Huntsville gazette., 1889-06-15
CHAOS RBIGNS.
The Situation at JOhnStOwn i'm a
Very Unsettled State.
Quarrels and Conflicts of Fre-
Quent Occurrence.

Only q Mere Handful OF Men Now at
Work on the Debris-One Gang Refuses
to Work With Strange Foremaa in
are Driven Away Ay the Strikers.
PTTsBURG, June 14.-The Leaders
special from Johnstown Thursday said ::
Chaos reigns supreme here. Every
body is excited and petty quarrels and
conflicts between the laboring men and
their bosses are of frequent occurrence.
By 10 o'clock this morning the town
was swarming with laboring men of all
types and nationalities, but the condi-
tions of ''$1.5h per day and pay your
own rations'' under which they were to
be employed did not appear to be much
of an inducement, and as result only
100 men are now engaged in clearing
away the debris
This gang is engaged in clearing away
and burning rubbish in Kerrsville Not
a solitary man is at work on the mass of
ruin and putrefying flesh above the
stone bridge, the stencil from which is
fast becoming unbearable
The First Conflict.
The first conflict among the workmen
occurred at o'clock this morning,
when an attempt was made to dethrone
the foreman of the West Alexander
force. The contractors disorganized the
gang and put a strange foreman in
charge. The men refused to continue
to work under any other than their own
foreman. The contractor would not
concede a point. and the laborers re-
turned to their tents, where they are
still quartered, and say that they will
return home before they will work un-
der a strange foreman.
Italians Take their PAGES.
A gang of over 200 Italians was hired
to take the places of the strikers. The
labOrers did not take kindly to the
Italians and intimidated them at every
opportunity No open conflict occurred,
however, until the Italians were at
breakfast One of the American laborers
made an insulting remark to one of the
dagos, and the latter answered in the
same manner. Hot words followed, re-
s,llting in raid on the Italians, who
were thrown bodily out of their tents.
Reported to General Hastings.
The Italians reported the matter to
Contractor Mcknight, who in turn re-
ported to Gen. Hastings. The general
expressed his determination to suppress
such outbreaks at all hazards The
assurance that all men would be
thoroughly protected from violence,
however did not allay the fears of the
Italians, and the majority of them re-
turned to their tents.
Outrageous
Bystanders say that the conduct of
the Americans to the italian laborers
was outrageous. Contractor Mcknight
told the Italians to prepare to go to
work tomorrow and he would guarantee
that they would not be molested.
Strikers Run Out of the Camp.
This morning large company Of la
borers from Greensburg refused to 60
to work for 81. 80 per day, claiming that
they had been promised fifty cents per
day extra. On hearing this Gen. Hast
ings ordered company of militia to
the camp of the strikers, who again re-
fused to go to work, whereupon the
soldiers were ordered to charge upon
them running them out of the camp at
the point of the bayonet.
The day is growing very warm, and
the fumes and odors from decaying
flesh is becoming terrible.
Two small stores have opened, and are
thronged with customers.
At 10:30 o'clock gang of about 100
men were put to work on the wreokage
near the general office Of the Cambria
Iron company.