The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-18
Terrible Tragedy I'm Scran-
ton, Pa.
Two Miners Murdered by ,
Laborer.
Fearful Excitement OF the
Welsh Miners.
EFFECTS OF A DRUNKEN DEBAUCI.
The Reduced Coal Tolls Over the
Reading Railroad.
ScnANToN. Pa, May Il, ISL,

SCRANTON, Pa, May IT. 1871.
terrible page in the history OF The coal troubles
has been furnished this afternoon. Mr.. w. w.
Scranton's effort TO work the Briggs mine at all
hazards has not met with the success anticipated.
n has at least been crowned with blood, and thaE
young gentleman has succeeded in producing an
awful sensation, If nothing more.
FEARFUL TRAGEDY
was enacted about i've O'Clock and two innocent,
well-dsposed men were hurried into the presence OF
their Maker without moments warning The par
uculars OF this fearful deed can be told IA few
words.
Since Monday there has been an attempt TO work
The Briggs shaft owned by the Lackawanna Coal
and Iron Company OF which Mr.. w. ". Scranton Is
superintendent and his father President and prin-
cipal owner. twenty-five men have been induced
10 enter the mine and were escorted to and from
their work by
MILITARY GUARD.
The novelty OF this proceeding, combined with the
anpathy OF the miners TO blacklegs and the preju.
dice which has been created among nationalites by
the indscreel course OF some OF the supporters Of
the companies, has had the effect to draw
large portion OF the idle population
into the street TO see the spectacle.
These have proved motley crowd OF men, women
aud children, and upon the appearance OF the black
legs they would be greeted by marks OF dsapproba-
loH lHese scenes nave Deeu enacted morning ana
evening since Monday There has been no other
demonstrations made by the miners who have been
greatly displeasel at the men who have placed
themselves so dehantly in opposition to public
opinion, and IL is not probable that any other would
take place. The men VINO have gone to work
have borne the jecrs good-naturedly and
no one doubts but the feeling excited
by this course would soon have died out
had they maintained the stold indifference which
has marked their conduct up TO to-day. THIS morn
ing there was some difficulty at the shat. The fire.
man and engineer 1t Is reported stopped work, and
the mine stood idle. 1t seems that portion Of the
men were dong some work about the the premises
and were on their way home, having finished their
labor for the day. They marching toward
Bellevue in the usual style, surrounded by soldiers
aud armed themselves with musKets when they
were greeted with the customary testimonials Of de-
rsion and contempt from a crowd which had assem-
bled near what is known as the Fellows Cornern
near the main street in Hyde Park. When abou.
ify feet from Main street one or the laborers low
cred his musket and
PRED INTO TIE MASS F MEN, WOMEN AND chill.
The shot sped fatally on its way and two men fell
mortaly wounded, and the murderer was escorted
away with military honors. The names OF the IN
fortunate men David Jones aud Benjamin Davis,
Welshmen. They are represented as being two OF
the most inofenslve men IN the community, and the
evidence is overwhelming that they gave no provo
cation for the brutal coldblooded murder. The one
bullet passed through the body OF one OF the men
aud lodged In that o. the otter One was shot
through the heart aud the other received The ball In
fhe region OF the stomach. They died almost IN
siantly. The name OF the murderer is kerrigan, or
Keonan, and he IS known by the SoubrQltet of 'The
Fenan.n He is wretch OF the most desperate
character, and has been heard TO threaten that he
would XIII somebody before the trouble was over.
II Is animated that ne has been implicated in at
least enc other murder IN his career,
A SCENE or WILD COSFUsIoE
and excitement ensued as the terrible news spread
over the city. The Welsh are in ferful state or ex-
ASPIRATION, and there is no telling wnere this state
of things WIN END. That the murder was unpro-
yoked there does not exist doubt for | was on the
spot within five minutes after the event, and
scene. A cruel and bloody deed was never
perpetrated In civilized community. There is a
general execraton OF the course which has led to
such terrible termination, ana the Scrantons are
denounced In no measured terms. The blood OF the
murdered men must be upon tae heads OF those who
between the Irish and Welsh In order that the corpo
rations might be able to
CRUSH OUT THE MINERS UNION.
The teachings OF the last six months have pro.
duced their legitimate results, but the authors VIII
DC held TO strict accountability by our ineensed and
outraged people.
the convention Of delegates was in session when
the dreadful arair occurred IL thought the
body would arrange matters that work might at
once be resumed, but the memb re we're forced TO
&1ouiD III consequence OI the intense eXclieInent
which prevailed.
II is rumored that the aborcrs al the Briggs shaft
have been literally supplied with hqnor since Mon.
day in order TO keep them at work aid 1t is thought
The murderer was drunk at the time lie fired the
shot
The murderer Michael Kern, was captured this
evening at his haunt in Bellevue. No resistance
was made TO the arrest The prisoner was taken be-
fore Alderman Jones, who Committed HIM TO tie
county jail at Wllkesbarre.
A coroner's inquest upon the bodies of
me murdered men was commenced this
evening, Alderman Jones ac.ing Us coro-
ner. Several witnesses testified as to the
events, their evidence corroboranng what has
been gNsn above. One witness states that
he saw piece OF coal thrown over the squad
OF soldiers and laboers, but could say that II nit
anyt0dY. Others testify that bir. w. W. scranton
was AZ the head OF the armed party and heard him
give the order 10 1fe Such i the burden OF the tes
tmOuy thus far.
The inquest VIII be continued tomorrow. Many
81 the influential Welshmen are anxious that Mr.,
". w. scranton shall he arrested, but that young
gentleman, IL - said, cannot De found III the city
night
y Is not probable thar work VIII be resumed at
bfgg- shat Tomorrow. Ia the present state Of
PUBIC feeling II would be madness 10 attempt it.
hF. benjamin. Davis leaves "A wife
nh1 Two chidren TO mourn his loss. He had three
shidren, Out one OF them died lew minutes after
lac had been shot, David Jones leaves n VIE
Inc pennsylvania Coal Company will commence
opeiahons tomurrOw at Pittsion The events on
today viii have IA tendency 10 DELAY the acIon 81
tne le2lon delegates. Nothing can oc done until
aher me funeral Of the murdered men, The public
mind j. 100 much excited Tor deliberaton upon any-
ming. All Is now quiet f~A "''