The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-11

II no telling what the next twenty.t0ur houru
will bring forth. At an indignation meeting here
tonight 1000 men were present. p. F. Laugh
ran, the Rev. spAlding of the Baptist Church.
and the Hon. James Broderick were appointed
a committee to draw up resolutions. These.
when submitted. denounced tho action Of the
deputies. pledged support to che widows and
orphans, aud promised help to prosecute claims
against the persons responsible.
Sheriff Martin. when seen tonight, said that
he did not give the command to FIRE, and did
not know who did.
HOW THE STRIKE BEGAN.
The trouble between tho coal operators and
their employees, which has been brewing for
months. came to a crisis on Aug. 1s, when $500
men OF the LehiRh and wilkcsbarre collieries
went on strike. They had made demands upon
the company which were fatty refused, and, as
. result, the men quit work. These demands In
cluded an increase In the wages of miners. Ia
horers. engineers, machinists, and fremen to
correspond with the scale Of waves in force In
the Wyoming district OF the same company.
The men also demanded the privilege of select
ing their own physician, and In addition asked
that Superintendent Jones. who had made him
self obnoxious TO the mon. DO transferred to
another district.
From the start the foreign element, composed
Of Poles. Hungarians. and Italians, had control
OF the strike. The more conservative American
element was outvoted on every occasion they
attempted to urge q compromise. and were
eventually terrorlzed by their fellow strikers.
The latter paraded the district for miles every
day. visited every colliery where men had de-
clined to join tho strikers and forced them to
quit work. As q consequence OF the reign Of
terror that prevailed the company engaged the
services OF q number Of deputy sheriffs, who.
fully armed. guarded the companies o~ollieries
day and night.
Yesterday the employees OF Coke Brothers &
Co, who had heretofore resisted all the appeals
and threats OF the foreign element, decided to
cult work. The strikers marched to the col
Nery and compelled all who went to work to put
down their tools
While they were at the colliery seven armed
men appeared. and firing into the air. fright.
ened all the strikers 80 badly that they
scattered into the woods. The gunpowder
was enough for them. and rather than place
themselves in front of . rife they fed. One
Hungarian woman got hold Of q gun in the
hands Of a deputy. and it was with difficulty
that the weapon was taken from her.
The employees Of A. s. Van wickle were idle
to-day, though not on account Of any difficulty
with their employer. They were afraid to work
because OF the threatened advance of Beaver
Meadowites. but as soon as they are guaranteed
protection they will again resume their places
as usual.
superintendent laval OF the Lehigh and
Wlkesbarre was expected in Audenried to-day
TO confer with the committee Of strikers. but he
failed TO arrive on the train on which he said he
would come. When the men noticed that he
had fniiei to heep his word .hey nero 5isap-
! pointed and censured him.
y. few moments after the IL A. NJ. train had
! pulled into the station Q telegram WINS received
! from Mr.. laval in which he said his inability
TO be present was due to an urgent call else
where.
THE sHERrFHis TORY.
| w-uKEsBAnrE, Pa, Sept 1o.-This evening
Sheriff Martin arrived home from the scene OF
the shooting near Hozleton. The Sheriff gave
his version Of the occurrence.
Il heard this morning." he said, that the
strikers were going to march TO the breaker at
Latime- and compel the men there to quit work.
I resolved to intercept them and. II possible,
prevent them from reaching the breaker. For
this purpose I got together seventy men, who
were ali well armed.
The trouble began at 8 p. N. / met the
marching column. halted them and read the
proclamation. They refused to pay any etten-
ton and started to resume their march.
Then / called to the leader to stop. He
ignored my order. then attempted to arrest
AAAAA- a. y NAS1S Az IA LhC. AhOI ~
very viciously. kicking me-. knocking me down,
and tramplng upon me. ] called upon my
deputies to aid me, and they did 30. but they
were unable to accomplish much.
Realizing my danger, ! called to the depu-
ties TO fire into the air over the heads Of the
strikers. as it might probably Brighten them.
1T was d ne at once. but IL had no effect
whatever on the Infatuated foreignera. who used
me so much the rougher and became fercer and
fercer. more l Ike wild beasts than human
beings.
THE strikers then endeavored to surround
the force Of deputies. ! fully realized that the
foreigners were q desperate lot and valued
life very little.
II also saw that parleying with such q gang
of infuriated men was entirely out of the ques-
tion, as they were too excited to listen to rea-
son and that myself and deputies would be
Killed IL we were not rescued. or II we did not
defend ourselves.
II then called upon tho deputies to defend
themselves and shoot II they must 10 protect
their lives or to protect the property that they
had been sent 10 guard from being demolished.
The next second there were q few scattered
shots fred into the Infatuated foreigners. and .
moment later the entire force OF deputies dis
charged q cold volley into the crowd. hated
to give the command to shoot. and was sorry
that / was compelled to do 90. but ! was there
to do my duty. and I did 1t As best i know and
my conscience dictated. The strikers were vio-
lating the laws of tho Commonwealth, and
fatty refused to obey the proclamation that I
read to them"
GOV. HASTINGS III OUT TROOPS.
HARRISBURG. Pa. Sept l0.-The National
Guard will be called out TO assist tho Sheriff of
Luzerne county In sustaining order at Hazleton.
! News OF the riot and killing reached the Execu-
tive Mansion late tonight. and the Governor at
once asked for particulars.
He was informed by Lawyer Ferris. attorney
for the Sheriff. that the situation is exceedingly
| critical. and the Sheriff, having exhausted ali
his powers. now asked for military aid. Tho
entire county had heen as u posse
and only 200 men had been secured as deputies.
He, said that he L. unable to get q sufficient
number to cope with the mob o wild foreigners,
adj the condition Of things is very bad. He said
that he fears Tn I Il his pI esent posse attempts
to suppress the mob OF at least three thousand
frenzied men, a rio will result that will DO very
serious. and LEAD TO the taking OF many lives.
| Thia afnrv ygaa ron rTnnd nv FOL n pnw