The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-08-14
FIRST BLOOD IS SHED
Nearly Leads to q Conflict Be-
tween Miners and Deputies.
COOL C0UNSELS PREVAIL
Injunctions Put a Stop to Marching on
the New York q Cleveland Co. Mines
Matters Resting Until the
Courts Decide

Pittsburg. Aug l5-InjunctiOns by
court have put stop to marches by
the striking miners against the New
York and Cleveland Gas and Coal com
pany for time al least. hut In the
execution Of the injunctions the sheriff
and his deputies narrowly escaped pre-
cipitating serious trouble, As IL was.
the first blood of the strikers was shed.
Henry Stewart. one Of the sheriffs
deputies. struck Jacob Mott. a drum
mer OF the Mcdonald band with the
edge of brass horn and cut severe
cash above his eye. The sight of blood
wrought up the thousand idle miners to
such a pitch that "A desperate conflict
was imminent. The deputies were also
excited and noisy.
The strikers were jeering and yelling
and urging further rush. There were
enough of the miners 10 annihilate the
deputies. Captain Belljngham. Sheriff
Lowry, Chief Deputy James Richards
and Superintendent DE Armitt were the
cool men In the assemblage. To them
and to Captain Bellingham belongs the
credit OF avoiding a riot When Bell
ingham saw that there was danger of
the men getting beyond his control. he
~
SELF 10 the task OF restraining the more
bclligerent. So well We're his efforts
directed that he soon had restored
comparative order. Sheriff Lowry had
a difficult task To perform but he han
died IL well and by his coolness aud
good nature did much To neutralize
the bitterness and strife invited by his
subordinates. The strikers finally
retired and marched back To their
camp. There were several other
brushes with the deputies. but no ac-
tual collision. After the miners re-
turned 10 camp the officers held a con-
ference with their attorney and he ad-
vised them to quit marching until the
court had heard the argument next
Monday over the bill In equity brought
by the New York and Cleveland Gas
company as II might injure their case
II brought up for contempt before
court. President Dolan then issued or
ders that no more marches should he
made on any of the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal company mines
until further orders. although marches
may be made nj other places.
A feature OF the scene this morning
was the fact that the women sympa-
thizers. for the first time since the
strike. participated In a daylight DEM
onstration. and. like their brethren In
the cause. had the injunction read TO
them, and they weer ordered TO cease
using the public highway for n parade
ground. There were no signs OF trouble
tonight The strikers remained with
in their camp and while the deputies
were on guard they had little To do. In
order 10 more thoroughly fortify his
position. Sheriff Lowry swore In 20 ad-
ditional deputies to- night and Dispatch
aI hal "a, no
does not think there will be trouble at
any of the mines of the New York and
Cleveland company. He has given strict
orders. however. not To permit any
marching and 10 enforce the prelim-
mary injunction. even II II led to the
arrest OF all the leaders In the move
ment.
The trouble occurred at 3 o'clock this
morning near the Plum creek tipple. A
thousand strikers left Plum creek at
3 a. M. one body OF the marching men
going to the Center school house and
Others 20 the miners houses. The
| Center squadron was headed by the
Mcdonald drum corps. Sheriff Lowry
reached Center about a. M. accom-
panied by number OF deputies.
The marchers were stopped and the
| sheriff read the injunction order made
yesterday by the court. He then order
ed the strikers TO ceturn To camp. The
men paid no attention to the order for
a time and the drum corps attempted
to lead the marchers past the sheriff
and his deputies. The deputies closed
/ up and moved forward. headed by the
sheriff and the opposing forces came
together.
No blows were struck and no weap-
ons drawn, but there was lively seuf-
| lie. during which a horn in the hands
| of one of the band was pushed Into the
face OF Jacob Mott, and he was badly
cut over the right eye. Blood flowed in
stream from the wound and the
sight Of the blood checked the pushing
and struggling men.
The sheriff again read the order ~
the court and orderedsthe crowd 10 dis
perse. and appear in court Saturday TO
answer To the bill filed. The men re-
fused and urich Bellingham and the
| band again tried to force their way
past the sheriff and deputies.
Sheriff Lowry threatened the strikers
with arrest II they did not instantly
obey lie added. Il command you. as
high sheriff OF Allegheny county, 10
cease marching. II you do not desist !
VIII arrest you"
The deputy shsriffs formed a line
across the road and forced the strikers
To move along. Seeing no way Ia defend
themselves. the strikers moved IN the
direction of their camp.
by this time the news OF the sheriff .
arrival and the action had reached the
division Of strikers guarding the mi
ners' houses across the ravine. and they
FASTENED To meet their companions
They met on the hill above Center and
formed ON either sid" Of the road and
invited the deputys to pass through
The invitation was not accepted and
the deputies allowed them to stand
This did not please them and the band
started back.
One OF the strikers who assumed the
leadership, bade the others to fall in
the rear George Kelley of CiaremOnt
and Michael Dukes Of Carnegie. march.
"a ahead carrying flags and attempted
To break through the ranks OF the dep
uties. They did not succeed.
A few of the more stubborn ones OF
fered resistance and asserted theii
right to 60 down the road In the direc
tion Of the pit mouth. One OF thes'
was James A. f;ru,O colored. Of Cali
fotnia. He said he had paid his tal
and asked to pass through the line o
deputy sheriffs When refused he In
sisted that his name should be adde,
10 the list of defendants i'm DE Armittl
equity suit ard also demanded cop!
not only of the Injunction. hut II tn
allegations upon which II was issued
While the negro was being dispose'