Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-04
A REIGN OF TERROR.


The Troubles i'm the PennsylvaniR
Coal RegiOns-Under-GrOu ku-
kIux and the Molly MaEutres ON the
Rampage.
Scranton, Pa, oct 26) Correspondents of the
Chicago Times
About a mouth since reign If lawless-
ness was inaugurated in the northern coal
region of Pennsylvania, which embraces
all the prolific and valuable anthracite ter
ritory of the romantic and picturesquely
beautiful Wyoming and Laekawanna val
levs. Trough the influence of the local
authorities and vigilance committees, the
prevailing disorder was checked for little
while.
Several summary examples were made of
the captured desperadoes, which, for short
time. inundated the brigandish brother
hood from committing further outlawry.
Subsequent events, however, have proved
that the brigandage, which was supposed to
have been permanently stopped, was but
temporarily checked, and the murderers
and highwaymen, who rendered the coal
country notorious by the enactment of their
oft-repeated deeds of blood and plumber,
are again swaFning the region and perpe-
trating every species of climinality. With
in the past few weeks numerous daring acts
crimes increase from day to day, the law
abiding citizens arJ naturally becoming
much alarmed for the safety of their lives
and property.
Just now war is going on between the
various nationalties, principally the Scotch
and Irish, the latter nationality having
seemingly determined to drive the former
class out of the mining districts. At Moosic
L. rio haKrra rad
in which persons have been more or less
injured. At Pine Brook, Jacob Fletzell
and Carol BebbIer received injuries that
may terminate in death. at the Grassy
Island mines another Welsh collier, Dan
lei James, was attacked and left for dead
on the highway, after being plundered of
$50, his months pay. Z. McGinty was
nearly asSassinated in the neighborhood of
Pine Brook.
The riOtouS demonstrations recently
made at MoOsic were so desperate that
bodies of policemen and others, from this
city and WilkesbarTe, had to repair to the
place several times TO prevent bloodshed
and destruction Of property. The difficulty
principally centred at the Glenwood col
liery, owned by the Erie Railroad Compa-
ny, and operated by the Hillside Coal
Company, the mine boss of which, Joseph
Davis, a Welshman, the Irish miners
wished discharged, their complaint being
that he favored his fellow-cOuntTyme
The company refusing to comply with the
demand, a strike ensued. What were
alleged to be ''black-leg' miners were
brought from Pittston, who, upon
attempting to enter the shaft, were
fired upon and otherwise. attacked
by the ambushed malcontents. Through
the efforts of the constabulary, the
new men we're protected and operations re-
sumed. The first part of last week the
guards were discharged, and they had 10
sooner left MOOsic than the WarcOmmenced
again. Assistance was telegraphed for,and
the rioters were once more diScomtited.
The riot breaks out occasionally since then.
Although the excitement has somewhat
subsidized, the end is not yet. The Irish
clans entertain bitter luminosity and vim
dictive feeling toward the Welshmen, who
they persist in asserting are favoriteS with
the company and mine boss, Davis. At
tempts at assassination have been made
upon Davis. 1t was but short while ago
that mine boss was mysteriOusly murder
ed at MOOsic. Ii is quite apparent from
the clannish manifestations that this COLI
fiict between the nationalities will not
cease until the Welsh workmen, as well as
those working in the shaft, are driven from
the region.
a gang of Molly Maguires have come
from Schuylkill county, and it is stated
that 1000 Others are ready and willing to
assist in ''cleaning out" the innocent and
inofensve Welshmen. The people in the
neighOOrhood live in daily dread of the in
auCuTatiOn of one Of those conflicts that
has in the past bathed portions of the coal
fields in blood. The insurance companies,
apprehensiye f general destruction of
perishable property at the hands of the dis
turbants, have cancelled $4,000 worth Of
policies.
The Times correspondent was located in
this section of the anthracite coal country
during the memorable "long strike" wheh
Ku-Klux diabolism was the order of the
day, and am very much of the opinion,
judging from present appearances, that this
section of Pennsylvania is soon TO witness
scenes similar 10 those enacted during that
prolonged, disastrous and ensanguined
TuGgle.
MOOsic is not the only theatre for the per-
Torrance of atrOciOus acts, but this city
and the cities adjacent have witnessed brig
anda9e TO a considerable extent. y few
weeks ago P. Coan, Democratic candidate
for city marshal, and w. F. LyncOtt, DEM
ocratic candidate for assembly, were nearly
murdered by assasSins on Lackawanna and
Adams avenues. Still later ex-City Treas
urer Donohue was shot and fatally wound
ed on IAckawanna avenue On Monday
night Joseph Parfuy was attacked and seri
ously wounded on Pennsylvania avenue.
On the same night a number of brigands
made a wholesale onslaught on items
and property on the above named avenue.
One of tie assailed, Mr.. John Horn, was
riddled by pistol shots and will probably
die. The mayors court docket shows fifty
assaults and battery cases with intent TO
kill within a short while. Hyde Park, no.
ted as being the headquarters of the Lu-
zerne county branch ofthe MOllie Maguires,
records the murder of E. Flynn and
Michael DOherty within a few weeks.
Both Hyde Park and Dunmore are fire.
quently the centre of fearful and fatal
emeutes. Five murders are reported in Luz
zerne county for the past month.
The miners are still preparing for gen
eral strike. The work Of organization I'M
der the standard of the miners National
union goes on rapidly, and it is reported
that all arrangements viii be SO far coui-
pleted by the end of next month that the
'sstandOut" can then be made. Much at
tention is being centrei toward the action
of the miners National convention, which
is held at Cleveland. o., soOn. The min
ers of the Pine Brook and Falkland col
lieries are now on a strike against a reduc-
tion of wages and the filling of six ears in
day instead of five, as heretofore. As
both men and operators are equally de-
termined not to retreat from the post ions
they have assumed, the difficulty will be
of an indefinite period.
THERE is probably nothing else on earth
that will roll like hat. A gust of wind
gets under your tile, and before you realize