Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
Situation at Striking Miners Camp
Growing Very Critical.
JEALOUSY OF IMPORTED NEGROES
Latter Are Armed and Terrorize the
Whole Community.
NO CALL FOR THE MILITIA

PITTsBURG, Pa, August 7.-Pending de-
velopments late in the day the miners in
the three camps beseging the De Armitt
mines are resting. At no time during the
strike has the situation been SO critical
but no one who has been in the district
every day since the commencement of the
marches believes that the miners will be
drawn into a fight. If trouble Goes come it
will not be between strikers and deputies,
but between strikers and the negroes in the
camp at Unity, who are employed on the
new Pittsburg and Bessemer railroad. The
deputies will be drawn in to quell the trou-
ble and three-cornered fight is not i'm
probable.
Every Tent a Spcakeasy.
In the camp of the negroes depraved men
and women are together in tents and huts,
every one of which is "A spcakeasy.
They have terroriZed the community for
| miles around, and shooting afffays are Of
almost daily occurrence.
The strikers camp is separated from that
of the negroes by Il township road, leading
from Unity to Williamsburg. Already there
have been several brawls between the two
parties. The negroes are walking arsenals,
while the strikers have 10 weapons.
Thomas b. De Armitt says he has outwit-
ted the strikers and made a gain at his
Plum Creek mine. He states there are now
317 men at work there. Mr.. De Armitt de-
nies the story that pay day has been de-
ferred at Sandy and Plum Creek. The men
will be paid today and Monday.
The expected Importation of negroes from
Virginia for Oak Mill has not taken place
as yet, but the strikers are keeping strict
lockout for them, and think they can be
persuaded not to work when they do ar
rive.
Coke Miners Refuse to Strike.
An effort made yesterday to cause coal
miners in the coke region to strike failed
About forty strikers went from the Smock
mines to Oliver, Fayette county, and made
a demonstration. They asked the Oliver
miners to strike, but the latter refused
Some of the workmen wished to drive the
visitors away, but they made no move
and the strikers went away, promising to
come back in added numbers. The man
ayers of the mines called on the sheriff for
protection from this threatened invasion
1t is said the next pay of the Oliver men
will be the largest ever made there.
The miners OF the Grinder mines Of Capt.
Hicks at Leechburg, Pa, have struck. They
say their coal is screened before ii is
weighed, and that 1t is sold to fill contracts
for operators whose men on strike. a
convention is called for Monday at Leech-
burg.
No Orders to the Militia.
Concerning the many stories being circu-
lated stating that the National Guard has
orders to mob1llZe at turtle Greek, Gen.
John A. Wiley said: "Seven-eighths of the
rumor is false, and the rest is very doubt
full. The stories are absolutely without
foundation. No order of any kind has been
issued, and, moreover, none is contem-
plated"
Copies of the uniformity agreement have
been mailed by the commissioners and are
row in the hands of every operator in the
district. 1t is thought a large number of
signatures have already been attached TO
the document
After sufficient time has been allowed the
operators to think over the matter care
fully personal visits will be paid by the
committee to those who still refuse to sign.