The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-16
The Six Months COntest-The Coal
Companies and Labor Unions.
LABOR In ARMS AGAINST CAPITAL
The Outrages Committed in the
Coal Regions in 1875.


wended It's way to the prison that day. Tho father
sister and wife OF Thomas Muniy the wife OF James
Carroll and tho old father and mother OF Thomas Duy
were among the number. Tho interviews were affect
ing in the extreme, for all hope had fed, no word OF
encouragement could be spoken and there nothing
LETT but sad, sad parting Mrs. Carroll up bravely
under tho depressing circumstances that surrounded
her, but Mrs. Aunly broke down completely The elder
Duny. overcome with grcf, and the poor old mother.
trembling under her weight OF and weeping bitter
tears, slowly climbed the hill TO the prison. and there
occurred the to which referred in the
OF this letter. Shortly alter his arrival IN town tho
old man Duffy went 10 hardware store and asked Tor
fourinch three-cornercd ne, but not being able to
obtain tho kind he wanted he left tho store and
wended his way to tho jail TINS circumstance being
reported to tho prison authorities tho grei stricken
old man was searched but no file other Implement
by which escape could be effected found That
this prccaution wise and necessary no one can
deny, but It was not long until the exaggerated
stories were told In regard II, ana some
thing IKE tho old time terror OF the "Moics"
was inspired by circumstance that was probably as
harmless In intention as IN tact Even there
IN III defined fear existing this community that an
attempt at rescue Will either before or at the
time OF the executions, and that fear Is hencd
by recollection of tho mysterious events which
Cured In the coal regions during long STRIKE from
Richardson coicry December. 1874. to the murder
OF Yos, at Tamaqua, in July, 1875
TIKI STRIKE
The long strike Of 1S74-5 event which bad
the most important consequences. II was undertaken
Al time when business depression universal and
wnen had become apparent that fall prices of all
kinds was inevitable The panic OF 1878 had lett the
banks ana the country PROSTATE. Some OF tho Oldest
financial and commercial houses In New York ana
England had failed. Tho suspension oil Jay Cooke d
Co. had been followed by the ruin OF tho spragucs
and general had the disasters become that the ncws-
papers had standing head line ..Business Failures"
staring everybody out Of couutcnance 1t WIS only
in the anthracite regions that tho depression
felt, and there II had been eyadcd by
the success OF the coal combinations In keep
ing up the price Of coal Tho markets
were in tho hands OF the monopoly and tho monopoly
In turn was held IN 'the wise like grip of midnight
dark lantern, murderous fraternity" In spitc how
ever oil Mr.. Governs wall, tho Molio Magurcs either
as an organization individuals had nothing to do
with the long strike, At least until it had long In
progress. Ill advised It was, II was deliberately
undertaken by tho trade force up wages at
tho very moment when 1t was apparent thcy IN ust
come down. II may have been started with the idea
OF holding thor against tho combination and
against circumstances but whatever was tho motive
that led TO It's adoption, nothing could
which tho coal companies SO ardently desired. They
held tho market In "a vse-ikc grip" and all they
! needed Ike hold upon the labor unions
! This fhey could not TAIL TO know that q long
strike would give them while tho strikers never ht
at the idea until II late, that measure
would prove powerful lever In holding the monopoly
together "Combined action the part OF the men, -
says Mr.. Dewecse IN his book the Molly Magulres
''nduced combined action tho part OF the whoo
Of AMI ri mr. The frke
throughout the whole region the rivalry OF capital was
at rest aud anthracite coal was shipped one sec
ton Of the region had advantage over tho othern
SO necessary was this strike TO the monopoly
only wonder Is that conspiracy has not been shown
to prccipitate and continue ~ bur however this muy
have boon, was IN OF that .rclgn OF
terror" was begun and that the companies trumphed
and labor was overcome
rHx BEdrSSxa or THE STRIKE
Tho strike was begun at time when great body
| Of workmcn expected 10 be idle. Winter had set ia
and visation was closed. Tho great markets bad
been supplied with their winter coal and tho re
was no prospect OF great demand IN the spring In
consequence OF ts state OF affairs the nrs months OF
the strike were little more than a holiday season.
Good humor prevailed every where ana '.ouiragcsn
were not contemplated Toward spring. however, the
contest became more earnest. The little
boarded by tho miners ana by the trade soclc-
ties was becoming exhausted Other associations
could AFFORD little rcef in consequence of The pressure
| Of tho times. Suffering began, and in some cases
It was severely fcI hut tho strike con-
tnucd. Intense feeling began TO manifest itself
on both Sides The coal operators became nrm as the
strikers grew desperate 1t open war at last ana
outrages became Of frequent occurrence Tho .rcign
| OF terror" was inaugurated and not only were work
mon forbidden to dclve In mines, but mu rders
werc committed. men wero beaten aud robbed IN The
streets ana their own houses, the railroads were
sructed and barricaded, trains were thrown off tue
tracks and engines aud let loose inclined
planes, property was stolen and destroyed, houses
wore burned aud mobs collected to pilage AMI destroy
as well as 10 interfere with tho ordinary
dustry In all this McParan, tho detective, figured
conspIcuously as McKenna tho "Molly,n and sue
ceeded In learning and laying bare tho secrets oil tho
Order
ArAnLAs. rns DErKcrrvE. As x'kxSsA rnx
''MoLLy."
II wild life which two years and more this
daring officer led among tho reckless spirits of
coal regionA Indeed, he had no sooner got of the
cars In nls assumed character than his adventures
began Entering pubic house ut Port Clinton to
lind lodgings Tor the night, he unccremoniously
hustled into tho street IN driving ram by tho
drunken landlord IL gecps whites or shakedows
for pccDles like you" erica Herr Staub. seed out
You wants der beds aud der meats, don't yer Gcd
oct der hausI Go makes your schlceps nit der blysI
Oud Of dis place or nine Colt IN himme gicks you
right away oud" There no disobeying an invi-
tai,on ike ths and Mckcnna did as he was told Hc
followed into tho street by ono OF ms
own countrymcn, who gave him tho com.
foring assurance that he had 'ust missed being KIT
entirely by the name scuts tLerc within" Tlmmins
took Mckcnna home, provided him with bed aud an.
other adventure and so he started his career
The first thing Tor him to do make acquliut-
snces and find an eligible locality for the ne sdquarcs
OF his iuturo operations This in October 1873.
aud The difficulties ho mel al tho outset show how
FOOLISH and l-adv sssd the strike oil the following
year. A. Port Clinton he encountered several mem
bers oil tho Miners and WorktDgtncn's Union but tho
only opinion no succeeded clieng that mi ning
and railronding were dull ana that money was very
scarce From Port Clinton he went 10 Schuyikiil
Haven oslcnsibly search Of work and encountered
few miners from the coliierios shove, who
brought dIscouraging accounts OF the condition
OF things where thcy had pecn. Al AuDurn
nvo mines away, matters were IN better state lie
journeyed from town To town from village To
village in the ncighborhood meeting with no better
success, and ono day found associate suggested
that no should so to Mabanoy City rsmaqua adding
significantly, "fhem's the PAGES where the boys Is
true" All hts efforts were unsuccessful. however
and the detective saw there way IL bus 20
hght sing aud dance himself into popularity These
tactics he began TO put into practice the scene Of
bus irst night ana nrst victory being Pat Dormers
Sheridan House, In Potsvlc an maui the sod wild
any cowardly bogroter IN sivp counties that says
chnte at cards. was mis- greeting from big fellow
named Frazer, and IN apparent ecstasy Mckenna
answered, 40 you think Tor wan moment Pm AFRAID
L1n lolkea o. Xnuy Yn Axn 10 Lam huIlar