Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-09-09
THE STRIKE SITUATION.


Coilieries on the South Side.
1t is possible that a settlement of the
South Side strike may be made today.
Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Company Off
cialS will meet their men at McAdoo this
morning and much will depend on the
outcome. The strikers are in complete
control of the situation up to the present.
and not wheel can turn in the district
without their consent. Nevertheless the
situation is II grave one and clashes
between the strikers and the operators
armed men have been narrowly averted
several times this week, especially yes
terday.
On Monday the South Side towns were
paraded by nearly 5000 men and boys
from the ranks of the strikers. Three
bands and several drum corps furnished
he music. If the purpose of the parade
was to impress upon the operators the
strength and determination of the
strikers, it appears to have succeeded
beyond Il doubt. Mondays demonStra-
tion had the effect of bringing the
sherilfs of three counties upon the scene
before the day was over.
On Monday several hundred deputies
were sworn in by the Sherilfs of Luzerne,
Carbon and Schuylkill counties in differ
ent parts of the Lehigh region. The
three officials whose duty it is to keep
the peace then held consultation, the
result of which was the issuing by each
of proclamation Sheriff James Mar
tin, of Luzerne, and Sheriff Milton Set
zer, of Carbon, issued the following,
while Sheriff Alexander Scott, of Schuyl-
kill, slightly changed the phraseology of
the ready-made documents which were
furnished them:
at having come to my knowledge that
a certain condition of turbulence and
disorder exists in the neighborhood of
the city of Hazleton, in the county of
Lu2erne, by reason of which acts of dis
order are said to have been committed
and men forcibly prevented from pur-
suing their daily avocations, and the
peace of the community seriously dis
turbcd:
Now, therefore, notice is hereby
given to all good citizens to refrain from
all tumultuous and unlawful assembly,
and from all acts of disorder or violence,
and from all acts interfering with the
liberty of other citizens, or tending to
breach of the peace
Notice is further given that all such
acts of disorder and lawlessness will be
summarily repreSsed and punished in
accordance with the laws of the land"
On Tuesday the leaders prevented the
men from marching on the North Side
collieries, as had been planned the pre-
vious evening. 1t was feared that
clash with the deputies, who all armed
with rifles, would result, and that blood
would flow.
A scattering squad of raiders, how
ever, reached Ebervale and shut
down the strippings and were about
to attack Lattmer when they were dis
persed by the deputies. Special trains
were busy all day carrying bodies of
armed men from one colliery to another,
according as danger seemed imminent
The strikers gathered yesterday again
and at 10 o'clock began marching out of
McAdoo. They gathered recruits by
the hundreds in every mining patch
through which they passed. AS the
long column advanced all signs of work
ceased at each colliery along the route
BY doing this the work of the strikers is
lessencd and the men do not object.
A CoXe's coliery, Beaver Meadow,
the mob was met by thirty Drifton shop
men and half-dozen high-titled officials
who had been hurriedly sworn in as
deputies by Sheriff Martin and run
there on special d. S. & S. train when
the news of the marching was received
at Drifton.
The collery shut down without un-
necessary delay when the strikers hove
in sight, and the company of deputies,
90 per cent of whom were unwillngly
carrying big guns and would surrender
at the first sign of hostiltes, breathed
Il sigh of relief as the men departed with
their object accomplished
At Hazeton city limits the mob dis
banded while on its way to Crystal
Ridge. Sheriff Martin and Hazleton
authorities prevailed upon the men to
cease marching for the day.
If todays conference fails there is no
telling where the trouble will end
All North Side colleries are heavily
guarded night and day.
DEATHS.