New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-29
NEW-yORK MONDAY. JANUARY %. Is9t-TEN PAGES.
QUIET AMONG THE MINES.
A REPORT OF A BATTLE WHICH PROVED
UNFOUNDED.
DEATH OF WOUNDED RIoTER-THE CORONER
SUMMONS A JURY-ANARcHlsM IN
THE COAL REGIONS.

THE COAL REGIONS.
Mansfield Penn. Jan. 2S.-There was great
excitement here this evening because Of report
Of a battle in progress at w. j. Stems mines
on Toms Rum between a band Of rioters and
force of deputies The report of the fray was
brought by w J. Steen, operator of the mines
which bear his name. He came to Mansfield
to secure deputies. Mr. Steen reported that
n number of the rioters had been captured
and are being locked up in empty freight
cars which serve temporary jail.
The story did not prove to be true. however.
Everything has queted down. The rumor that
an organization Of Anarchists exists among the
foreigners Of the Mansfield Valley Is fast growing
into belief. Evidence is being secured which
goes to prove that such an organization mas
been in existence for several years. though con-
Quoted very secretly The members consist
mainly Of miners from the various coal districts.
the majority of whom are startlingly illiterate.
Bower HILL an elevation few miles from Mans
field. has been meeting place for this element
Secret circulars call them together, and they
rally and make speeches beneath red flags IL
Is this spirit that is in a great measure RESPONSE
bic for the trouble here. 1t is not so much the
question Of reduction in wages that is inct-
ing the rlotous action as it is pent-up desire TO
give vent to their destructive natures.
DEATH oF THE RIoTER SHOT AT BEADLINGs
Franz Josef Stepig the r.oter who was shot
IN the battle at the Beading mines yesterday,
is dead He died about noon in the tenement
house whore he was carried and left by his COM
rades His suferings terrible. He mad
been sho, through the abdomen. For some rea-
son or other. hc had no medical attendance. IL
is said that attempts were made - secure the
services Of doctors in Mansfield. Woodv.lle and
Hridavile without success because it is alleged
the physicians were afraid 10 visit the district
His ignorant S!av attendants were powerlesS to
do anything for his. relief. Before he expired.
he made confession 70 George Martehlck' Il
felI,w-countryman. He SAID he had been in
tmldaied into joining the ranks Of the rioters.
He had been visited by some Of the lawless
leaders. and not only persuaded. but commanded
- Join them Threats were made. Finally,
through fear Of his life. he consented to their
wishes He was among the number who UNDER
took the Beading assault and was in the front
- the line pushing forward. when shot down
During his last hours ne spoke repeatedly or
his family. a wife ahd child. They live at Toms
run. IN property owned by them. Step!g was an
Austrian by birth and WAS naturalzed citl-
zen having lived in this country for SIX years.
one report has II that he was an INDUSTRIOUS
law-abiding man. while another says ina, ne
belongs - the Anarchistic organization which
is s,iI to exist among the foreign miners OF
this region. According 10 the latter report. his
widow and child will receive $500 because Of
his death
There Is one other rumor regarding S'epig
death Il Is denied by some that ne was the
,ic,,rn - a bullet from one of the Beading
rifles The course II the bullet. which passed
sideways through his body, is the basis for this
,bot mi could
have taken this course had II come from the
mine protectors who were stationed directly In
front II the assallanis. This fact has given
rjse 10 the suspicion that the leaden missile
was fired from the ranks of the rioters. TWO
natives are assigned for the deed. one that he
r,u 4 victim t. t'e jealousy Of feow-Aus-
tr,au: the other that he was branded rs
traitor or about To become one on account or MS
.lgarucss 10 bc In ;he front Of the line Inc
testimony II Maternirk who lives az Essen,
near the scene Of the tragedy. and who watched
over Sicp,g until he died. is proof that the man
entered tho ranks ~ the mob against ms own
wishes and he had aroused spirit Of hatred
on the part ~ his riotoGs comrades
THE coHoNEP At WORK.
Coroner Hcher Mcdowell arrived at o'clock
this evening to mold an inquest on the body of
Franz Stepig sheriff Richards. Deputy More
land and Humane Agent Samuel Ol'rien a.
companied the coroner. The party proceeded To
the office Of a justice of thn peace y w. Me-
MILAN. where a coroners jury was appointed as
follows: Walter Christy. \ y. Moreland. George
H. Turner James p Walton. Robert Leonard
and William snyder The jury viewed the
corpse and ordered a post-mortem examination
to be- made. and DR. r $ Johnson was appoint
cd by the coroner to do 1t. The inquest was
then postponed until next Thursday afternoon.
fnr I'm
from Bridgcyillc special detachment of depu-
tics has been sent To guard that town tonight
The residents fear an assault. This is the town
which mustered up squad OF twenty voluntary
deputies while the Schultz coal uppl" was III
flames and ran down the mob of rioters. captur-
ing n number of them, who now in tn"
county Jail Through scouts who were sent ont
to-day II was learned that the dispersed rioters
had reasscmbcd at their rendezvous In H"idel-
b.r, and had pledged themselves To b" reN"nged
on the people Of Rridgeville It was also de-
cdod 20 revenge the death of their comrade at
the Readlng mines They pledged themselves 70
destroy the Bcadling coal tpple. II II takes
months to do II. For this reason special prr'au-
lions are being taken In both districts tonight
Tho l,ridgcvic deputies. with r"-rflforcrd mum
hers arc on duty with the county deputies. NJ
the Bcadng mines. where the fierce battle or
Yesterday took place. IA band of Tour depuu'S-
captain Michael Dean. Joseph Murphy. John
Rrnning and f.. -. Sellers are on guard. Doz-
ems of men of the Readling mining hamlet are
ready 10 respond upon signal from Captain
Dean. Among them are many foreigners. VINO
are entirely out of sympathy with their Anarch-
istlc brethren, and have pledged themselves To
respond upon n moments warning ard shoot
down their Cour trymen If necessary 10 save the
tippIc Among this number of foreigners Is Pat
rick Dlnan whD spoke as follows:
Il do not bccV" i'm all this mscality. We do
NOT want our tipplcs burned. and will lee one
Of the first To shoot down the man, American
or foreigner who attempts To commit any more
dcprc,lations. II Is outrage. | am only a
coal miner working at the reduced wages. but |
have a family To- support. and am willing to do
what Is right at the cost Of great sacrifice.
or course expect better times soon, when the
old rate of wages Will be- restored