Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-13
NO. 49,
Mistellameo,ls.
THE SCRANTON RIOT.


SCRANTON April S.--The troubles which
broke into open revolt on Thursdayelast
have been threatening all Winter. The
outbreak, such as it was, was brought
about through the stubbornness of y few
miners, who, while protesting good fee>-
ing toward the strikers, continued work
ing in the coal establishment after the oper-
ators had broken their agreement with the
general body of the miners. Scranton is
the center OF vast coal mining region,
and on the circle of hills surrounding the
city some of the most extensive coal-prn-
ducing works in. the country are carried
on. In the city alone over 1000 men
find employment in working the mines,
and nthc country Immediately surround
! ing there are not less than 10000 employ
ed in the same industry. ibis whole body
has been idle since December last, and up
to Thursday bore very quietly the depriva-
ton and Encouragement of The dismal sit
uation a position into which they were
forced, they claim, by the grasping policy
Of the operators in the first place, and con
tinued i'll through the high-landed action
OF the great transportation companies. So
/ long as there appeared fair prospect Of
equitable adjustment at Harrisburg those
men seem to have behaved peaeeably, but
when the examination there resulted in an
apparent triumph Of the companies, the
men unwiscly determined to put Q stop to
the whole running business. and thus
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 men to
keep their machinery going, otherwise the
rs I.,v. f,to
ton through flooding This arrangement
was made generally throughout the whole
mining country; where such agreements
were not made the works are almost
wholly ruined. The operators, however,
were not loyal to the treaty, and as the
Winter wore on, emboldened by the appar-
ent mastery Of the railroad men at Harris
burg, they extended their business. and
began regular coal-trade again. The
miners. encouraged by the hope of def
mite action from the Legislature, made no
interference. beyond a mild protest, at
this Infringement of the bargain. and
would propably have said little had it not
been for the indiscreet partisanship of the
press in this section, which at once took
sides for the rich corporation. The min
ers were reviled intemperately and finally,
under a sting of the Harrisburg failure,
the men lost temper, and the bad blood SO
long held in check gave way before the
taunts of the press and the untimely vaunts
OF the operators. On Thursday afternoon
all the coal works on the outskirts, and in
town were visited by excited, but by no
means bloodthirsty, mobs. The miners,
who had been frequently pursued, were
somewhat roughly handled, but in no case
seriously maltreated. M sa5 a
Great excitement at once spread through
the city, and for a time seemed as though
incipientrevolt had broken into full-fledged
rebellion. The military companies were
take arms against their brethren, and the
pcrplexcd city officials at once telegraph
ed Coy. Geary for assistance Meantime,
the Mayor appri ed of the uproar aud
paralized by bloody deeds reported to him,
made trembling appearance at the main
point OF disturbance, Trippis Works, and
attempted peaceful parley with the mob.
Flanked by reputable citizens of age and
position, His Honor amicably besought
the crowd to desist from violence and dis
perse to their homes His efforts were
frultless, and he then attempted to make
known the intents and purposes of the
Riot Act, but the crowd cared even less
for that exciting document, and irreyer-
emily hooted the reader Thereupon one
of the citizens attending His Honor val
orously flourished pistol before the
crowd, and threatened slaughter unless
they at once dispersed. His heroic efloEts
were laughed at. aud he Indignantly re-
tired with the offended magistrate.
! The mob, satisfied with the bloodless
victory, boisterously marched off to other
establishments, and when all the men hal
been peacably argued out of their occupa-
ton, they formed in solid ranks, and with
the stars and stripes above them marched
! through the main streets and then dispers-
ed quietly to their homes. At o'clock
the advance guard Of the State troops ar
rived, and were at once distributed about
! the coal works. Nothing happened, how
ever, to justify apprehension, save the
! burning of an old collaborating establish
ment some distance out OF town, Whiehis
said to have been fired not by the miners,
and for not wholly disinteresting purposes.
| The local accounts are filed with death
and fury and represent fierce hattie wag-
ell, and blood shed, but have visited all
the mines, and after closely questioning
workineu and operators, can find no case
Of bloodshed nor anything like systematic
violence The few men were at work in
the mines were we'll armed and ii seems
they displayed the only weapons drawn
in the bloodless melee. -. .
1t is fashionable to decry the life OF a
farmer as hard. and dirty and slayish.---
But how is it hard when compared with
the life of the retail grocery on dry Foods
store where, through the year the days be-
gin at seven and run on to eight or ten at
nightp The slavery OF the farm Is liberty
when compared with such life. The
drudgery of the farm is piincely pro-
gress when compared to such tedious
ministration to the caprices Of the exact
ing public, and then the returns OF the
farm, if it be managed with any skill, are
infinitely more sure and often more rapid
than can be looked for in almost any small
retail business. ass. I.ssf
CLOVER HtY.--Thereu il one thing /
would not sell unless absolutely ycompelled