The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-07-25
HUNS BESIECED.
a Gang of Imported Foreigners
Assaulted By Miners.
A PRECURSOR OF FURTHER TROUBLE.
Due to an Attempt of the WIlkesbarrs
Coal Co. to Reduce Wages-COnductors
en- the Illinois Central Likely
to Strike.


On the Illinois Central Likely
to Strike.
PLYMOUTH, Pa, July ga strike
aud riot occurred last evening at the
Nottingham colliery of the Lehigh &
Wilkesbarre Coal Co., wherein several
persons were hurt 1t is feared it is
but the precursor of trouble in the coal
regions.
Monday last the coal company
brought here carload of foreign la
borers and Tuesday two more carloads
came in after night The new men
were all recent importations of the low
est type of the Slavic race.
Last night fifty men who enter the
mine every night to clear the gangways
of rock were about to descend In sthe
shaft to begin work, when they were
| informed that the rate of wages would
henceforth be reduced from S1.6S to
81 25 per day. Those employed in the
gang are all Americans The men held
a consultation and refused to accept
the reduction.
AS soon as it was definitely known
that the rockmen would not go into the
mine, the foreman sent for the Hunga-
rians, who were soon entering the col
liery yards, every man in new
working outfit, which had been provid-
ed by the company. Their appearance
was the signal for an outburst of boot
ing and groans from the men who were
awaiting to see the outcome OF
the affair. AS the new men, I'M
der the leadership of Superiu-
tendent Lecks and Foreman Conner,
walked in the direction of the shaft
volley of stones and coal fell upon and
continued until several of the Huns"
dropped At this time a leader among
the sympathizers suggested that the
men be driven to their barracks and
bold rush was made, sticks being free
ly used on the unfortunate Huns"
who were routed.
The Huns" have barricaded them
selves in their barracks, and as they
are entirely friendless it is probable
the company will take them in the
mines to-day under guard Several
of the mon sustained serious cuts and
COMMISSIONS Last night the streets were
filled with miners wondering what the
outcome of the affair would be.
The sympathy OF the best people Is
with the miners. It is the impression
that the companies wish to foment
general strike and fill the mines with
cheap labor.
TROUBLE on THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL.
ST. LOUIS, July 24.-For some time
I I. a. Oh h OF
serious dissatisfaction existed among
The railroad employees on one or more
of the big lines running into this city
and that strike was imminent. Dill
gent inquiry as to what foundation
there was to the rumor of an impend-
ing strike revealed the fact that the
main source of the agitation was more
directly attributable to trouble on the
Illinois Central
From good authority it was learned
that serious complications exist be-
tween that company and the Order of
Railway Conductors, growing out of
the action of Second Vice-President
Harrahan in having within the last two
or three weeks discharged fifty-fve
conductors without any apparent cause.
Grand Chief Conductor E. 4. Clark
has been in conference with Superin-
tendent Harrahan at Chicago and the
last information was that he expected
a conference with the board of directors
of the road and that he hoped to secure
a satisfactory adjustment OF the trouble,
but If the worst came and strike had
to be ordered he was confident that the
engineers would refuse to pull any new
men and virtually strike with them
The general feeling among the order
in the city is that q strike will be
ordered. They base their opinion upon
the previous action of Mr.. Harrahan
who, it seems, is very unpopular with
the order. He was formerly the super
intendent of the Louisville & Nash
Vile and while there discharged some
twenty-five conductors in manner
similar to that now employed and
caused a serious strike that resulted in
the road yielding. 1t Is the
further impression here that the strike
would be of short duration, not only or
account of the support of the engineer:
but for the fact that nearly all of the
trainmen south of Cairo are negroe:
and could not be utilized as engineers
or conductors for the reason that they
could not discharge the duties, while
the patrons would not tolerate them as
conductors