The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-02
THE TROUBLE NOT UNEXPECTED.

The Operators Knew of the Danger, but
Were Powerless to Protect Their Property.
Ohio State Journal, Yesterday.
The owners of mines in this city were advised
on Saturday that trouble was brewing From
several sources the information came to the eff
feet that No Z, being the old mine of the Cen
tral StraitsvilIe Mining Company and now
operated with new men by the Columbus &
Hooking Valley Coal and Iron Company, would
be attacked. They had been getting such ad-
vices before, but when the same thing was re-
ported from different quarters it was given
credence, but the parties were powerless to pro-
tect their property and the hopper of the mine
and other structures were burned, causing loss
of 1900. The Ohio Coal Exchange also had
advices of the threatening outlook at
some of its mines and they were con-
hrmed by an attack Of masked men m on
the guards. This was made at o'clock in the
morning, an hour well fitted for surprise The
men making the assault had their faces black
ened with burned cork, and some were other
wise disguised, but several are said to have been
recognized as leaders in the strike. One was
seen to take letter from his pocket to get wad
IN loading his gun The rest of the letter was
picked up afterward, and he is known. large
number Of those engaged in the riotous pro
ceedings were identified, SO that arrests can be
made. The operators are well prepared for the
worst-better than ever before. They have not
only force of specials together, with detach-
ment OF Plnkerton men, but also a number of
detectives who know most of the men in the val
ley, and can ascertain who are the guilty parties
IN any violence that takes place.
Inc State journal representative at New
Straltsville. Mr. David e. Jones, one of the best
known of the citizens and himself a miner of
many years experience and a member of the
union, was surrounded and ordered to leave the
town at once, under the drest threats of bodily
injury and even death, and he will no doubt
leave on the first train.
Casting Blame the Local Authorities.
Ohio State journal (Editoriall
The outbreak of yesterday is no surprise Our
dispatches from the valley for several days
clearly foreshadowed it. If the local authorities
had been faithful to their duty they might have
taken such measures as would have prevented
the outbreak. If they were not strong enough to
do so, the State authorities stood ready to sup
plement their efforts by all the assistance that
was needed for the purpose. The local authori-
ties are, therefore clearly responsible for the
death OF Mr.. Hare the destruction of valuable
property, and the wounding of other men.
1t is now time for the great majority of the
miners in the valley to throw off the terror that
the few turbulent leaders are exercising and
come to the aid of the authorities to restore and
preserve order. The outbreak was the work of
comparatively few men, but they are the men
who are holding the majority in check by their
terrorizing processes, and have thus brought
disgrace on the whole fraternity
Let the honest, peaceable, industrious miners
now assert themselves, declare that they will no
longer be ruled over by blatant demagogues, but
will manage their own affairs in their own way,
and the trouble will cease at once. And unless
they do so they are to a certain extent respon-
sible for any trouble that may occur
Men who are conscious of the Justice Of their
cause in this country are not in the habit of dis
guising themselves and banding together in the
night season with gun and torch to destroy the
lives of innocent men and the property of
decent citizens. Only towards and assassins re-
sort to such methods, and they are sure to meet
the reward of their crimes sooner or later And
the outlaws in the Hooking Valley win be no
exception to the rule.