The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-20
SALT AND POTATOES ONLY
Striking Miners Standing Face to Face
with Starvation in Clay County.
Desperate Men Attack a Train Loaded with
"Blscklegs" That Dashes through Coal
Bluff at Speed of Forty Miles an Hour.
STARVED INTO SUBMISSION.

Such 1t Is Now Believed Will Be the Result
of the Present Miners strike.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
BRAZIL. Ind, Dec 19.-This morning when
the special train that Is run to the Perth
and other mines north left the G. & j. e.
depot. quite a number of spectators were
on the cars. as the actions of the striking
miners oil along the line yesterday
evening. towards the "black legs" as
they are termed, indicated further trouble
this morning. There were numerous miners
lettering around the depot when the train
pulled out. They showed no signs of Ill
feeling to those who were returning to
work. Yesterdays trouble intimidated the
men some. and only thirteen reported for
work to-day. These were armed to the
teeth. and vowed that they would kill any
man that attempted to modest them. No
disturbance occurred to-day. and IL is
thought that the hostile strikers are
aware of the tact that some of their
craft will work, although it should cost
them their lives. Vice president Penna is
in the city, and IS lying at his father-in.
laws, Peter Dunsford. in a very critical
condition from hemorrhage of the lungs
However he submitted to an interview
this evening. and said he was not at any
time In favor of the men striking. but was
the miners.
A very small sum as received here yes
terday from headquarters. 1t was so in
Significant the committee refused TO dis
tribute il. as it would hot amount to ten
cents for each dependent miner. Several
miners are reported to be working in the
different mines In the county. A meeting
of the miners committee is called for Mon
day morning. and IL IS cOnjectured that the
outcome of this conference will be the call
n mapfi M
and If 1t comes to general vote of the
men the strike will be declared Oft without
doubt. The miners were told by Presi-
dent CummIsky, when he was last here,
that they would receive at least IS each
this week. This greatly encouraged them
at the time and kept from work many who
would otherwise have gone back. The
men are very dIsheartened and indignant
oyer the Scanty sum received. and
say they will return to work Monday
unless suftc assistance is sent them TO
alleviate their wants. Old miners who
have up to this time manifested a desire to
stand firm and have done everything in
their power to prolOng the strike are weak
ening, and readily admit when questioned
that their chances for winning are very
meager. In fact one old miner said. sadly:
I'VE will have to succumb TO the operators
dictations."
Several of the wives of the miners in and
around Coxville were asked as to the
amount of food they bad, and how much
longer they could hold out. Some OF them
bad been living on salt and potatoes. while
others had only corn meal in small quanti-
ties. At Caseyville and Perth several of
the strikers admitted that they had been
living on one and two spare meals q day.
A mob of angry strikers from Perth.
Csseyville. Rosedaie and Coxville attacked
the "blackleg" train at Coal Bluff, as it
was returning from syndicate mine No. 8.
last evening. The windows of the cars
containing "blacklegs' were smashed with
stones. and several pistols were discharged,
but no one was injured. The train passed
the station at the rate of forty miles an
hour. so that it was impossible for any Of
the mob to board the cars. and the aged
strikers gave vent to their feelings by firing
revolvers and throwing stones.