The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-03
THE STRIKING MINERS
MAKE GREAT EFFORTS TO BRING
our DE ARMIT'S MEN.

LTIAcT ~ =" al sttHO
tempt to Burn a Bridge ON the Santa Fee
Railroad
Evansville, Ind, July 29.-J. H. Ken
nedy, secretary of the Indiana miners,
is here in an endeavor to get the miners
of his district to join the strike.
Evansville miners, he says, are send
ing coal to Chicago and many places
where it was never before thought of
~patronizing the operators of his city,
and the result js obvious. A mass
meeting of the miners is to take place
soon.
Dunbar, Pa, July 29.-Labor leaders
here claim that at a delegate meeting
of the miners Of the coke regions held
today resolutions were adopted de-
claring that after August LIST wagons
would not be loaded more than level
full. Ninety delegates, it was claimed,
were present.
Roanoke, Ill, July 29.-Four hundred
miners from Minonk, WenOna, Teluca,
Kingley and Streater made a raid on
the mines at Roanoke this morning.
They arrived at 3 o'clock and camped
outside the town. A conference with
liz III OPcI dLOIo was ~ at "
o'clock, the latter agreeing to close
the mine and keep closed until the end
of the general strike. The visitors
were orderly, except that they seized
a Santa Fe train and demanded trans
p%OrtatiOn to Minor This was re-
fused, and the train was held from II
O'CLOCK until 7:3O this evening. Late
tonight nearly all the raiders have left
town and trouble is no longer feared.
An attempt was made to burn the
Santa Fe bridge, near town, tonight,
but the fire was discovered in time to
save the bridge.
Pittsburg, Pa, July 29.-Oak Hill, in
the vicinity of Turtle Creek, Plum
Creek and Sandy Creek, was invaded
after midnight by an army Of strikers
who came to attend the great mass
meeting to be held near the mines to-
day. 1t is estimated that by daybreak
there were several thousand miners
encamped upon the hills surrounding
the property of the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company's prop
erty. They came from every direction,
headed by brass bands. Large delega-
tons arrived from WillOcks, CASTOR
vile, F~inleyville and other points along
the Wheeling divisions, nearly all of
them carrying heavy walking sticks
and some armed. There were no
threats of violence, however, and 10
Indications of drinking. Many were
supplied with food enough to last w
days. Immediately upon reaching Oak
Hill the strikers prepared for camp. In
the valley leading up from Turtle
Creek to one of the New York n
Cleveland mines the company had a
powerful searchlight. 1t was kept
shifting abou in hopes of thanking any
movement of the strikers to creep
within reach of the mine unknown to
the deputies who guarded every ap-
prOach.
Long before daylight the strikers
were up, and after eating their frugal
meal prepared for the days work. The
intention was to see as many of De
Armit's men before they got into the
pits as possible.
About 4 o'clock 1,5OO strikers assem-
bled at Turkey Creek and, headed by
three brass bands, with flags and BAN
ners flying, marched past the houses
occupied by De Armit's miners. The
strikers hoOted and yelled and then
marched to the mines, where they
placed themselves before the pits, thus
compelling De Armit's men to run the
gauntlet to get to work. A short time
later Sheriff Lowdy, who a been
wired to for assistance, arrived from
Pittsburg with fifty deputies, armed
Will w l1lCtltStSIS. II SlllhCIS dulCl-
1y withdrew and the new deputies were
placed on guard.
AbOut $50 o'clock $50 miners from
the Sandy Creek mines marched to the
meeting, and quite a large number
came from Turtle Creek. The demon
stration had no effect upon the men at
Plum Creek, and all went to work. The
strikers used their powers of persua-
sion upon the diggers, but none were
noOlnctn6 on6 no fhrnotc yyoro made
Previous to the meeting, Eugene V.
Debs, District President Dolan, Secre-
tary Warner and M. p. Carrick went
among the strikers and cOunseled them
to keep within the bounds of the law
and preserve order throughout the day.
Their advice was received with good
grace by the men,, who cheered the Of
ficials enthusiastically.
President DOlan was made chairman
of the meeting, and in a short speech
he accused Mr.. De Armit of insincerity.
He said that if De Armit's men did
not come out there would be a sympa-
thy strike all over the United States.
Speeches were also made by DebS and
others.
After the meeting the Sandy Greek
miners returned to work and the
strikers went into camp and had
lunch.
- a sc loISe VI uCpulISo L VII "a
and developments of a sensational
character are liable to occur at any
time. The men in amp will be sup
piled with food.
Late tonight William Warner, secre-
rotary of the miners union, t~elephOned
that a break in De Armit's men has
taken place. He say that after the
day meeting mother meeting was ar
ranged for tonight, and it was attended
Eyy roonv of tho NOR "hn hoXyn h0or
at work. Several local speakers, he
said, placed the matter before them in
such a convincing way that the men
from De Armit's Turtle Creek mine re-
solved not to return to work in the
morning. Secretary Warner said that
this is the most important result of
the meeting, and it will be taken ad-
vantage of at once to influence the
men at the other two mines to come
out. The miners officials are jubilant
over this victory.
Eugene Debs left tonight for Column