The record-union., 1897-07-30
SITUATION IN The
COAL DISTRICTS,
Strikers Try TO Stop De Armitt's
Men From Working.
Their Efforts Fail, the Mine Being Still in
Full Operation.


Not Needed-After the Meeting
the Sandy Greek Miners Return
to Work.
PITTSDURG, July 29.-It is estimat-
ed that by daybreak there were sew
eral thousand miners encamped upon
the hills surrounding the property OF
the New York and Cleveland Gas Goa
Company They came from nearly
every direction, headed by brass bands
Nearly all of them carried heavy walk
ing sticks and some were armed. There
were no threats of violence, however
and no indication of drinking.
Immediately upon reaching Oak Hill
the strikers prepared for camp. The
scenes around Turtle Creek after mid
night were strange. Poorly clad min
ers stretched themselves out in the
softest spots they could find. Each
detachment was in charge of men Sc
lected before the march was begun
Orders We're implicitly followed.
In the valley leading up from Turtle
Creek to one of the New York and
Cleveland mines the company had a
powerful. searchlight. 1t was kept shift
ing about in hopes of fianking any
movement of the strikers to creep with
in reach of the mines unknown to the
deputies who guarded every approach
Long before daylight the strikers
were up, and after eating their frugal
meal prepared for the days work. The
intention was to see as many OF DE
Armitt's men before they got into the
pits this morning as possible.
About 4 O'Clock some 100 strikers as
sembled at Turtle Creek. and, headed
by three brass bands with flags and
banners flying, marched past the
houses occupied by De Armitt's miners
The strikers hooted and yelled and
then marched to the mines, where they
planted themselves before the pits
thus compelling De Armitts men tc
run the gauntlet to get to work.
a short time later Sheriff Lowrey
who had been wired for assistance, ar
rived from Pittsburg with fifty depu-
ties armed with Winchesters. The
strikers quietly withdrew and the new
deputies We're placed on guard. Every
thing is quiet now.
When the mass meeting was called
to order at 10 o'clock this morning
there We're 5000 striking miners in at
tendance, and before it was we'll under
way there We're 5000 people in the vi
cinity of the school house.
The miners, who were hurry1ng into
the pits, We're overtaken and asked not
to go to work Most of them said they
were afraid they would lose their jobs
if they stayed away from work to at
tend the meeting. They decided, after
a short parley, to go into the mine
The miners were carrying dinner buck
cts, and as they turned to leave the
strikers their dinner buckets were
taken from them.
The frightened miners. without stop
ping to regain their buckets, turned ano
ran for the pit and did not stop until
they were behind the shelter of the
deputies Winchesters. The mine is in
full operation. Sandy Creek mine has
closed down, and about one-third of the
Turtle Creek miners quit work and
went to the meeting.
Previous to the meeting Mr.. Debs
District President Dolan, Secretary
Warner and NJ. 2. Carrick went among
the strikers and counseled them to keer
within the bounds of the law and pre-
serve good order throughout the day
Their advice was received with good
grace by the men. who cheered the Off
cials enthusiastically.
President Dolan was made Chairman
of the meeting, and in a short speech
he accused Mr. De Armitt of insincer-
itv. He said that if De -Armitt's men
did not come out there would be a
sympathy strike all over the United
States.
M. P. Carrick was next introduced
He said that workingmen all over the
United States are interested in this
strike, because it will have a tendency
to raise wages everywhere. IF you
men in the De Armitt mines will not
come out now" he said, eve will march
80 600 men here and compel you to come
out; not by force, but by shame. We
will shame you by our starving women
and children. You are ciogging the
wheels of commerce and the whole
labor world will strike in sympathy
with us if need be. Resort to no vio-
lence, my friends. Trust in your lead
ers and we will win this strike in other
ways than by violence
When Eugene V. Debs was introduced
there was great enthusiasm. He said in
part:
II am here, not to encourage pas
sion. but to appeal to reason. You are
in the midst of the greatest contest
the world has ever known. Whether
you succeed or fail depends on your
selves. In order to win you must re-
main absolutely sober until this con-
test is over Whisky clouds the brain
robs you of your money and makes you
brutal, and also makes you do just
what your enemies want you to do
After the meeting the Sandy Greek
miners returned to work and the strik-
ers went into camp and had lunch. The
presence of the Deputy Sheriffs was not
needed, as there was no trouble of any
kind
President De Armitt said this after
noon that all the mines of the company
were in operation. and he was certain
his men could not be induced to quit.
De Armitt tonight makes the follow
ing statement: "A few of our mer
from the Turtle Creek and Plum Creek
mines attended the meeting. About
forty of our Sandy Greek men were
present As far as the effect of the
meeting on our men is concerned. il
was a fiat failure. All our mines were
in operation, and will be tomorrow.