The New York herald., 1874-11-25
RIOT AND MURDER RAMPANT.
Eight Thousand Idle WOrkmen and Their
Families Crying Out for Bread.
RELIEF OR STARVATION.
Immediate Action Necessary to
Prevent an Outbreak.

among the mines,n OF which we have recently
heard 80 much. 1t was with the firm belief that
many OF the reports were gross exaggeratlons aud
That the so-called riots were simply the common
brawls OF the street. Nor was this opinion the
least bit shaken while route; on the contrary,
as gradually approached the more firmly did 1t
become fixed, Tor the simple reason that
sne nearer l Grew to the mines the
less l heard about the strikes. 1t was
with feeling Of disappointment that
Alighted from the cars, because was confident
shat my mission would be fruttless. At the depot,
however. l noticed number OF men grouped
around an odd looking character who was ad-
dressing them, and SO excited did they appear
that approached to listen. l learned that the
body OF man, beaten and mutilated had been
found at the loot OF q steep embankment just out
side OF the town; that the time and cause of the
murder were mysteries; that the party who
committed the deed was unknown, and
that the Mayor or Scranton had offered
! reward OF $500 for his apprehension. Leav-
Ing the gentlemen at the depot 1 proceeded
In the direction OF my hotel. but could not help
taking note OF the extraordinary hustle and con-
iuslon walch seemed to exist everywhere along
the street. The natural suppOstI0n was that the
news OF The murder down along the river had
Deen widely circulated, and that the people had
rushed forth to ascertain additional particulars
AZ passed along the thoroughiare, however, an
opportunity was afforded me OF catching the drift
OF the general conversation, and had not pro-
ceeded very far before discovered that the mur.
Ger In question was NOT being talked Of at all.
ANOTHER MURDER.
addressed man standing at the corner Of the
street and asked him the cause OF the excitement.
IA young man was murdered In dance house
last night" was his answer.
"But last night was sunday night" SAID. .Do
you mean to say that your dance houses are open
on Sunday9n
''Oh. yes; dance houses of that kind are open at
oil times" was the response.
"Have they arrested the man who did the acts,
vas my next query.
'.Yes," ne answered, she Is now in the hands of
the authorities.n
THIRD MURDER
Upon arriving at my hotel was informed that
tne evening previous two men had become en-
gagged In an altercai ion IN low drinking saloon,
that one had fired pistol at the other and killed
him, while, incredible as 1t may be. was assured
that IN section OF country near here named
Pleasant Valley man was found who had actu-
ally been cruclfed. The fact that four men
had been murdered In less than thirty-six hours
and that three OF the murders had been
committed in the city itself changed the
opinions / had upon leaving New York and
convinced me that the alarming accounts or blood
shed and outlawry, which OF late nave proceeded
rom thts section, were not such very gross exar-
gerati0ns after all. Below will be ound the names
of the three men who, within the past twenty -iour
hours. have been killed michael Kearney found
dead along the river; William Goodman, killed by
Michael COnnel; lohn Roland, shot by Frederick
Berger; name OF the man crucified at present un.
knOwn.
Here, then is seen q condition or society so
greatly resembling baroarlsm that there could be
Dut little choice between the two-a condition OF
society also OIL the more terrible because It exists
In state which, OF all others, boasts OF advan-
tages and protectlon which It affords to it, citi-
Eens. Scranton Is city of $4,000 inhabitants-a
handsome busy, enterprlsinx CITY, 1t has It's Mayor.
lts polce and IT'S courts; Its public schools
could not we'll be surpassed, while It's numerous
church spires ascend heavenward like scuptured
prayers; yet witnin period OF six days eight or
niue men nave been slam In its vicinity and in
many instances the names and whereabouts OF the
murderers are unknown. Where are its police
aud where Its courtss Where do we see the effect
0i It's SCHOOLS ana where the influence or its
chui ches la 1854 the lie OF Respectable person
In the streets OF Scranton alter dark was unsafe;
the sun seldom rose In the morning that 1t did
n0t disclose the mutlated bodies Of those who
were slain IN tue night. 1t seems as If the
city were to see anOtner such terrible season
as that when the ciuzens were forced TO institute
2 vigilance committee and shoot down. Ike
as 90 deeper INTO the matter-let US not be satls-
ae aed " with "a the circumstances which develop day
oy Gay, but let US discover II possible
THE CONDITIONS
which have brought them about
Erst-Wny does TINS outiawry exist around the
Second--wnat Is the condition OF the mines and
znAd-How can peace ana order be restoredY
The past lew weeks have been full OF the most
terrible scenes; men, women ana youths have in
duged IN private assaults and open riots lndivld.
uals have been shot. stabbed and cruci1ei. Sucn
issues are not spontaneous with any momentary
trouble; they are The results Of q long series OF
grievances, either real or imaginary, and are cul-
minated invariably Though the rage which the
masses fees when they consider themselves dealt
with unjusty or through the madness which
always follows the pangs OF want and munger.
Therefore when one taxes the trouble to investi-
gate the perplexitles which at present exist here
ne mus that they have age and growth. and that
which have been accumnlalinr ior many Years. 'A'
Tue Lackawanna valley contains TOO many
inhabitants dependent on the mines Tor tneIr
support II reminds one OF little country,
isolated from every other, that is daily and hourly
consuming more than 1t can produce 1t Ii there
starve, and that when ali rush for the bread that
q best VIII iced only halt OF them, many must
vengeuy under loot. We're ali the mines In the
Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys running at
reside about them; and wnen the fact IS taken
into consideration that many Of the mines are not
worked at aII, and that all the Others with sin-
gle exception. are running on partial time, some
siight conception can be formed OF the Immense
number oil men who are IDLE.
Wntie en- rOu:e Tor this point made several
stoppages, ana dud tnat In the Wyoming aud
Lackawanna regions there are over 900 men un-
employed. There Is no use oi begging the ques-
ton nor OF turningsaway from inevitable issues;
these 5000 men must be fed, and starving man
Knows no law. Uness these 5000 men secure
WORK rlot, outrage and DlO0dShed Will continue all
nS mahtes; not the comparatively insignificant out
breaks or the past low days, but
REVOLUTION
tnat Will comprehend the entire area OF wyoming
anu Lackawanna and which the entire militia or
the state viii find difcult to quel. RMS Will
result because the conditon OF the miners grows
worse and worse every day. Already the mid
nlent assassin ana the secret murderer
are performing their bloody work. Poverty and
munger have transformed them into dends At
best tney are men oil low instincts, more ike ami
mails than human beings; want stares them IN inc
lace and before them Is the long cold ann dreary
winter am aware that am taking a new view
VI tne situation, put am confident that 1t IS the
right one. Briefly the circumstances are these =
Eight thousand men In the Wyomng ana I,acka,
wanna valleys are Idle; they nave not enough
money TO hve In their districts, and they have not
enough TO pay the expenses OF gong out; MANY OF
them are poor; many utterly deatlInte- What