The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-02
GREAT STRIKE IN COAL FIELDS
Nany thousand Men Have Stopped
Work,
REDUCTION WAGES PROPOSED
Strike of Miners in Flat Top Coal
Fields Serious Matter. Business
Generally Suspended. Hands
Thrown Out at Lamberts
Point. Ships DELAYED.

AcCes6ity scl lbiiSiC hIicCt tue COul tTuub
OF this port, Norfolk being the ship
product of these fields.
The strike has put stop to the load
ihg of all vessels at Lambert's Point,
causing about two hundred men to be
thrown out of employment aud delay
an tho loading of thirteen schooners ut
anchor near that point, which are nj
xeady chartered.
Some of the vessels will likely cancel
sheir charters and seek cargoes at other
points.
The following are the schooners
awaiting cargoes Agnes Il Manson,
Clara A Doanell. Clarence Ii Nenner,
Georgio l. Dickson, Helen II Benedict,
lohn Twohy, Leander V Beebe. for
Boston; George T. Dudley, for Bridge.
port; Lucy II Russell for New Haven;
9 Z Iyron, Tor Gardiner, Me; Sarah g
Slopes, for Boston or Portland; Edward
d Hunt (partly loaded for Providence,
and Eva l. Ferris
a press dipatch from Lynchburg last
piRht says: "At keystone to day fully
1900 niners met. They were addressed
by j. w. Lawiess, of the Mine Work.
er's Union; McBryde, failed to appear
as expected. He was reported poisoned
ut hotel while on his way here. Nine
hundred new men entered the union 1t
Aeystone last night. To morrow
special will carry the operators of this
segion to Rcunoke to confer with ral
road officials. Ii is really strike
agsinst the Norfolk ana Western for
better shipping rates.
Opposi ion is developing against the
introduction OF machines INTO the
mines. Guards are watching the tres
iles aud tunnels on the road and tin.
piles and drift mouths of the works.
Nhile there has been no violence,
sumors are atioat that cause apprehcn
sion. There was much drinking III the
meeting ut keystone to day that was
not conducive To peace. To-day there
are threats to tie up the railroad. All
the empty cars were taken out today.
Sunday Is set for an Immense meeting
ct Pocahontns.
\ special to the Roanoke World from
2ocahontas says:
There were no new developments in
the field to-day. Everything Is per
deotly quiet. All of the West VIrrinia
mines of the Flat Top mines are out.
The Southwest Company is prepnr-
5ng to open the West mine, which has
been closed down for yenr or two,
and to work it along with the East
mine.
soon after the Norfolk and Western
%ent into the hands of receivers the
Pocahontas Coal Company was sue
ceeded as agents for the Flat Top
operators hy Cnrtuer X Curran, aud
new adjustment OF arrangements by
which the coal was handled was made
necessary. At meeting of operators
ap Bramwell last week it was decided
TO accept the proposition made. This,
she operators claim, made it nee c.ssary
40 make the reduction of 20 per cent,
IN the rate for mining.
A great part of the traffic Of the
Norfolk and Western is the shipping
of coal aud tho strike which has prac-
Elcallv suspended operations III the
Flat Top regions, will seriously affect
the traffic of the road If 1t is kept up.
ahe Norfolk ana W5stern officials are
not apprehenslve Of serious troube aud
express the belief that the matter will
be adjusted In short time. In tile
meantime precautions are being taken
Tor the protection of tho property of
the ROAD, and but few empty conf cars
are beng returned 10 the minos. James
B. Stevenson, OF the Roanoke Coal and
Coke Company, denies the report III
sast nights dispatches that the opera
sors are In sympathy with the stnk ers
a prominent Fint Top operator was
here to-day, ana III an interview said
Shat there are not more than 10000
gniners on strike IN that region. The
five mines ut work employ small forces
and use electrical machinery. which is
great labor saver, There is bitter feel
aug among the miners because of the
introduction OF this machinery. The
operator snid that under the present
agreement they get only 80 cents ton
above the freight, ont OF which to pay
oil the expense ot mining.
Col. William Lamb, Of Norfolk and
Western stockholders here to-day, SAID
In an interview that the reduction OF
fhe tariff on coal is the cause Of the
strike.
press dispatch from Charleston,
w. Va, says: "Uulted states Marshal
q. ID. Gordon, who is here attending
Dnlted States Court, to-day received a
selegram asking for protection in the
Bluefeld coal region from strikers.
Sov. McCorkle has been asked by the
aiovernor OF Virginia TO allow troops
20 pass through the State an route to
Shat part Of Flat Top conl fields which
pes in Virginia, Serious trouble is
Expected"