Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-31
Twenty-Five Masked Strikers
Compel the Working Men at
the Old Eagle Mines to
Retire.
Pennsylvania Miners Resort to
Violence.
A Serious Labor Disturbance at
Racine.
Labor Troubles.
MINERS ON THE WAR PATH.

MINERS ON THE WAR PATH.
PITTsBURG, Dec. 24.-There was an
outbreak at the Old Eagle mines, near
Elkhorn, yesterday morning. At an
early hour about twenty masked men
made an attack on two Germans
when about three-quarters of mile
from the pit, and one man was knock
ed down and beaten with club. His
injuries are of a serious nature. The
other man got away with but few
scratches and black eye. An alarm
was quickly raised and as soon as the
employees of the three mines appeared,
headed by the superintendent the
mob broke for the hills. No other
outrages are reported. though an I'M
easy feeling prevails throughout the
valley at all the mines where the Dig
gers are working at a reduction, and
the miners go armed. ready to repel
any attack.
WORKING MINERS ATTACKED BY RIOT
ERS.
PITTsBURG, Dec. "A. -Seventy five
masked strikers attacked the working
miners at the old Eagle mine, near
Monongahela, about daylight and
compelled them to return to their
homes. Several were injured. The
strikers were more desperate than
upon any previous occasion. Twenty
five shots were fired, and the strikers
had evidently laid in wait great part
OF the night, as they were not oh.
served until they marched down the
hillside, firing their guns and revolv-
erS. The workmen were very much
frightened, and a number were in
Jured Ia their eagerness to get away.
Two of the men whose names are
not known, jumped over small prec-
ipice and were seriously hurt. When
the miners were driven away Super
intendent Jones took charge but was
compelled to leave. At II 100 o'clock
all was reported quiet. 1t is said that
the working miners at the old Eagle
mines will be supplied with arms to-
day for future protection,
LATER.
PITTsBURG, Dec. PA later dis
patch says the strikers are still in pos
session of the mine and that an at
tack with stones was also made on the
homes of the miners and the windows
In about twenty-five houses were
broken, but no one was injured.
NEGROES FIRED UPON.
BEvIER, Mo, Dec. 24.-Yesterday
morning about 10 o'clock, when a
freight train was leaving Bevier, fif-
teen shots were fred from box car at
the colored men who were loading
coal into the cars Nobody was
struck by the bullets. The negroes
not being armed the firing was not re-
turned. The negroes were very little
excited over the affair, but had any
one been injured, they would doubt
less have retaiated in a deadly man
ner. They say if the wan is renewed
they are ready for it.
A SERIOUS LABOR DISTURBANCE AT RA-
CINE.
RACINE, Wis, Dec. PA serious
labor disturbance has occurred at the
shops of ex-Mayor Secor. It appears
that on Saturday night the North
western trunk factory closed for a
week or ten days ia order that an in
ventory of stock may be taken. There
is liable to be serious trouble, how
ever, between Mr.. Secor, the proprie-
tor, and the employees, before the fac
tory resumes work. It will be re-
membered that some time ago
the employees were requested to
sign contract that ten hours
shall constitute a days work. This
they refused to do, but went to work,
nevertheless, or the eight-hour plan.
Wien the time for settlement came
the employees figured that they had
worked forty-one days, but Mr.. Secor
figured the time at the rate of ten
hours, and it made only thirty-fye
days, and for this number they were
paid. The employees were much dis
gruntled over the matter and did some
very loud talking, one man going so
far as to visit Mr.. Secor's house
while intoxicated and create a dis
turbance, for which he was arrest
ed. Secor now demands that they
sign ten-hour agreemen and
no man or boy will be allowed
to enter the shop or to resume work
until he complies with the request.
This the majority of the men posi-
lively refuse to do, and the probabil-
tiles are that the trunk factory will
remain closed until they concede the
demand. Most of the men employed
speak very harshly, and say they can
scarcely make sufficient wages to
support their families. They propose
to hold out all winter and next spring
if necessary, to gain their point.