The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-09
A REMARKABLE
LABOR STRIKE !
Unanimity Among Miners In Demanding
Higher Wages.
SACRIFICED THEIR PERCENTAGES.
Men Working Under the Ironolad Agree
ment Forfeit Ten Per Cent. Of Their
Wages, Under an Agreement,
and Quit Work.

anu RuAA WoAhs
Pittsburg, July 2.--1t is safe to z1y
that the amount Of coal dug yesterday
on the Wheeling division of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad would not fill
one fiat car. Such a complete shutdown
as exists in this district so soon after
the Inauguration Of the strike is ad-
mittedly a surprise to those living in
that section. A number of miners were
at work Wednesday, the majority Of
them in the pits of the Pittsburg and
Chicago Gas Coal company at Snow
den and Gastonville, but yesterday il
is doubtful if the diggers at work along
the whole line would number so, all of
these at the Gastonville pit Of the
Pittsburg and Chicago company. A
careful review of the situation proves
the assertion OF the miners officials
that he Wheeling division is soHdly ad-
Vocating the strike. All the mines
above nleyville-Anderson Germania,
Hackett, Eclipse and Nottingham-are
completely tied up. Five cars were
loaded a the Germania Wednesday,
but it was with coal which had been
lying on the dump since work was sus-
pended last Friday.
The Coal bluff mine of the J. NJ Ris-
ker company, employing $50 men, was
entirely idle yesterday The big first
pool mines of the Robbins company
were completely closed. There was a
doubt as to whether or not the Slavs
would return to work after their holi-
day Tuesday. but this has been dis
PEELED and the foreigners seem as en-
thusiastic as any on the strike ques-
tion. Miners along the line have been
anXiously watching the diggers of the
Pittsburg & Chicago company at Cas-
tonville and Snowden. Up till yester-
day it was a matter of doubt whether
or not they would come out Vague
rumors of the Finleyvine diggers
threatening to pull them out were
floating around, but were not believed
to have much foundation. The COM
pany, though, was prepared for any
move of the kind and notices We're
posted warning all not concerned with
the working of the mines to keep off
the property. 1t is also said that they
had a number Of special guards on
hand to watch the movements of the
men.
These men have all been working un-
der the ironclad agreement, and as this
meant a forfeiture of 10 per cent. of
their wages, held back by the firm
since the first of the year. If they vol
UNFAIRLY quit work, the strikers were
in doubt as to whether they could be
induced to join the movement At a
meeting held Wednesday night, how
ever, it was decided to come out for the
district rate, and yesterday the mines
We're practically idle. By their action,
it is said, the men W nllose nearly
5000 in percentages.
The miners officials were elated over
their success on the Wheeling division
The mines in that section have with
out doubt caused the officials not a
little worry, for much coal for the Ohio
Pennsylvania trade could have been
shipped out ofthere had the miners re-
mained at work, and it would have
very seriously interfered with the gen.
eral suspension. 1t is reported that
the operators on this division have ad-
vertised for men to fill the places OF
the strikers. If this is true, and an at
tempt is made to resume with nom
union men. it is feared there will be
serioue trouble. It is not likely, how
ever, that a sufficient number of men
can be gotten together to start the
mines.
The miners on the Wheeling difision
apparently have no fear in regard to
the length of the strike. A large num-
Der of them were asked how long the
strikers could stand without suffering
from want One and all were firm in
the belief that all could scratch along
for several weeks all right We'll" re-
piled a digger in answer to n question
"the man who owns the pit / work in
said once, when we had some trouble
with him and went out that the miners
could live on weeds in the summer,
and 1 guess we can. Any way, we are
willing to try for a right smart spell -
About third of the full quota Of
diggers were at work at the Pan Han
die mines of NJ. A. Hanna & Co. This
is an increase over Wednesday. and Is
due to the fact that the firm posted a
notice to the effect that If the men did
not return TO work yesterday the money
due them on their ironclad contracts
would be retained. The amount, is Is
said, aggregates $4,000,
The net result Of the struggle up to
date, as CLEANED from unbiased as
NNlA 90 Alolll pal lladll aoutGeS' is ABOUT
as follows: Nineteen thousand men
idle, an almost total suspension Of
work in the mines along the Moaouga-
hela river; suspension practically to-
tai on the Wheeling division of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad. only about
so men working there; all of the rail-
road mines closed down, with the ex-
ception Of the NJ. A. Hanna & Co.
mines along the Pan Handle, the New
York & Cleveland Gas Coal company
and a few individual mines, which can
have but little effect upon the situa-
tion.