The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-07-20
Current Events.


end of the g.eat strike OF the coal miner
of this district of Illinois, In the Telegram
fIom Streator. published on Thursday, II
which II Is announced that an agreemen
has been reached between the Coal Rui
Coal Co. and the miners 10 arbitrate thei
differences. The miners have selected a
their man, Col, W. Z. Rend, one OF th'
heaviest coal dealers In the West, while
the operators have selected j f.. Williams
formerly miner, somewhat known locally
as Col. Ralph Plumb's private secretary
These two men are now trying TO lind
disinterested third-a man OF such general
reputation as fair and successful business
man as TO give authority TO his decisions al
umpire. The investigation, on which Will
be based the decision Of the arbltrators, Ii
70 be short handed, and Will cover the
entire field Of inquiry, 80 as to develop all
the facts on which both the operators and
miners base their complaints of the condi-
ton of trade and of wages. The Coal Run
Coal Co. will be compelled to produce III
books and all evidence In relation thereto
as we'll as 10 all other subjects touched up
on. will be under oath. The miners case
will be presented by Alex. Helm, whole
sale dealer, and that Of the operators by
Fawcett Plumb. The investigation will
begin as soon as the umpire can be agreed
upon.
While no other company than the Coal
Run will be In anyway bound by the find'
ipgs In this case, yet It is believed this
particular investigation will be largely
Influential In settling the present contro'
versy as between all parties.
Mr.. A. l.. Sweet Is, however, In the
meantime, distinguishing himself by bis
effort 70 break the ranks of the strikers by
the introduction OF iron men, and
threat of the use OF imported negroes To
the men who run the machines he offers
last years wages, while the other hands
now at work Ia his mines are getting only
reduced pay. At Streator he has removed
his negro shantlss" from the abandoned
No. 3 over TO the No 2, which movement
Is considered threat of an importation OF
negroes again.
An investi CATION by the State Board of
Charities of the situation In the mines
took place at La Sale this week, during
which great mass Of evidence offered by
the miners was taken. The operators were
not present, though II 10 believed they Will
be heard by the same Board the coming
week. The result of the Boards investi-
cations Is said to be full confirmation OF
the statement that the miners are poorly
paid and not fairly treated. Some of the
most important matters brought out during
the last hours of the Investigation, which
closed on Thursday last so far as the
miners are concerned, we're that the figures
on coal mining given to the pubic through
the report of the bureau of labor statistics
we're misleading regarding the amount OF
coal mined and number Of days worked. A
mine Is only reported as working when
hoisting coal, whereas the miners work
many days when no hoisting Is done. This
makes miners average wages for the time
actually worked much less than reported.
The slack coal Is not reported In the out
put of the mines nor paid for to the miners,
while II averages l3 per cent OF the total
quantity loaded at the coal face. The price
this Is sold for by operators Is 40 cents ton
and upwards all of which Is practically
clear profit to them. II was argued that
Sprin gtield and Peoria were now actually
paying higher prices for mining than a
year and more ago when they were not con-
sidered formidable competitors with north
ern Illinois coal-prOducing points.
"Jack, the Ripper" put 10 an appear
ance in Whitechapel on Tuesday night
when the body of disreputable woman,
terribly mutilated. was found on the scene
of former awful crimes committed by"Jack
the Ripper The most extraordinary
featureof the occurrence Is that the scene
of the murder WAS Overrun with policemen
and that several officers must have been
only few rods distant when the bloody
deed was committed. The clothing had
been thrown up exposing the abdomen
which had been gashed In horrible man
ner in several places, but no part of the
body was missing. Warm blood was flow
Ing from the wounds when the body was
discovered, and yet there Is no clue to the
murderer.
Frenchmen celebrated throughout the
world on Sunday the centennial OF the fall
of the Bastile. In Paris the programme
was very brilliant
The French chamber adjourned on Mon
day, concluding the sitting by passing a
bin aimed at Boulanger, forbidding one
candidate from standing In more than one
district, and every candidate Is obliged TO
name his district. This will prevent any
thing like an electoral demonstration y In
favor OF Boulanger or any other one man.
On Sunday terrible 'torm passed over
Cincinnati aud vicinity AT the village of
Princeton, near by, the cyclone killed so
persons and more or less wrecked every
one OF the 90 or 30 houses In the village.
Two serious railway wrecks occurred
this week: one at Shamokin, Pa, on the
Lehigh valley road on Wednesday. when
two coal gondolas rushing down an incline
without breaks at fearful rate, crashing
into a passenger train, Two men were
killed and about 20 were more or less dan
gerously wounded.
On the same day three passenger coaches
on the Cairo Div. Big Four road jumped
the track near Nj. Carmel. Fully 20 reg-
sons were injured, but none were killed.
Severe rain storms have been reported
from all parts of the country through the
entire week.
Frequent reports of Ice cream poisoning
are reported from day to day.
The veto of Mayor Cregier of the Stand>
ard OIL Co, ordinance giving the right of
way for petroleum pipe line from the
end of the line from Lima, Ohio, at South
Chicago to the heart Of the city, shows that
Mr.. Cregier has thorough comprehension