Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-19
Fiercely Attacked by Men Concealed
in the Brush at Barton.
new PHASE IN TEE MINERS STRIKE
President Ratchford Says Conser-
ative Tactics VIII Be Abandoned.
MEN QUIT WORK

COLUMBUS, O., August ia special to
the Dispatch from Wheeling W. Va, says:
Unknown parties concealed in the brush
about the c., L. and w. track at Barton
last night attacked a passing northbound
coal train. AS the train passed the spot a
volley Of stones was sent at the trainmen
wherever one was in view. Fireman Lit
tie was struck by one of the flying missiles
and quite badly cut.
Later another train at the same place
collided with a pile of empty Oil barrels,
which had been put on the track and fas-
tened with a heavy rail. Fortunately, En-
gineer Leggett looking out for trou-
BILE at this point, and was running the train
very slow, preventing an accident Every
effort is being made by the county authori-
ties to apprehend the guilty parties.
National Committee Meeting.
The national executive committee of the
Miners Association was called to meet here
today. Some members arrived late Mr..
Dolan of Pittsburg being asked why they
we're here, said he did not know, having
been summoned without explanation. At
headquarters Secretary Pierce said they did
not have any news to give out. except that
the committee was arriving.
The board adjourned at II am. until 1
pm. to await arrival of absent members of
the board. All of the board, says Presi-
dent Ratchford, are expected TO be here
except Fred Dilcher, who is looking after
the official affairs of the organization In
West Virginia
To Abandon Conservative Policy.
action of the executive board today, Presi-
dent Ratchford said: THE conservative
policy adopted by our board at the begin
ho cd
because of the extreme radical policy Of the
other side. We would much prefer fight,
battle along peaceable lines, as We have
been doing. But our board will be obliged
to meet the tactics of the other side, and
also to take steps to extend the fight into
other fields
I'VE have to adopt other methods to
meet the injunctions. Our people are being
arrested in wholesale manner for holding
public meetings, and We don't propose to
have injuIctioEs break this strike
Deputies Stop Marchers.
PITTSBURG, Pa, August 19-The camp
ers at Plum Creek marched at o'clock
this morning, according to their announce
ment, but they were stepped by the dep
uty sheriffs and turned back to their
camps, where the sheriff has concluded
they can remain as long as they are Or
derly.
affair this morning, and none Of the strik-
ers was allowed to be on the road, even
Though they were in pairs and 100 yards
apart. The strikers did not stop to argue
the matter but obeyed the officers of the
law without murmur.
1t is reported that about 200 farmers
from Plum Creek and Wilkins township
will make sympathetic demonstration
today. They will form at New Texas and
march the Salisbury pike to the strikers
camps at Plum Creek and Turtle Creek.
number of wagons, containing food and
provisions, will accompany them on the
march, and speeches will be made by the
leading farmers. The arrangements for
tlis march were completed last week, and
everything is in readiness for the farmers
to go ahead.
District President Patrick Dolan left for
Columbus, Ohio, last night to attend Il
secret conference of labor leaders and coal
operators to be held there today.
West Virginia Strikers Discouraged.
WHEELING, w. Va, August 19.-The
strike situation is decidedly mixed in
West Virginia today. The news that the
Pi.tsburg operators have decided to re-
sumo at all hazard, and the report that
Dolan and representatives Of the operators
have asked Ratchfcrd to come to Pitts
burg with a view of settling the strike,
had a depressin influence upon West
Virginian miners. The hope has been held
out to them that " hen settlement came
they would be consulted, and that a scale
of wages that would help them would be
enforced. But IL Pittsburg is to make the
settlement all hope of this is lost.
The camp at Montana is still lively
place, the presence of the strikers wives
adding much to the gayety, and no thought
of sorrow for the men on trial at Clarks-
burg seems to be entertained. In tine New
River region five mines were closed yes
teray and in the kanawha valley bu. one
miner went to work.
On the Norfolk arc Western there is no
reduction of output and no organizers are
in sight, all but two OF the peddling mines
in the Wheeling district are closed, In
cluding eastern Ohio, and but for the use
of natural gas every industry in the mid
die Ohio valley would be closed.
Demand nn Increase of Cents.
REYNOLDSVILLE, Pa, August 19.-At
meeting of about 1000 miners and labor
ers of Big Soldier, Sprague, Hamilton and
People mines near here 1t was decided to
demand an advance in wages from % to 30
cents per ton for machine mining, and
from 80 to 40 cents per ton for pick mining;
other wages in proportion and satisfaction
in regard to checkweighmen's pay.
A committee was appointed to call on
General Manager Robinson and present the
demands. Meanwhile arrangements will
be made to call meetings at all the other
mines of the Jeffersonville and Clearfield
Coal and Iron Company, with a view of
having the men demand a similar advance,
and all possible influence will be used to
extend the strike into the Clearield county
collieries.
There are now 1900 strikers here Or
ganizer Harris Is confident the men will
win. A six-foot fence is being built around
the Jefferson and Clearfield Coal and Iron
Company's Big Soldier works. and it is re-
ported that new men will be started to
work.
Col. Roberts InvestigatiOn.
Col. Henry M. Robert, formerly Engineer
Commissioner of the District, president of
the board of engineers Of the War De-
partment In New York. has been here on
Ills way home from Texas, where he was
engaged in an Investigation of the work
at Aransas Pass al looking into the pro-