The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-15
Nearly 10000 Miners Now Idle, and
Thousands of Others Likely to
Soon. Quit Work.
NO DISTURBANCE 1T ECKLEY
NOTHING FOR THE CAvALRYMEN TO
DO AFTER THEIR LONG RIDE.
Much Excitement at Lattimer WheM
the Troops Arrived at the Scene
of Last Fridays Slaughter.

riety Of alarming rumors and mornin2
movement by a body OF miners which
looked formidable, to-day passed off without
serious disturbance in the strike region.
Matters still wear such an uncertain as
pect, however, that General Goblin declares
that the removal of the troops of any
portion of them has not been contemplated
The strike itself is spreading with great
rapidity. Exact estimates of the number OF
men who have quit work are hard to op-
tain but conservative figures place it at
close to 1000, with indications that in
short time every colliery of Importance in
the region will be idle. Although some dis
position has been shown by small bodies OF
strikers in the outlying districts to make
demonstrations. they have been of a rather
feeble character, and the great majority of
the men are docile.
The First City Troop of Philadelphia,
which was dispatched at an early hour this
morning to the scene of the reported OUT
break at Eckley found nothing for it to do
when it reached that place, about o'clock
this afternoon. Several hundred miners
from Buck mountain marched on the Eek
ley mines last night and brought out the
men there. A few Of the men who showed
disposition to continue work were roughly
handled, and the mine superintendent, fear
ing trouble, wired to General Goblin for
troops. He also sent word to Drifton, and
seventy deputies from that place and Roam
Junction, near by, were sent over. They
kept themselves under cover at EclSley,
however, awaiting developments. Nothing
further happened The men at Eckley
joined the ranks of the strikers. Mean
while the cavalry was sent by General Go
bin, and had a wearisome march over the
mountains, only to find everything at Eek
ley peaceful.
The day had scarcely opened before an
other annoying story came to brigade head
quarters by telephone. 1t was to the effect
that a gang Of miners from Drifton had
marched on colliery No. 5, at Jeddo. with
the expressed intention of bringing the men
out. Upon reaching the collery John Mar
kle, the superintendent, met them, ana, art
er conference with a committee or the
miners, succeeded in turning them on with
out trouble. This was the only incident OF
the day which partook of the nature Of
demonstration.
DEMANDS OF STRIKERS.
At Lattimer this afternoon a largely at
tended and decisive meeting OF strikers was
held to receive the answer of the company
to their demands. With large body OF
strikers gathered in the open space before
the company's store, Superintendent Blake
appeared at the door and gave them their
answer. 1t was short and to the point and
was met with action equally as decisive.
The demands had been formulated as fol-
lows:
eve desire and wish the privilege Of buy
ing our provisions where we think proper,
instead of being forced TO purchase at the
companys store; we want a 20 per cent.
advance on all classes of labor; we demand
the dismissal of all parties who TOOK part
fray; we demand that all classes of labor
be paid the same for rock work as for coal
on idle days, we demand that no man snail
be discharged for acting on this commit
The company's answer to this was first
hat the men are not, and never have
been obliged to buy exclusively at the com
panys store; second, that the advance
would not be granted because the company
was paying the average rate OF the regions
third the company absolutely refused,
without assigning any reason, to discharges
anybody who participated in the shooting;
fourth, that men suspended on idle days
have the privilege OF taking some other
persons place, thus making good the differ
and fifth, that no man shall be discharged
for acting on the grievance committee Su-
perntendent Blake made short speech to
the men, urging them to return TO work
and arguing that they would gain nothing
What do you say?' he concluded. ''wia
you come back?
There was a moments buzz and then a
chorus Of mo" went up. The superintendent
attempted no further persuasion and the
men dispersed.
Eckley although agreeably disappointed OF
its purpose, had salutary effect in that
1t deeply impressed the miners with tne ex-
tent of the military power. The original IN
tention to send the entire City Troop was
changed and only half Of that body, with
troops, went to Eckley. They were COM
manded by Captain OFT, of the latter or
ganization with Lieutenant McFadden, or
the Philadelphia troop as adjutant. They
were fully armed, each man carrying twen-
ty rounds of ammunition and one days
rot ffOrz "a iYQ "a
of Hazleton TO the Lattimer road good
speed was made to Hsrleigh Here the
troopers scattered about the nearby coun-
try in search Of marching miners. None
being found, they marched on TO Lattimers
where a similar movement was executed.
They remained at I4attirner half hour and
Captain OFT visited the Thirteenth Regt-
ment, which is quartered there.
FOREIGNERS WATCHED THE TROOPS
The presence Of the cavalry in Lattimers
where the bloody event of last Friday oc-
CURED, caused much excitement. The for
eigners gathered in great numbers and
watched the maneuvers of the soldiers So
far from there being any hostile demon
stration, many Of the miners respectfully
saluted the troops. Drifton was reached
about noon and stop for lunch was made
there. The officers visited the main Office
of the Coke Company and Superintendent
Smith told them OF the attempted raid OF
the Eckley miners yesterday afternoon. He
said the only violence was threat by the
marchers TO throw one worker. who de-
clined to go, out into the breaker chute.
He, as well the other men at the mine.
promptly quit work. Upon finding Eckley
calm the troops turned back toward Hazie-
ton and reached camp again about 5 p. m.
There were several arrivals here to-day.
One OF these was Hugh O'Donnell. who
gained some nOtoriety as a strike leader
during the Homestead riots. He declared
positively that he was here on private busi-
ness and had nothing whatever to do with
the strike
A. S. Ambrose and DR.. Henry Baracas.
both editors of Hungarian papers in New
York city, were also among the newcomers
They are in close touch with the strikers
and have held conferences with the lead
ers. DIR. Baracas said that with most of
the men the company-store grievance took
precedence over. every other complaint. At
Driftcn, he said, nearly all of the threats
ened employees are tVishmen. They were TO
have held meetings to consider the advisa-
bility of going out to-day, but said the
doctor. they had received word from tho
anthracite operators not to do so. but TO
select from each mine committee OF six
or seven miners and send them 70 the Of
fcialS Of the mines with their grievances.
The faen are considering the suggestion.