Evening star., 1897-07-29
FIRED ON STRIKERS
Deputy Sheriffs at Plum Greek Mines
Resist a Demonstration.
MINERS did NOT RETURN FIRE
Thousands Attend the Big Meet
ing at De Armitt's Mines.
G EN- E r. AL STRIKE NEWS

PITTSBURG, Pa, July 29-The first
| clash between the striking miners and the
state authorities occurred this morning
Several thousand strikers came from sur
| rounding districts to attend the big meet
ing and IL possible persuade De Armitt's
men TO join the strike.
Fired on by Deputies.
When the strikers reached Plum creek
and started on run down the road to-
ward the tipple to catch the men before
| they entered the mine five shots were fired
| from Winchesters held by the deputies In
| reply to this the drum corps struck up a
| lively air. but return shots were fired.
| The miners who were hurrying into the
| pit were overtaken and asked not TO go
| to work. Most of them said they were
| afraid they would lose their jobs IL they
| stayed away from work to attend the meet
| Hg. They decided after short parley
| to go into the mine. The miners were
| carrying dinner buckets. AS they turned
to leave the strikers their dinner buckets
| were taken from them. The frightened
| miners. without stopping to attempt 10
| regain their buckets. turned and ran for
the pit and did not stop until they were
| behind the shelter of the deputies Win
| n.
Sandy creek mine has closed down and
| about one-third of the Turtle creek miners
quit work and went TO the meeting.
Corey's Miners Refuse TO strike.
A body of 100 striking miners marched to
Corey's mines. near Duquesne. for the pur-
pose of inducing the men al work to quit
| The raid was unsuccessful. as the men
refused TO join the strikers. J. II. Corey,
| the mine owner. notified the sheriff that
| he would hold the county responsible in the
| event of trouble and damage TO his prop
| erty.
| Meeting We'll Attended.
| When the meeting called to order at
| 10 O'Clock this morning there were 3.Uao
| striking miners in attendance. and before
| it was well under way there were 5000
/ people in the vicinity of the school house.
| About $50 o'clock 20 miners from the
Sandy creek mines marched TO the meet
| ing. and quite a large number came from
| Turtle creek.
| Previous to the meeting Eugene V. Debs,
| District President Dolan, Secretary Warner
| and NJ. p. Carrick went among the strik-
| ers and counseled them to keep within the
| bounds of the law and preserve good or
| der throughout the day. Their advice was
| received with good grace by the men, who
cheered the officials enthusiastically. The
| meeting is without doubt the largest ever
| held during strike in western Pennsyl-
vania, and the leaders are hopeful of its
| effects upon De Armitt's men. The speak
ers told the miners that they were jeop-
ardiZing the success of the strike by con-
| tinuing at work, and urged them TO come
| out and make the suspension complete
| throughout the district.
Two hundred deputies are now on guard
about the mines.
Army of STRIKERS Arrives.
| Oak Hill in the vicinity of the Turtle
| creek Blum creek and Sandy creek of De
Armitt, was invaded after midnight by an
army of strikers, who came to attend the
great mass meeting TO be neld near the
| mines today. 1t is estimated that by day.
break there Were several thousand miners
encamped upon the hills surrounding the
prorerty Of the New York ana Cleveland
Gas Coal Company's works.
They came from every direction, headed
by brass bands. Large delegations arrived
from Nillochs, Gastonyilc, Fnles vile and
ether points along the WheeitHr divisions,
nearly all of them carrying heavy walking
sticks and some were armel. There were
no threats of violence, however, and no IN
dications of drinking. Many were supplied
with food enough TO last two days.
Camp at Oak Hill.
Immediately upon reaching Oak Hin the
strikers prepared for camp. The scenes
around Turtle creek, after midnight We're
strange.
Poorly clad miners stretched themselves
out in the softest spots they could lind and
slept with arms folded under their heads
for pillows. The squads from each mine
camped together stacking their formidable
walking sticks and banners together Each
detachment was in charge Of men selected
before the march was begun. wno acted as
officers hair
officers, and the Engiish-spcaking miners
theirs. Orders were implicitly followed. .
In the valley leading up from Turtle
creek to one of the New York and Cleve-
land mines the company had a powerful
search light. 1t was kept shifting about
in hopes Of thanking any movement of the
strikers TO creep within reach of the mine
unknown to the deputies, who guarded
every approach.
breakfast Before Day.
Long before daylight the strikers were
up, and after eating their frugal meal pre-
pared for the days work. The intention
was to see as many OF De Armitt's men be-
fore they got into the pits this morning as
pos sible.
About r o'clock 1 800 strikers assembled
at Turtle creek, and headed by three brass
bands. with flags and banners flying,
marched past the houses occupied by De
Armitt's miners. The strikers hooted and
yelled and then marched to the mines,
where they planted themselves before the
pits, thus compelling De Armitt's men to
run the gauntlet TO get to work.
short time later, Sheriff Lowry, who
had been wired to for assistance, arrived
from Pittsburg with fifty deputies, armed
with Winchesters. The strikers quietly
withdrew and the new deputies were placed
on guard. Everything is quiet now.
TROOPS WANTED At ROANOKE, I'LL.
Gov. Tanncr Thought the Situation
Did Not Require Them.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. July 29.-Governor
Tanner late last night received a telegram