Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-18
THE CHINESE MASSACRE.
An Investigation by the Railroad Man.
as"ment-A General Strike Feared
Along the Union Pacifc-The Miners
Waiting for Chance TO Murder More
Pistails.
EVANSTON, Wy, Sept.


Mr.. Isaac H. Bromley. assistant to Presi-
dent Ad ms of the Union Pacific Railroad
Co.. has been engaged for the past two dsys
in investigating the cause of the recent dis
turb,nce at Rock Springs and the massacre
OF the Chinese miners. He WAS met at Rock
Springs Tuesday by committee of the citi-
zens, two OF three of whom were miners who
had been informally deputied at a meeting
held soon after the massacre to present the
facts In the case to the representatives of the
Union Pacific Co. With them was MIR Near
sham of the Knights of Labor organization.
The hearing was confined exclusively to a
statement of the grievances on the part of
the miners. When questioned concerniug 9
the burning of the Chinese quarters and the
killing of Cinnamon, the committee declined
to answer, saving that the matter was in the
hands OF the civil authorities for investiga-
tion, and that they should say nothing about
1t until called upon in court to testify. The
list of grievances presented were that favor
itism had been shown the Chinese in giving
the best rooms in the mine to work and that
they secured these privileges by paving the
pit bosses for them; that white men were not
gwen fair show that there had been fraud
in the use of false weights by the bosses who
weighed the coal as it was mined, for which
the miners are paid by the ton; that the
miners did not then complain for fear of be-
ing discharged, and that tho Chinese were
deceived when they were brought back, being
told that they were going to San Francisco :;
that they would be glad to go away if they
were furnished transportation.
After the hearing the committee of miners
waited upon Mr.. Clarke, general superin-
tendent Of the coal department. with Il prop
ositon that all miners, including those dis
charged on account OF having been engaged
in the disturbance, should be set at work, and
the Chinese be excluded from the mines
until sach time a settlement of the
grievances complained of should have been
effected Mr.. Clarke at once declined to ac-
cept the proposition.
Mr.. Bromley, accompanied by Supernten-
dent Dickinson were at Evanston, Tuesday,
where they received the statement of Messrs
Beckwith & Quinn, contractors, who furnish
the laborers tor the mine. He finds that they
have no responsibility for the employment of
the Chinese, but have acted simply as agents
for the company. He will so report, and in
a conversation says that he has no doubt that
the COMPANY will take the same view of it
when the facts are known. He says that the
company has no disposition to make anyone
scape goat for its own acts that it has no
intention to supplant white by Chinese labor;
that the present MANAGEMENT of the company
found the situation at the coal mines exactly
as it now exists, and has never had the
slightest ntimation of complaint against
their manner of doing business until this dis
turbance broke out like lightning from clear
sky. While not authorized to speak for the
company, he saws he does not see how they
can enter into any negotiation, or entertain
any proposition for compromises until they
are nut INTO full endowment of their own
property. at liberty to work and unawed nv
threats of violence. The oues,ion of the en-
plovment of the Chinese. he saws, will prob-
ably re main in abe, ance until the actual es
tabiishmept of peace and order. and until the
necessity no longer exists for using troops to
protect property.