Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-02
THE COKE REGIONS.
A Day of Serious Violence and
Disorder.
THE NORWOOD PLANT WRECKED.
Explosion of a Bomb at the Leisenring
Works-Thousands of Maddened Hun
garians Keep Whole Communities in
AIarm-TrOops Refused.

PITTsBUReH, Pa, March 31.-Yester-
dav was by far the most eventful day
in the coke strike. The labor leaders
say no preconcerted attack was made,
but in view of the fact that three OF
the principal works in the region were
raided and in the morning the operators
had decided to resume all plants the
talk of accidental raids does not go
very far.
At 9 o'clock yesterday morning the
strains of their favorite band woke all
the strikers on the road from Scottdale
to Bradford, and in short while 1,5O0
men followed their path which was di-
rected to the Jimtown plant of the II.
C. Frick company. The place was
reached at o'clock, when the works
were captured without struggle ex-
cept the incidental disarming of Super
intendent Rosser whose revolver was
fiourished in vain. A few workers were
struck with stones, but this body OF
strikers dispersed without serious dam
age.
Some time later a terrific report in
the direction of the Leisenring works
gave warning of trouble there and thou
sands gathered to witness the work Of
the first bomb exploded by the strikers.
The shock was felt for several miles
but its only visible effect was the tear
ing of a great hole in front of nom
union workers house and throwing
considerable dirt in the vicinity. 1t is
feared that such work is not over with,
however, as the effect upon the unruly
but thoroughly organized hungarian
strikers was ominous. After this the
workmen at Leisenring No. . and 3
were chased out of the yards and a few
only returned when the excited crowd
had departed.
The few men at the Leith works were
also driven out in a body and several
are reported badly injured.
Trouble is also talked of at the Trot-
ter plant, but this denied by the Oper-
atorS.
The big MOrewoOd plant of the Frick
company also contributed more than
its quota to the exciting events of the
day. This plant had been carefully
guarded by deputies. Some 5000 strik-
ers gathered about the place, how
ever, and pushed the armed depu-
ties aside as if they had been chaff. No
blow was struck and not shot fired as
such a move would have been fatal to
both guards and workers in the face of
the =. 3.OO0 determined strikers.
After the abandonment of the works
4
followed. Tracks, doors and in fact
everything were torn down by the mad
dened crowd who only left after the
plant had been mutilated beyond imme-
diate repair.
Mt Pleasant Is t. tiembling with excite
ment. The people fear an explosion
and nobody is willing to go to bed.
There is more confusion than there has
been since the bloody riots of 1885. At
Inidnight fully 1000 men were gathered
IN the hills surrounding the works.
Sheriff Glawson has increased his force
TO 200 men. all armed with Winchester
rifles, and another attack of the strikers
means deperate and bloody battle.
The central board of the federation
Vyill meet in Pittsburgh to-day, when
the strike will be brought up for in
dorsement
At Uniontown Judge Ewing granted
preliminary injunction against all
men assembling at the Frick works not
employed by that company, and set
Saturday for hearing on the perma-
nent injunction. Sheriff Mccormick,
with number of armed deputies, left
Uniontown on a special train to arrest
the leaders in the several raids.
Probably the ugliest feature in the
several raids were the number of
women participating. The most seri-
Ously injured man was Pit Boss Cooper,
who was struck again and again by an
iron bar in the hands of an infuriated
workman.
Secret meetings are being held by the
strikers, who will certainly prevent the
intended resumption.
NO STATE ARMS AT PRESENT
HARRIsBURG, Pa, March 3O.-There
has been much telegaaphic correspond
ence between Gov. Pattison and Sheriff
Clawson, of Westmoreland, regarding
the strike of the coke workers and the
attack upon the works of Frick & Co
at Morewood yesterday. The sheriff
asked permission to use the arms of
two companies of the national
guard to protect property, but
Gov. Pattison responded that the
''civil power to maintain the peace
must be exhausted and powerless be-
fore the military power can be success
sponded that he did not want troops
but the arms. Governor Pattison, how
ever, in another dispatch declined to
issue the desired order. Captain Lohr,
commanding one of the companies,
figured in the correspondence.