Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-31

II published the following summary of the
. strike situation: The great bituminous
cual strike which began on April 2lst
\ has reached that stage where vast bust
ness interests in many States are crippled
seriously. Fully 10000 miners arc idle
4 in IA States and two Territories. About
10000 miners are at work.
Not only have the miners begun to
suffer privation, provoking them to riot
in several States, chiefly Illinois, Penn
sylvania and Alabama, but railroads,
mills and even office buildings have
been SO affected that thousands of other
men are without work, ami the business
world, especially in the central West,
secs before it an immediate struggle for
existence.
Within week the stock of bituminous
coal on hand will probably be exhausted.
1t is doubtful If this country ever ex-
perienced SO large and SO important
strike. If not settled soon its effects
must be far reaching.
Already the earnings of the railroads,
notably in Pennsylvania, have been re-
duced most seriously, and soon the
carrying capacity OF the roads will be
impaired.
The miners will not yield, they say,
established throughout the country.
Many, and perhaps majority, of the
operators were willing to give this, but
they have not been able to come to such
an agreement.
Violence in Illinois and Alabama has
been of such character that State
troops have been ordered out, and are in
active service. Governor Pattson of
Pennsylvania, has addressed the mass
meeting at one place, and cautioned the
men against violence, so that he will
not feel it necessary to order out the
troops.
The spirit of riot seems to be abating,
but fear of serious trouble has not yet
been dissipitated.
The operators of the Clearfieid dis
trlct in Pennsylvania will hold u meet
4 ing in Philadelphia and decide upon the
strike question. The strikers will not
make an outbreak until they hear the
n result of this meeting, or whether the
4 operators will agree to Governor Patti
sons plan of arbitration.
GROWS MORE SERIOUS.
UNIoNTowN, Pa, May 24,-At day
break the battle which has been threat
ened at the Sickle Hollow mines of the
Washington Coal and Coke Co. in the
fourth pool occurred, and, as result, it
is known that three strikers are dead
and half dozen seriously injured.
Shortly before midnight last night
1000 strikers assembled at the Sickle
Hollow plants, coming from Lucyville,
Fayette City, Frceport, AllenpoTt and
many other points on the Monongahela
river Some of them were armed but
the majority were not. They went into
camp near the plant, where they re-
mained until 3 o'clock, when they adj
iourned to the public road leading to
the works and over which the workmen
would have to pass the pit
Here they worked line of defence to
interrupt the worlSmen and attempt to
get them to return home. According
to plans they stopped the first delega-
tion of miners, and after little persua-
sion induced them to join the strikers.
The men turned back, and about the
time they were starting back home with
their buckets, the deputies who were on
guard and had witnessed the affair,
were ordered 10 shoot. They fired three
volleys into the mob at q range of only
about so yards.
The first volley brought forth no re-
sponse from the strikers, who were
thought to be well armed, and instead
they ran in every direction, leaving the
dead and wounded lying in the road
The deputies followed with two more
volleys and were shooting when the last
striker disappeared.
The report of the affair given by the
officials OF the company is to the effect
that three strikers were picked up dead
after the shooting and about half dozen
lgnunhpn col rrin1 I,f
their comrades. Other reports say six
men were killed and 16 wounded.
The company officials say that the
strikers served notice on them that they
expected to assault the works, and acting
on this information the deputies consid-
cred this interference with the workmen
as the beginning of the assault and for
this reason fired on them.
Last night was one of mortal terror
TO the citizens ef the Sickle mines. The
strikers kept up the threatening demon
strations and even threatened to visit
the houses of the workmen and give
them their choice to quit work or meet
death in the presence of their families.
Camp-fires were built and scouting
parties were sent to keep close watch
on the plants.
The force of deputies was doubled,
all the available men III the community
being. sworn in. In addition man
drove here at 1.20 o'clock this morning
ior the sheriff to go down and take
charge OF the men, and also to take with
hlm more deputies. The sheriff did not
heed the call and did not 20 down.
deputy Sheriff Richards had charge OF
tne men and Sheriff Wilhelm considered
MIN capable of holding the fort.
oattle was narrowly averted in
Faircnance last night. Sheriff Wilhelm
Iook nve men to that place to go on
duty as deputies at the works Of the
falrchance Furnace Co. 1t is the custom
OF the strikers to assemble at the station
Wheh passenger train arrives to sec il
any new men arrive and to take charge
9I 1Ii them as soon as they get oil the cars
WAen the deputies got off the train
having no guns, the strikers thought
tney were workmen and surrounding
,nem took them to the camp They held
mem prisoners there until the othei
nepIties charged on the camp and put
al The strikers to flight.
LATER reports have increased the nun.
per OF killed to five and tho wounded Il
eight and other victims of the unfortu.
nate affair may be found later. Ii was
not one-sided affair as at first reported
Dnt was baftla xyI,i.