The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-03

Slowly Growing In West virginia-River
Operators Favoring the strikeEs-Ths
Marchers ON the DE Armit Mines-Ine
dignation Against the Sheriff.
Wheeling, w. Va, July sI-The mining
situation in the Wheeling district today
was as follows: About half of the full
force was at work in the two mines of the
Boggs Run Company; thirty-five men
went into the Glendale mine, and about
forty were working in the mine at Elm
Grove. Only eight men returned to work
at Moundsville, and it is not likely the
effort to resume there will be successful.
There is likely to be clash between the
men who returned to work and those who
stuck to the strike. The Glendale Com
pany posted word that all who did not
return to work were discharged. This
brought about half the force to terms.
Charleston, w. Va, July 31.-W. D.
Mahon, of the Amalgamated Association
Of Street Railway Worisrs, c.rived today,
his mission being to organize the West
Virginia miners. He will establish head,
quarters here, from which the strike will
be directed. He proposes to place the
Fairmont district in charge of ]. w.
Rea, Of the International Association OF
Painters and Decorators. Robert r. AS
kew goes to Elkhorn district, and Chris.
Evans ex-secretary of the order, to the
Kanawha district. He says the strike Is
gradually growing in West Virginia and
every effort will be made to bring the
miners all out. Over 100 organizers are at
work, and more are expected by Monday.
All kilograms received by Mason were of
an encouraging nature.
Pittsburg, Pa, July 31.-A number of
coal operators who congregated along the
MOnongahela river during the day ex-
pressed themselves very forcibly on the
strike situation. They were all in favor
of the strikers, and say they hope the
miners will win. They were strong in their
denunciation of Sheriff Lowry for issuing
the proclamation, ordering the strikers
at the New York and Cleveland mines to
retire to their homes. John Blith, the
veteran coal operator, said: Il am more
heartily in sympathy with the miners in
this struggle than I have been in any
strike they ever inaugurated. l hope they
will win. The proclamation of the sherin
was an outrage, and l do not believe he
can force the miners to leave the ground
they are now occupying with the per-
mission of the owners. I do not think
he has a right to interfere"
James w. Shields, who operates the
big Osceola mine, is sending donation
of provisions to the strikers daily, and
says he will continue to do SO as long as
the strike continues. He also condemns
the action of the sheriff and says the
arrested and fill the Jail, making the ex>
pense of the county so great that the tai
payers would interfere and resent OBJ
noxious prOclamations.
The work on the uniformity agreement
has been completed and the COMMITTEES
will begin to secure signatures on Mon
day. Operators who discouraged the
movement are gradually coming into line,
and it is believed the required number of
signatures can be obtained. When this is
done the strike can be settled.
In the county courts today the prelim-
mary injunctions against the strikers re-
straining them from interfering with the
men at the Bunola and Castle Shannon
mines were continued.
which were the conditions in the coal
mining situation about De Armit's mines
today, have given place to peace and
quietness tonight. After running counter
to deputy SheriffS several times during the
day, the strikers peaceably withdrew this
evening, and are now sleeping in their
camp. AS the miners will not work to-
morrow the strikers will take rest and
no trouble is expected before Monday
morning. The week closed with the min
ers' officials satisfied that they had made
marked impression on the dlggers OF
the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company who. it seems, are wavering as
to their purpose.
All the men are out at Sandy Creek,
and but few are at work at Turtle Creek
today. Plum Creek was in full operation.
and the entire force of the strikers was
centered at this point, but without sue
cess. The men at work appear deter
the strikers still have hopes of bring
; ing them out. Late this afternoon Pres
| ident Dolan took $50 strikers from the
camp and marched to Plum Creek, where
a meeting was organized. Speeches were
made by President Dolan and Vice Pres
,ident Mckay and the men cautioned to
keep within the law. While the meeting
+! was in progress Sheriff Lowry and Chief
Deputy Richards. with an armed force of
deputies, appeared upon the scene. Sheriff
Lowry read the injunction procured by
De Armit and ordered the strikers to dis
perse. President Dolan replied that they
were on public grounds, and produced a
certificate from the road supervisor of the
township declaring the place public
highway. Sheriff Lowry again ordered
them to disperse and. after short par
ley, the meeting was closed and the
strikers marched back to camp. Upon
their return 1t was learned that 400 men
from the Panhandle district had started
for Turtle Creek, and would reach there
tomorrow morning.
When the achievements arrive ar
rangements will be made to march to
Plum Creek about midnight Sunday night
. and guard the I.-i-ls until the men start
to work, when another effort will be
made to INDUCE them to come out. Pres
ident Dolan, Secretary Warner and Cam
eron Miller are all at the Turtle Greek
camp tonight. The camp has been Or
ganized on military lines.
F., Scottdale, Pa, July 31.-William Cum
mings, the leader of the non-union men
brought here by the Scottdale Iron and
Steel Company to take the places of the
strikers, was shot and instantly killed
tonight in front Of the Commercial hotel
Cummings and three companions. all non-
! union men, encountered a number OF
, strikers as they came out of the bar
| room. and a war of words ensued. Some
| one fired a revolver, and a dozen shots
| followed in quick succession. Cummings
| dropped dead. with bullet in the right
!, temple, and his three companions fed to
! the mill hotly pursued by an angry
| crowd. When the nOn-union men reached
! the enclosure the deputies on guard sur
! rounded them and the mob was forced tC
| retreat. Word was at once sent to Sheriff
Seanor, at Greensburg, and he is now on
his way to Scottdale with fifty armed
: deputies. AT midnight everything was
, quiet, however, and there was no fear of
a further outbreak.
Wheeling. W. Va, July H.-The situa-
fion at Dillonvaie and Fairmont remains
practically the same as yesterday. Judge
Mason announced this evening that the
injunction granted at the solicitation of
the operators was not permanent. The
i