Evening star., 1894-04-04
Pitched Battle With Coke Strikers
in Western Pennsylvania.
RIOTERS TRIED TO CAPTURE WORKS
Were Driven Of With Powder and
Ball.
EXCIT MENT PREVAILS

UNIoNTOwN. Pa, April AT the May
Coke Company. on the Mt. Pleasant branch,
was the scene OF pitched battle about
1O:3O today. The rioters had assembled in
large numbers and were parading about the
works with colors flying. The men were
Working both on the yards and in the pit
and the strikers asked them to come out.
No response was given.
Superintendent Boyle and fifteen armed
deputies were in charge of the works and
warned the strikers not to trespass. The
rioters paid no attention to II and made
rush on the works. The first move called
forth a volley of shot from the guards and
one Hungarian fell mortally wounded. The
invaders turned and fled, carrying their
wounded companion with them and leaving
the plants in operation. About fifteen shots
were fired
1t Is said some were fired by the strikers.
but they deny it. and say it was an un-
provoked assault upon them by the guards.
The rioters returned to their place of rem
devious. and are rapidly massing men for
another attack The greatest excitement
precaIls. and a pitched battle of greater
magnitude and with more serious results
Is expected
Sheriff Mccain of Westmoreland was
telegraphed and arrived on the grounds at
noon with a posse of deputies.
The coke region Is now in more critical
condition than at any time since the
famous riots of 1891. when so cany depre-
dations and so much shooting was done.
Tomorrow morning an immense mass
meeting will assemble south Of Uniontown
and march from one end of the region to
the other for the purpose of forcing sus-
pension everywhere.
Killed by Strikers.
The war between the coke mine strikers
and the workmen is now on in earnest.
and a number of serious outbreaks are re-
ported The worst of these was murder
Gus assault on Andy Miller. a Hungarian.
near Trotter. shortly before midnight He
was attacked by fifty rioters. and being
taken for a workman. was horribly beaten
with clubs and stones. He was released
only when thought to be dead. He will not
live
The southern end of the region was the
scene of numerous raids today, but no lives
were lest.
About 800 men from the works north Of
here marched to the Leith and Brown
field works of the Frick Company. to the
Fairchance works of the Fairchance Fur
mace Company, and drove the men from the
yards. Very little resistance was offered.
and now all the plants south Of Connells-
vile are shut down.
The men were found going to work, but
returned without making a fight. The
workmen at the Mount Braddock works
of the w. ]. Rainey Company were driven
form the yards today by rioters, and the
plant is now shut down, as are all the
plants of the Rainey Company.
A delegation of rioters also visited the
Wheeler & Morrell works of the Mcclure
Company. and compelled the men working
to lay down their tools and vacate the
grounds.
IL was later developed that the women
from the Leisinnigs took a hand in the
beating of Andy Miller last night.
The news has just reached here that a
workman from the painter plant of the
Mcclure Company was assaulted by wives
OF the strikers last night and clubbed into
insensibility. He was carried home. and
has not been able to move himself since.