, 1897-11-10
WYOMING CHINESE.
A CONTRADICTED REPORT THAT
THEY WILL FILL POSITIONS
IN ILLINOIS.
A Celestial Who is Posted Claims That
Deal Will Not be Consummated-
Every Indication Points to the
Conclusion That the Old Employees
Will Return to Work.

Work is progressing on a proposed
eight-foot board fence to be placed
around the Star mine No. 2 at Carbon
hill. in the Braidwood, ILL.,, mining dis
trict. All the company's buildings are
to be moved inside the enclosure. It
is to be an unadorned stockade, but it
promises either to revolutionize coal
mining in this state. or to bring about
q quick settlement of the troubles that
have kept the mines as quiet as the
grave since June.
Along with the reports of the stock
ade building there came to Chicago pri.
vate advices to the effect that the back,
bone of the strike was broken, and that
thousands OF men, who have been idle
for almost a half year. would return to
work within 10 days. The stockade
may have the primary purpose Of an.
swering the company's demands, or It
may be planned with the significant
aim Of protecting imported Monaghan
workmen.
One thousand men formerly employ
ed by the General Wilmington Coal
company at the B%raceville mine, voted
yesterday to return to work tomorrow.
This mine is the largest in the north,
ern part Of the state. and is said to be
one of the keys to the situation in what
is known as the Braidwood district.
Last night miners at n%eighborine
plants were declaring that these reso,
lutions to go back to work would carry
but few men and would end in a 1z.
zle.
General reports were to the effect
that the preparations to bring Chinese
miners from Wyoming to take the
strikers places had created a stampede
among the Italians and non-English
speaking men. and local coal operators
gay that this break in the miners ranks
marks the beginning of the end, and
that there will, after all. be no necessi-
ty Of the importation of the Chinese.
THINKS THE STRIKE OVER.
General Manager H. N. Taylor of the
General Wilmington Coal company,
says the news from Braceville regard
ing the action Of the strikers is correct.
and he expressed hope that it would be
unnecessary to carry out the idea of
importing the Chinese He declared
positively, however. that unless the re-
naming stikers returned to work with.
in a week, the company would break
the strike and open the mines with the
Chinese from Rock Springs, Wyoming.
In the Chinese quarters in Chicago
signs written in the Chinese language
were posted here and there calling for
Celestial workingmen to take places in
the mines, but the answers to these adj
v~ertisements were few, If any. Sam
Moy. a wealthy Chinese merchant, en-
phatically frowned on the feasibility
Of the plan. and denounced 1t as a
bluff" on the part Of the mine owners
to induce a stampede of the strikers.
On the other hand other Chinese. who
are interested in the deal. say the ad-
u LloAC . 6oOu Anilh, hu
that the miners can be furnished and
imported from the west on three days
notice.
Lu Chez Chi, a Chinese contractor
from Rock Springs. Wyo., is in the
city. With two Of his local agents he
called on General Manager Taylor Of
the coal company, and held a long con-
ference behind closed doors. The same
Chinese oficial inspected the mines in
Braidwood district and declared they
could furnish 1000 skilled miners to
take the places of the strikers.
AS to the importation Of Chinese, the
reports in Chicago are to the effect that
they were to be brought in under con-
tract to work for 81 cents a ton for a
period Of five years. and the company
oficials say they will be amply pro-
tected by guards.