Evening star., 1897-07-31
Deputy Sherifs at De Armitt's Mines
Resist Narchers.
OPEN FIGHT BARELY AVERfED
One of the De Armitts Reasons
With the Miners.
PACIFIED WITH TOBACCO

XII HI, "a. July 3l.-Ihera mas
be en- a change in the state of the siege at
the De Armitt mines, and a clash between
the strikers and deputy sheriffs seems i'm
minent. The mines at Oak Hill and Sandy
Creek are being operated by very few men.
Most of the Oak Hill miners live at Tur-
tie Creek, and the demonstrations of the
strikers. camping in the Gospel tent, have
intimidated them.
At Sandy Greek about 20 per cent of the
miners are working. but at the Plum Creek
mine, which is now the object of much
concern on the part of the sheriff and De
Armitt, all the men are working.
representative of the Associated Press
was admitted to the inside of the Plum
Creek mine, and he talked with about a
dozen of the men while they were at work
Ali of the men spoken to said they had no
sympathy with the strikers, and that they
would not leave the mine unless they were
driven out. Most of the men are armed
and declare that they will not be intimidat-
ed.
large number of men got into the mines
at Plum Creek before the marchers ar
rived. This being the last day of the
month. it is the end of a pay period, and
the men had gene into the mines two hours
earlier. so they could swell their account
by a big days work.
Deputy Pushed Aside.
The marcf ers approached the mine by
the Monroeville road. The mine property
adjoins the Center school house in Plum
township, and on the dividing line between
the two properties the marchers were met
by a deputy sheriff, who told them they
could not go any further on the Monroe
vile road. The leaders of the strikers
pushed him aside and marched on. Twenty
thirty other deputies hurried to the
n Il
standstll within twenty yards of the tres
tie. The men were very indignant, and FOR
a moment it looked like there would be
serious trouble.
At this juncture Superintendent De Ar
mitt arrived on the scene. and told the
strikers that his men had already entered
the mines. and that battle with the dep
uty sheriffss would be very foolish action,
in that it would surely result in large
numbers being arrested, and would be the
worst thing they could do for the strike.
Strikers Then Withdrew.
The strikers ther withdrew and went
into camp behind the school house. but
they continued to make demonstrations
about the mine and a number OF stones
were thrown. The spectacle of loaded cars
coming from the pit mouth agitated the
strikers, and the deputy sheriffs estab-
lished a new picket line, each man hold
ing loaded revolver in his right hand,
II
in the office armed with rifles.
The strikers. worn out by the marching.
then settled down. Samuel De Armtt went
among them and distributed pipes and to-
bacco. These We're enjoyed, and many of
the men went to sleep.
The news of the march to the Plum
Creek mine reached Thomas De Armitt at
Oak Hill, and, finding that the telephone
Wire had been cut, he drove to Plum Creek.
but found all quiet and his brother dis
triDuting the pipes and tobacco.
During the excitement of the mornine
one of the deputies had a fit and fell In
coLvulsions. This had much to do with
quieting affairs, as the strikers crowded
around to assist him.
This afternoon the strikers announced
their intention of camping at the Center
school house and remaining there until
Monday, in order to see that the miners
do not go back to work
President Dolnn Elated.
District President Dolan of the Mine
Workers arrived in Pittsburg from the
camp at De Armitts mines at o'clock this
morning to attend to some business and at
10 O'Clock returned to the mines. He is
elated over the success of the movement to
bring out the men of the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Co.. and says the re-
suit exceeds his brightest anticipations.
He claimed that the. correspondents who
are on the ground are sending misleading
made on the Plum creek mines, he said, at
an early hour. and with but few exceptions
the diggcrs refused to work. This mine
vas neglected yesterday, as the strikers
devoted all their energies to the Sandy and
Turtle creek mines.
THE Sandy creek mine is as silent the
grave said Mr.. Dolan. land yesterday
but eleven men were at work IN the mines
at Turtle creek. l have just come from a
visit to the mines, and can state positively
that net more than fifty men are at work
in all the New York and Cleveland Gas
Ccal Company's mines. There will rot be
a man at work on Monday. We are great
ly encouraged over our success, and the
prospects of winning the big strike are
brighter than at any time since 1t was in
ausurated. The close of the fourth week of
the strike shows more miners Idle III the
country than at any time in The history of
the coal industry.
Ignore Shcrif's Proclamation.
The strikers declare that no attention
will be paid to Sheriff Lowry's procIama
tion; that they will remain where they arc,
and will, if necessary, assemble thousands
of men of all trades, who are in sympathy
with the striking miners, and keep ,hem
there until every employe of the New York
and Cleveland Gas Coal Company is forced
by shame, to lay down his pick and JOIN
the ranks of the strikers.
The strikers camp presents rather Pc
cul1ar Teiiiiius one Oi Inc
camps that Coxey's army pitched while
marching to Washington. except that there
is different looking class of men gathered
about.
The people of Turtle creek are treating
the miners very kindly and great baskets
of provisions are carried there for them
At all of the meetings that have been
held collections were taken up, with which
such provisions as are not donated are
purchased. Altogether, the campers, many
of them, are faring better now than they
have for many months in the past.
RAILROAD BRIDGE BURNED.
Striking Miners Say 1t Was Set on
Fire by Their Enemies.