Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-21
THE TROUBLE NOW OVER.
Gen. Hastings Settles the Difficulty
with the Workingmen at Johnstown.

The trouble with the workingmen at Johns
town is at an end. The difficulty can hardly be
digpifed by calling ii strike. Not more than
500 Of the $500 men employed In clearing out
the rivers and towns in the valleys refused to
go TO work this morning. Their complaints OF
insufficient food and wages as stated in The
STAR yesterday were laid before Gen. Hastings,
who told the men that he could not help them
in the matter Of wages. He said he would in
vestigate their complaints about food, and if
he found the laborers were not being properly
fed he would take charge Of that matter and
have regular army ratiops issued for every
man. At a subsequent meeting Of the dis
satisfied workmsn some Incorporate speeches
were made and
SOME REFUSED TO GO TO WORK.
The refusal of these men to work did not stop
operations. There were between three and
four hundred men at work on the drift in the
river near the railroad bridge and more than a
thousand men in the different villages clearing
away the debris from the streets. Later Gen.
Hastings j consultation with Chief Engin-
eer Douglas, all the sub-engineers and the con-
tractors at his headquarters. The grievances
Of the workingmen were discussed fully and
freely. Contractors Mcknight and Coburn said
they had ordered several carloads of provisions
for their men, but it had not yet arrived. They
dlsclaimed any intention to cut the rations Of
the men down and said they would give them
plenty Of good food as soon as il arrived Gen.
Hastings notified the contractors that he would
appoint Col. E. W. Patton TO look after the
commlssary departments of the different labor
camps. He told the contractors to make re-
QUESTIONS upon Col. Patton for any amount Of
food they required. He also informed them
that if the labOrers continued to complain Col
Patton would be directed to take charge of the
commissaries and feed the men, The contrac-
nd h.,
would only call upon Col. Patton when their
own provisions failed to arrive ON time. No
change was made in the wages to be paid
THE AsIrAToRs DISCHARGED.
In the crowd of discontents there were a
number Of agitators. 1t was determined that
these men should be paid off and sent out of
town. Contractors Mcknight and Coburn paid
of about 200 men this afternoon, and the ma
torIty of them were sent out Of town last even
ing. The others will leave to-day
Col Patton and spangler vent through the
laboriHg camps last evening and found every-
thing in good shape. Everything was quiet
and the men were good tempered and orderly
Gen Hastings said:
We have been trife annoyed BY this mis-
understanding among the workmen to-day, but
II has not Interfered with the progress Of the
work to any extent. Everything is in good
shape tonight, and the contractors will go
ahead with their work in the morning with all
the men they want"
Chief Engineer Douglass last night sent
orders to each Of the contracting firms that
they must reduce their forces Of men to be-
tween 900 and 500 men. This will give them as
many men as are needed now.
MONUMENT TO THE UNKNOWN DEAD.
DIR. Foster yesterday started a subscription
for monument to the unknown dead He pro-
poses To have the monument erected on an
eminence near Prospect Hill and overlooking
the unfortunate town.
Sixteen bodies we're found yesterday, and
many OF them. on account Of the advanced
stage Of decomp position. we're promptly buried
after being completely covered with oil The
stencil Is becoming daily more sickening and
unbearable.
A case Of diphtheris developed yesterday.
The victim Is now at the Red Cross hospital
No other serious cases were reported.