The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-13
Sheriff Kirkendall Explains The Facts Re-
curing The Presence Of the Troops.
A STATEMENT FROM THE OPERATORS.
Actual Cutrages and Efforts
to Intimidate Cited.
Hostile Shots at Jeddo and
Eckley.

Ale coal necs, ana which have placed In bitter
Rntagonism different elements or q community
whose mutual interests ordinarily should lead
them to live IN peace ana unity, are, first, should
the military powers OF the State have been called
into service, and. second, should the Governor
allow them 70 remain, now that they are here
Your correspondent has already shown how the
laboring classes insist that there did not exist
condition or anairs sufficiently alarming TO war
rant the summary proceedings OF Sherin Kirken-
nall, and now takes this his earliest, opportunity
or communicating the Sherifl's reasons for calling
ont the troops.
SHERIFF KIRKESDALL's EXPLANATION.
l was engaged in private interview with Mr..
KirIendall for fully two hours to-day, and give
this conversation, which took place during por-
tion OF that time. in his own words
"Three weeks ago dispatches first began COM
ing TO me from Haz Teton, In which was apprised
OF riot and disorder. and in which were earnest
remonstrances that / should use the power In
vested in my ON ce preserve the peace. These
dispatches, bearing the signatures OF the wealth.
lest and most influential operators IN the neigh
borhood whose integrity ana sincerity could
not doubt, Influenced me to act at once, and nc
cordlngly summoned to this region deputy
and a posse OF men. Ny deputy came to
these coal fields and acted here Tor about one
week. During that time ourrages were frequ ent
and my deputy finding himself unable to increase
his posse to the numbers required to protect the
colleries ana pumps, and being also unable to
prevent nightly incendiarism aud the flooding OF
the mines with the small force willing 10 support
him, returned to me on Sunday night following
and rendered 20 me his report communicated
with the Governor at once. l believed then, and
still believe, that my deputy did all in his power
70 preserve the peace.
THE CALLING OUT OF THE TROOPS
ION that same Sunday evening Ireceived advices
from Governor Hartranft that in case l deemed 1t
necessary, should call for troops. In the mean
time was the constant recipient Of other tee-
grams, In which continued disturbances were
set forth, so that I at once sought an
interview with General Osborne and though
we were aware that the alarming news re-
ceived from the middle fields came from authentic
sources we hated TO cali out the soldiers at that
time and left the issue undecided until Monday
morning. Again did fresh information reach me
that the operators feareo the destruction OF their
property, and then you Will see that, being con-
stanty importuned by men OF the highest stand
ing and integritsr-I 1nany did what believed
was my duty. and on Wednesday last ordered
the military TO the spot, and the military
promptly responding. are now on hand. / am
aware OF the Indignation aroused IN the minds Of
some In regard TO TINS extreme measure l was
sist that tue military was not needed are the very
parties VINO refused - follow my deputy wnen
they were called upon restore peace and tran
GUILTY.. Well the soldiers came and were STA
toned at inherent posts. You are familiar with
the sequel. A number or parties from this place,
acung as committee, appeared before
Governor Hartranlt and denied the exist
ence OF that CONFUSION and disorder, the
news OF which, being constantly communicated
TO BY persons Of nigh standing: had war
ranted me IN taking the steps that DID, especially
since the statements were supported by the ALI
davis or honorable business men. These am
Hartranit, and, therefore, on saturday last
rame. with my counsel, TO hazleton. | gave
HtoFs and the men-tnat eacn should render me
their sworn statements The operators have al
have NOT been heard IRON. await their action.
had done what / conscientioasly believe TO be
night. and do not lear The consequences"
Immediately after this interview all the leading
operators assembled In the parior or the Central
Holel and your correspondent met them there.
He was the only newspaper representative
present The operators there addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the HERALD
HAzLErox April r. 1875
AT meeting Of the operators and superintendcnis the
following RESOLUTION was adopted =
Eions are g1ssmoasy q ne opinion that, L me null
many Il not ali the eoiieries to Keep those now en-.
Esgsa snginssrs nrsmen and men supplying coal 70
mines win be drowned out
Property being SCI On are and the lives OF many Of the
T. .. LxlsKsnss, sscrstafy.
The sentiments expressed IN this statement are
corroDorated by the sworn and separate atnoavita
NJ tue following operators, supeftntendents &o, -
ana q SS1s crss 20.
owners Of tue same; John :. Wenta, supsrintead.
a. q esunssl kidgs ooIi.sriss Z; y harSls Sr
and Coleries; {. L. Bullock. Superintendent OF
Beaver grooE Soanlsry Inomss jean, supsrintena:
Mountain eollisry Jona Misr, superintendsnt q
Nafrla. superintendent Of EoeIvale Colliery; James
Madels, superintendent Of Beaver Meadow Col.
Whkesoarre Coal Company David Bertscn, super
intsndsnt q Upper LshlG6 Coal Company.
sPEcIF1D oUTRAoEs.
Tue afidavits Or eacn or these gentlemen are
now ia the hands d Snerir KirEendalI. When
your correspondent asked tue principal features
embodied In this large numDer Of long and elabo-
rafely crawn documents, attested to under oath,
one Of the operators arose aud sald:-'In these AZ
ndavIts we give the time, place aud circumstances
under which numerous outrages have recently
occurred. For instance, on FeorusrY 70 between
1000 aud 100 miners came 10 Buck Mountain
Iollery NO z, armed with muskets and various
Firearms, ana ordered the fireman 70 draw the
nres. While the fireman was doing this tue armed
men snOt him and then proceeded 10 COlliery No.
& Grove out tue engineer there aud burned down
wARErNos or VENGEANCE
Last Tuesday notices were posted on my col
leries. reading You must stop work until miners
get their wages and thus my men were intmi-
dated and AFRAID 70 90 their duty. nave now IA
my possession tho threatening notices posted last
ght on Buck Mountain C0ilerY. Here tney are.n
Tnus saying the gentleman passed two ruoely
whcn read as ioIlows:-
muck MYERS, Breaker Boss-You are hereby
notined 70 stop work or take the consequences.
stopi stop stoplu
The second one read thus
'JoHx WALKER-You are hereby notified TO stop
WORK, or, II NO. aDIde BY the consciousness. Re
member your unkles cara Stop stop stopti
the unKle referred 20 above was once captured
by the roughs ana had mis- ears cut on. "rnusv
Continued the gentleman. ''you see that wnas
We have communicated 70 the Governor Is nothing
more nor less tnan tue simple recital or our grew
ancean
THE OPERATORS TAKE A DETERMINED srAvp.
Tnus Il VIII be that the operators nave
taken most determined stand anu tie men are
now assembled IN large meetings IN numerous dis
tIicts deciding wnat ney Will DO. Sherla KirKen.
dali awaits tneir action ana the substances OF tner
report. Tnts has been the most cxciung day We
have ret had. Il IA Impossible 10 state now the
sheriff viii act Tne genera belief IL that tue sol.
0ie4n will remain. IL ~ stated that under
present emergencies other military posts are 20