The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-15
Quivering With Uncertain
ty in Haselton.
Funeral of Poles Takes Place
Without Disorder.

ton qulvers tonight on the edge OF a
volcano Uncertainty is the key
note of the situation, and the town is
sleeplessly awaiting the dawn of day
fraught with unknown and fearful
possibilities
At this writing troops are march
ing on the mines of Coke Bros. at
Eckley, which nestles in valley
about 18 miles from here Telegrams
TO brigade headquarters late this af-
ternoon indicate an alarming condi-
ton there The remoteness of the
situation will make difficult the secur-
ing of definite news from the scene
before morning The first knowledge
of disturbance at the Coke collieries
reached brigade headquarters this
morning, when Gen Goblin received
a dispatch that 200 miners at Buck
Mountain, three miles from Eckley,
had gone on a strike and began to
march on the Eckley mine Request
was made for detachment Of the
military to avert possible conflict,
but before the soldiers could be start.
ed off to The scene the authorities
were reassured by the receipt of a
second telegram to the effect that the
march had been stopped and no fur
ther trouble gas feared
Late in the afternoon a third dis
patch changed the situation for the
worse. It said that the march had
been resumed and carried TO the Eek
ley mines, and that the men there
had been forced to quit work. after
rough handling by the marching
men. The City Troop, the crack
cavalrymen, were instantly ordered
to proceed to Eckley. To reach the
spot they will have to ride over l8
miles of rough mountain roads. The
news has created CONSERVATION
throughout the district and all the
collleries are preparing for trouble.
Gen. Goblin has been deluged with
requests for troops. but declaras that
he will send none to any point unless
an outbreak really occuls. This is a
measure of precaution to keep the
soldiers modified.
To-day has been regarded as the
turning point Of the situation because
of the prohibition issued by Gen.
Goblin against the proposed funeral
demonstration. A compromise was
effected this morning. however, and
the day passed off without disturb
ance. In the meantime the Coke
collieries were being watched with
intense anxiety. It was known that
the 1000 men employed at No. I had
made demand for 10 per cent. in
crease, which was to be submitted to
the operators to-day, with the alter
native of strike. From 5000 to
1000 men are employed at all the
co!lieries, and it was understood that
such a movement would bring them
all out.
Whether or not the proposition was
formally submitted to-day could not
be learned, because nobody would
talk The men were all at work but
strike talk was rife and big meet
ing at Stockton had been scheduled
for tonight. There was general
impression that nothing decisive
would be resolved upon at least by
tomorrow, which is pay day, with
two weeks money coming to the
men. The Coke mems grievance is
that they are on lower scale than
that paid BY any other company in
the region, but the company store
feature does not enter into their case
The first discord between the
military and the strikers occurred to-
day following General Gobin's order
agains. the proposed funeral demon
slration, he arranged for conference
this morning with the Polish priests.
who are looking after the cause of
the men. He impressed them with
the necessity for preventing any show
of military character and said he
would permit no uniformed men to
participate except those representing
religious sccities. Bands of music. side
arms, sticks and banners were also
prohibited The priests promised
that all this should be done and the
commander, on the other hand, agreed
10 keep all troops away from the fun
erals. Somebody stole a march on
the general, however, and although he
later revoked the clause excluding
music, there were men in line wear
ing the uniform of the Italian army
and others carrying drawn sabres.
Six of the latter stood in front
of the church during the cere-
monies within. Learning of this the
commander promptly dispatched a
staff officer and detail Of men to
the cemetery, but when thev reached