The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-30
D'ARMIT'S MEN ARE DEFIANT.
HOSTILE RAID ny THE STRIKERS
FAILS TO BRING THEM OUT.

SeNeral Thousand tiSn in the Hanks
of the Invading Mnrchers-Most of
Them Armed with Heavy Walking
Sticks-EVcry Approach to the
Mines Guarded by Armed Deputy
sherins-HootIng and Yelling In
duIGed In by the Strikers Hut no
Violence Attempted.
Pittsburg Pa, July 29-Oak Hill, In the
vicinity of Turtle Creek, Plum Creek and
Sandy Creek Of DeArmit was invaded aft
| er midnight by an army of strikers, who
came to attend the great mass meeting to
| be held near the mines to-day. 1t is esti-
mated that by daybreak there were several
thousand miners encamped upon the hills
surrounding the property of the New York
and Cleveland Gas Coal Companys prop
erty. They came from every direction,
headed by brass bands. Large delegations
arrived from Wlllocks, Gastonvile, Fin
| leyville and other points along the Wheel
| ing divisions, nearly all of them carrying
| heavy walking sticks and some were arm
| ed. There were no threats of violence,
| however, and no indications of drinking.
Many were supplied with food enough to
last two 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 and Cleveland mines the
| company had a powerful searchlight. 1t
| was kept shifting about in hopes Of flank
| ing any movement of the strikers to creep
within reach Of the mine unknown to the
| deputies, who guarded every approach
| Long before daylight the strikers were up
and after eating their frugal meal pre-
| pared for the days work. The intention
was to sec as many of DeArmlts men
| before they got into the pits as possible
About o'clock 1900 strikers assembled
| at Turtle creek and headed by three brass
! bands, with flags and banners flying,
| marched past the houses occupied by De-
| Armit's men. The strikers hooted and
| yelled and then marched to the mines,
where they planted themselves before the
| pits, thus compelling DeArmit's men to
run the gauntlet to get to work. A short
| time later Sheriff Lowry, who had been
wired to for assistance, arrived from
| Pittsburg with fifty deputies armed with
Winchesters. The strikers quietly with
drew and the new deputies were placed
| on guard.
When the meeting was called to order
| at 10 o'clock this morning there were 1900
| striking miners In attendance, and before
/ II was well under way there was 5000
/ people in the vicinity Of the school house.
! About $50 o'clock $50 miners from the
| Sandy Creek mines marched 20 the meet
| ing, and quite large number came from
| Turtle creek The demonstration had no
/ effect upon the men at Plumb creek and
| they all went to work. The strikers used
| all their powers of persuasion upon the
-diggers, but none were molested and no
| threats were made.
| Previous to the meeting Mr. Debs, Dis
/ trict President Dolan, and Secretary
! Warner, and NJ. +. Carrick went among
| the strikers and counseled them to keep
| within the bounds of the law and preserve
! good order throughout the day. Their ad-
vice was received with good grace by the
/ men, who cheered the officials enthusiast
| tlcally.
President Dolan was made chairman of
| the meeting, and in a short speech he ac-
| cused Mr.. DeArmtt OF Insincerity He
| said II DeArmit's men did not come out
| there would be a sympathetic strike all
| over the United States.
NJ F. Carrick was next introduced. and
| he said that workingmen all over the
| United States were interested in this strike
because 1t will have a tendency
| TO raise wages everywhere. III you
men of the DeArmit mines will not come
| out now we will march $1,000 men here
| and compel you to come out, not by force,
but by shame"
When Eugene V. Debs was introduced
there was great enthusiasm. He said, in
| part: II am here not to encourage pas
| sion, but to appeal to reason. You are in
| the midst Of the greatest contest the world
! has ever known. Whether you succeed
or fail depends upon yourselves. In or
der to win, you must remain absolutely
sober until this contest is over Whisky
clouds the brain, robs you Of your mon
o. nd
you do Just what your enemies want you
TO do"
After the meeting the Sandy creek min
ers returned TO work and the strikers went
! into camp and had lunch.
Mr. DeArmlt tonight made tho fol-
lowing statement: "a few OF our men
from the Turtle creek and Plum creek
mines attended the meeting. About 10 OF
the younger men in the Sandy creek mines
were present. AS far as the effect of the
meeting on our men Is concerned II was a
nat failure. All OF our mines were IN oper-
alton and will be tomorrow"
large force Of deputies are on duty
and developments OF a sensational char
acter arc likely 10 occur at any time. The
men in the camp will be supplied with
food.
Late tonight william Warner, seere-
tary OF the miners union. telephoned that
a break In DeArmits men has taken
place He says that after the day meet
Ing another meeting was arranged for
tonight, and II was attended by many
OF the men who have been az work Sew
eral local speakers. he said. placed the
matter before them In such a convincing
way that the men from DeArmirs Tur-
tie creek mine resolved not 20 return 10
work In the morning, Secretary Warner
says this II the most encouraging result
OF the big meeting. and II will be taken
advantage OF az once 70 influence the
men AZ the other two mines 20 come ou.
The miners pftieials are jubllant over this
victory.
Mr. Debs left tonight for Columbus on
business. which he declined 20 make pub
lie. Before leaving he expressed him
SELF ns greatly encouraged. lie expects
great results from to-day's meeting.