The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-30

PITTSBURGH. July 2s.-oak Hin In
the vicinity of Turtle Creek, Plum Creek
and Sandy Creek mines OF DeArmltt,
was invaded after midnight by an army
OF strikers, who came to attend the great
mass meeting to be held near the mines
to-day. It is estimated that by day
break there were several thousand
miners eHcamped upon the hills sur
rounding the property OF the New York
and Cleveland Gas Coal Company.
They came from every direction headed
BY brass bands. Large delegations ar
rived from wlllcks, Gastonville. Finley
willie and other parts along the Wheeling
division. Nearly all OF them carried
heavy walking sticks and some were
armed. There were no threats OF vlo.
lence, however, and no indications OF
drinking. Many were supplied with
food enough to last two days.
Immediately upon reaching Oak Hill
the strikers prepared for camp Tho
scenes around Turtle Creek after mid
night were strange.
Poor clad miners stretched themselves
out In the softest spots they could find,
and slept with their arms folded undel
their heads for pillows. The squads
from each mine camped together stack
ing their formidable walking sticks and
banners together. Each detachment was
In charge OF men selected before tho
march began who acted as officers. The
foreigners had their own officers and tho
English speaking 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 Night. 1t was kept shifting
about In hopes OF flanklng any move
ment OF the strikers to creep within
reach OF the mine unknown to the depu-
ties. who guarded the approach,
Long before daylight the strikers were
up and after eating their frugal meal
prepared for the days work. The lnten-
Tlon was to gee as many OF DeArnitt's
men before they got Into the pits this
morning ns pOsslble.
About o'clock $500 strikers assem-
bled at Turtle creek and headed by three
brass bands, with fags and banners fly
ing marched past the houses occupied
by DeArmitts miners.
When the meeting was called TO order
al 10 o'clock this morning there was a
large crowd OF striking miners In attend.
ance.
About 9:3O o'clock 25O miners from the
Sandy Creek mines marched to the meet
Ing and quite large number came from
Turtle Greek.
No Effect ON PLAN Greek MlnsrI.
The demonstration had no effect upon
the men at Plum Creek, and all went
90 work. The strikers used all their
powers Of persuasion upon the dlggers,
but none were molested and no threats
were made.
Previous to the meeting Eugene "
Debs, District President Dolan. Secre-
tary Warner and NJ. p. Carrlck went
among the strikers and cOunseled them
to keep within the bounds OF the law and
preserve good order throughout the day.
Their advice was received with good
grace by the mon, who cheered the OH
cllls enthusiastically.
President Dolan was made chairman
OF the meeting and in n short speech he
accused Mr.. De Armltt OF insincerity
He said that II De Armitt's men did not
come out there would be n sympathy
strike all over the United States.
NJ r. Carrlck was next introduced
and he said that working men all over
the United States are Interested In this
strike because Il viii have a tendency
to raise wages everywhere. III you
men OF DE Armltts mines viii not
come out now we will march 10000 men
here and compel you TO come out; not
by force, but by shame. We viii shame
you out by our starving women and
children. You nre cloaglng the wheels
o. commerce, and tho whole labor world
will strike In sympathy with us, II need
be. Resort to no violence. my friends
Trust In your leaders. and we VIII win
this strike In other why's than by ylo-
lCnce."
When Eugene V. Debs was intro
duced there was great enthusiasm. He
said: ~ am not here TO encourage pas
sion, but TO appeal to reason. You are
IN the midst OF the greatest contest the
world has ever known. Whether you
succeed or fail depends on yourselves
In order to win you must remain abso-
lutely Bober until this contest Ia over
Whisky clouds the brain, robs you OF
your money and makes you brutal, and
also makes you do Just what your en-
cmies want you TO do"
sSndy Crerl Miners Return TO WORK.
After the meeting the Sandy Creek
miners returned to work and the strlk-
crB went Into camp and had lunch. The
presence Of tho deputy Sherlffs was not
needed as there was no trouble OF any
kind.
Mr. Dc Armllt tonight makes the
following statement.
"a few of our men from the Turtle
Creek and Plum Run mines attended
the meeting. About forty of the young
or men In the Sandy Creek mine were
present AZ far ns the effect ~ the
meeting on our men In concerned II was
u fiat failure. Al Of our mines were In
operation and viii BE- tomorrow"
a largo force of deputies Ia on duty
and developments of sensational MT
iuro art liable 10 occur NJ any time. The
men In the camp VIII be- supplied with
food
Lnto tonight, William Warner aoo-
rotary NJ the miners union, tClcphuncd
that a break IN De hrmitt'B men had
lUEon place. lio Rays TINT after the
dny meeting another meeting wnR mr.
nuEol fur Tonight hnd n WAH nttund-
ul by many ~ tho men Who have been
M work. Several local speakers, hc
uyr, plncod tho matter before them In
turh convincing way that the goo men
from Do Armllla Turtle Crook mine re-
IulyOl uut Ia rpttiru ia work iu tha