The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-23
President Ratchford, 1t Is Predicted,
VIII Insist ON N General Arbi-
tratiOn Arrangement.
BLOODSHED NEAR OAK HILL
TWO STRIKERS SHOT AND ANOTHER
CUT WITH A RAZOR.
Outcome of an Effort by DigEers to
-InjunctiOns Denounced.

PITTSBURG, Aug. 22-Developments in
the coal-mining situation in the Pittsburg
district will be watched with unusual in
terest this week. Both sides were ap-
parentIy at rest to-day, but it was de-
W ped that at the conference tomorrow
there will probably be a disruption BY
many it is believed that NJ. d. RatchfOrd,
the national president of the miners or
ganizatiOn will not be present. 1t is
claimed he will stick to his original as
sertion that he will not agree to arbitrate
unless all the States involved are repre-
sented 1t is a well-known fact that the
operators Of other States will not join the
local operators in the movement for aTbl-
tration. If Ratchford is obdurate the con-
ference will be useless. This, in brief, is
the situation, and it is apparent that both
sides are making preparations for move
ments that will be to their benefit. From
a reliable source it was learned that If
the operators start mines on the lines laid
down other mines will also be started by
the miners 1t is proposed to select opera
tors who are not represented at the con-
ference and who are friendly to the min
ers. They will be given permission to mine
coal at the rate demanded, and the coal
stored. BY this means it is expected to get
a fund from the union miners that happen
ito be working and, with this fund, pay the
expenses of a fight against imported labor.
The miners officials are making arrange
ments to have fund on hand to send for
eign labor homo just as fast as 1t arrives.
With mines operated under the jurisdiction
of the labor leaders, and with operators
that are friendly who reap profit, they
hope to have an available and large fund.
This plan has been outlined and will be
submitted to the national officials if the
conference proves a failure.
Religious services were held in the strik-
ers' several camps to-day and all were
largely attended, but Notwithstanding the
religious air pervading the camps, con-
Aict between workers and strikers took
place in the afternoon during which three
strikers were badly hurt, but none is in a
serious condition. Five of the men who are
working for the New YORK ana Cleveland
Gas Coal Company this afternoon went to
William SeamOn'S boarding house, about
one-half mile from Oak Hill tipple, where
a number Of strikers are quarteIed 1or the
purpose of perSuadlng the strikers 10 20
to work The meeting was a stormy Que
and resulted in Antonio Podasky being shot
near the heart the bullet gong almost
through his body GrongrOn Pimold was
shot in the eye and Botiste Dalmese was
cut with a razor. The injured men are All
strikers. This was the only ulSlu UtilCG
recorded at the camps to-day. The agGreS-
siVe Workmen escaped before the men on
the Oak Hill camp were aware OF TIE hght.
Superintendent Thomas T. De Armitt said
tonight in referring to the trouble be-
tween his workmen and strikers that as
near as he could learn the strikers had
fred the first shot. The place where the
collision occurred, he says, is a speak easy,
and instead of his men going there 10 IN
duence the strikers they had been re-
0uested to go there for the opposite pur-
pose. He says an investigation VIII be
made, and if his men are to blame they
must suffer the consequences.
The report that Sandy Creek camp will
be abandoned is denied by the strikers to-
Cay, and they say that the men WlIl be
sent there from Plum Greek and Turtle
Creek.
In addition to the general missionary
work for the week the leaders have de-
cided TO direct special work TO the preVen-
ton of operations at the Sandy Creek mine
Tie strikers say they will resume their
marching tactics in the morning, claiming
that under the ruling OF Judge Con IN
the West Virginia cases they are gwen
this right. -, .-o
to 175 men will be at work in the Plum
Creek mine tomorrow.
1t is announced that the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company VIII make
eight more evictions tomorrow from eight
different company houses. 1t is not PROB
able there will be any trouble.
The sheriff does not say tonight Wnat
course ho Will pursue in the morning
should marching begin, but thinks ne is
ready to meet every emergency
Sympathy for the strikers by the farm
ers and citizens is not diminishing in the
least To-day there were about seven nun
dred visitors to the camp at Sandy Creek.
many of the farmers who came bringing
wagon loads of provisions. Citizens OF
New Texas sent word that they had plenty
of food for the men and wanted them 10
needed.