Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-30
COULDN'T STAND THE SHAME
Heaped Upon Them by Their
 Striking Brethren.
.BLoODLEsS VICTORY WON
0earmitt's Men Join the Strikers After Hearing Pacific Speeches Debs Advises Sober
 ness and Cool Headedness

Pittsburg, July 29.-Oak Hill, in the vi- cinity of the Turtle Creek, Plum Creek and Sandy Creek mines, of D=armitt. was invaded after midnight by an army of strikers, who came to att=nd the great mass meeting to be held near the mines today. It is estimated sthat by daybreak there were several thousand miners camped upon the hills surround ing the property of the New York and i Cleveland Gas companys property They came from every direction, headed by brass bands. Large delegations ar rived from Willocks. Gastonville, Fin leyyille and other points along the Wheeling divisions, nearly all of them carrying heavy walking sticks, and some or th-m were armed. There were no threats of violence, however, and no evidence of drinking. Many of them were supplied with food to last two days. Immediately upon reaching Oak Hill the strikers proceeded to go into camp. On on= of the roads leading from Turtle Creek to Oak Hill the company had powerful searchlight. It was kept flashing about in the hope of flank ing any movement of the strikers to approach tha miners unknown to the deputies, who guarded every approach. Long before daybreak the strikers were
 
 prepared for their days work. The ob- ject was to sse as many of Dearmitt's men as possible before they got into the pits.
 About 5 a. m. 400 strikers assembled at Turtle Crack, ard headed by thr=e brass bands, with flags and banners flying, marched past the houses occu pied by Dearmitt's men. The strikers hooted and yelled and thsn marched to the mines, wh.qe they planted them selves before the pits, thus compelling Dearmitts men to run the gauntlet to get to work. A short time later Sheriff Lowry who had been wired to for assist ance, arrived from Pittsburg with fifty deputies armed with Winchesters. The strikers quietly withdr= W ard the new deputies Wire placed on guard.
 When the meeting was called to order at 10 o'clock this morning there were 5000 striking miners in attendance and before 1t was we'll under way there were 5000 people in the vicinity of the school house.
 About 9:30 a. m. about 1000 miners from the Sandy Creek miners marched to the meeting and quite a number came from Turtle Creek. The demonstration had no effect on the men at Plum Creek and a5f went to work.
 FsEhe .strikersaAsed all their powers of n&snasion upon the diggersi but none we're molested and no threats were made. Previous to the meeting Debs District President Dolan, Secretary Warner and M P Carrick went among the striker and counselled them to keep within bounds of the law and preserve good or Ger throughout the day. Their advice was received with good grace by the men who eheered the officials enthusiastically.
 President Dolan was made chairman of the meeting and in a short speech he ac- cused MT. Dearmitt of insincsrity. He said if Dearmitt's men did not come out there would be d sympathy Strike all over the United States.
 M P. Carrick was next introduced and he said workingmen all over the United States were interested in this strike De- cause it will have a tendency to raise wages everywhere.
 If you men of the Dearmltt mines will not come out now, we will march 6O0oo men here and compel you to come out, not by force, but by shame"
 When Eugene V. Debs was introduced there was great enthusiasm. He sad in part: u,,, but to aploeal to reason. You are in the midst of the grea test corost ehe world has eyer known. Whether yon succeed or fail depends upon yourselves. II. tfuer to win you must remain absolutely sooer rrlil this contest 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 Creek min CTS returned to work and the strikers re- turned to camp and had lunch.
 Mr. Dearmitt made 'she following state ment tonight:
 T 'sA few of our men from the Turtle Creek and Dearmitt mines attended the meeting. About forty of the men of the Sandy Creek mines were at the meeting. AS for the effect of the meeting on our men, it was flat failure. All our men are at work and will remain there'
 Developments of sensational charac- ter are likely to occur at any time. The men in the camp will be supplied with food.
 Late tonight William Warner, secre- tary of the Miners union, telegraphcd that the break in Dearmitt's men had taken place. He says that after the day meeting another meeting was arranged for tonight, and 1t WAS attended by many of The men who had returned to work.
 Several of the speakers placed the situ- ation before them in such a convincing wsy That the ms n of Dearmftt and Tur- tie Creek mines determined not to return to work in the morning. Secretary War ner says that it is most important re- suit of the big meeting. and it will be taken advantage of to influence the men of the other two mines to come out. The men are iubila nit over their victory.
 Debs left tonight for Columbus on bus mess which he declined to make public. Before leaving he expressed himself as greatly encoura ged. He expects great results from today's meeting.
 COAL. GAVE OUT.
 Peoria Ill., J1llv 2g-The Peoria sfrauv