies, the men
unwiscly determined to put a-stop to
the whole running business, and TIM,
force an issue with the companies and
the operators
When the strike broke out last
winter It was agreed that the operators
should have the services of just enough
mon TO keep their machinery going
otherwise the mines would have come
TO total destruction through flooding
This arrangement was made goucrally
throughout the whole mining coun.
try; when such agreements were not
made the works are almost wholly ruin.
ed. The operators, however, were not
loyal to the treaty, aud as the winter
wore on. emboldcncd by the npparen,
mastery of the railroad men at Harris
burg. they extended their business
and hogan q regular coal trade again
The miuers, encouraged By the hope oI
definite action from the Leg stature
made no Interference, beyond q mild
protest, at this Infringement Of the
bargain, and would probably have
said little had il not been for tho III.
discreet partisanship Of the press IL
this section, which at once took side,
for the rich corporation. The miner.
were reviIed intemperately, and final
ly. under the sting of the lIarrisbur,
failure, the men lost temper, aud tht
bad blood. so long held in check, gave
way before the taunts Of the press auG
the untimoly wants Of the operators
Ou Thursday afternoon all tho Goa
works ou the outskirts aud in towl
were visited by excited, but by u,
means bioodlhirs,y, mobs. The min
crs who had been frequently pursued
were somewhat roughly handled, hu
in no case seriously maltreatcd.
Great excitement at once spread
through the city, and for a time /
seemed MS though iDcipicnt revolt hoC
broken into full-fledgel rebellion
The military companies were calc'
upon, but they utterly refused TO tax,
arms against their brethren, and III,
pcrplcxcd city officials at once tcle
graphed Governor Geary for as,is
tanco. Meantime the mayor, nppris'
cd OF tbs uproar and paralizod by
bloody deeds reported to him, made
trembling Appearance at the main poiu
# disturbance, Trips works, aud at
tempted peaceful parley with the mob
Flankcd by reputable citizens of AZ,
and position, his honor anieably be
sought the crew to desist from violepc
ana disperse to their homes lii
efforts were iruitless, aud he then n,
tempted to make known the intent
and purposes of the riot act, bat tn
crowd cared even less for that excit
ing document and irreverently hoote
the reader. Therelpon one Of lh,
citizens attending his Honor valorous
| ly ilourished pistol before the crow
and threatened slaughter unless the
at once Dispersed. His hcroic effort
were laughed ut, and he Indignant
retired with the, offended magis
trate.
The mob, satisfied with the bloodles
victory, boisterously off TO other es
adjustments, and when all the me
had been peacefully argued out of ,hei
occupation, they formed in solid rank,
and, with the stars aud strips abov
7 them, marched through the mai
streets, and then quietly dispersed l.
their homes. at @ O'Clock, the adyanc
guard Of the Sptc troops arrived, anC
were at onco distributed about tn
coal works, Nothing happened, hov
ever, 20 justify apprehension. save th
burning Of an old coal-breaking estab
lishment some distance out Of towr
which is said to have been fred not b
the miners, and for not wholly dishtcl
ested purposes.
II The LEGAL accounts are filled wit
death and fury, and represent fsrt
battle waged, aud blood shed, but
have visited oil tho mines, and aft,
, close questioning workmeu and operi
tor, eau fnd 90 case of bloodshed, n,
anything like systematic violence
The few mon who were at work in II
mines We're all we'll armed, aud it seen
, they displayad the only Heanons draw