The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-23
The BIG STRIKE.
INTENSE INTEREST IN THE WEST
VIRGINIA MINERS.

d:catiOns Point TO the FORMER Actiors
Six Hundred Already Quit Vork-AlI
Quiet In the Pittsburg District-Kushine
Coal to Market
Pittsburg. July 16.-Dullness at min
ers' headquarters and in all the mines
i'm the Pittsburg district and unusual
activity in the coal market character
lied the features of the strike today.
For a strike so general it causes the
least excitement; a seems to pre-
vail everywhere. How long this state
of affairs will continue to exist can-
not be ever guessed. The miners are
apparently willing to be idle and as yet
no suffering of consequence has been
reported at district headquarters.
The miners officials were very much
elated over news from West Virginia.
Several kilograms from organizers in
that section OF an encouraging nature
were received. There is nothing start
ling to report from any of the dis
~tricts," aid President Patrick Dolan.
"The men, with the exception Of a
very few, are out and we are satisfied
with the situation"
Coal took another tumble in price to-
day. 1t sold for $1.25 at the mine, a
drop of % cents from the day pre-
Vious.
A tour among the operators lemon
strated that there was plenty Of coal
on hand. 1t was learned that the
Pennsylvania Gas Coal Company,
Westmoreland Gas COa Company,
Manor Shaft, Keystone Coal Company,
Washington Run Coal Company, the
Boon and Allison mines were furnish
ing considerable coal. 1t was estima-
ted that the mines east of PittSburS
are furnishing $50 cars a day.
Nearly all the empty cars in the
P%ittsburg district are finding their way
to the West Virginia coal fields. The
baltimore and Ohio took several rains
of them today. 1t was also learned
that $50 cars a day were going from
the POcahontas field in West Virginia
into Cleveland. The records show that
a cargo of 1000 tons was loaded We'd
nesday, a similar one on Thursday n
the North Wing was loaded today with
the same amount. Another cargo will
be loaded tomorrow. The price is
$3.50 alongside, or free on board the
vessel.
1t was learned tonight that the pro-
gramme of the miners officials is to
bring out all the men possible in the
West Virginia field and then bring all
the organizers to Pittsburg. 1t is eX-
pected that the terms will be made
here, as the district is looked upon as
the most interesting point after West
Virginia has been disposed of. The
miners hopes are high, and they are
confident that there will be a good story
to tell from West Virginia Monday
morning.
The lukewarmness OF National Pres
I1Ant IDntchf,,.l orI Tho ha1itt1iro OF
titude of District President Dolan has
put somewhat of a damper on the true
uniformity plan, out President DOlan
says Notwithstanding his private Opin-
ion concerning Mr.. De Armitt, he has
been and will continue doing every
thing in his power to further the con-
summation of the scheme. General
Little and Mr.. De Armitt left this ev-
ening for Philadelphia to consult with
officials of the Westmoreland, Penn
SylVania, Key Stone and other coal
companies along the line of the Penn
SylVania railroad, With the end in view
of securing the cooperation in the uni
fOrmity plan.
All of the arbitration board except
p. Frank Schmid, of Indiana, are now
out of the city. They expect to have
a general meeting of the operators OF
the five states in Pittsburg next Mon.
day or Tuesday, when the commits.
siOners believe an amicable settlement
will be cached.
Fair Mont, w. Va, July 16. The
events of last night and today show
plainly that it is the intention of the
miners Of this region to come out anC
the time of the action is supposed to be
tomorrow when Debs, Sovereign
RatchfOrd and GOmpers are billed here
for addresses. 1t is the opinion tina,
if the men attend the meeting they
will not go back to work in the mines
The general impression seems to be
that the men will be present at this
meeting, Notwithstanding tomorrow i:
pay day, and will fail to show VI
Monday morning. 1t is announced pos
ltiVely tonight that the O'DOnnel
miners will come out and from a meet
ing held at MonOngahela last night an(
addressed by one of the agitatOrs it il
almost sure they will follow suit. TIL,
meeting here tomorrow is being look
ed forward to with the greatest inter
est by both miners and operators as i
is expected to be the turning point.
C~larksburg, w. Va, July 10Th
mines are all WORKING here today AM
outwardly everything is runnin.
smoothly, but there is an u~ndercurren
of uneasiness among the operators ant
dissatisfaction among the miners ant
there is no doubt that tomorrow will
settle whether a strike will be declared
or not. Delegations of miners will at
tend the meeting at M~onongahela
where President RatchfOrd and Eu
gene V. Debs will speak and there i
a strong probability that a genera
strike for this region will be declares
New men continue to arrive here an,
all are given work and operators ar
loading all ears the a furnish
Coal is being shipped to Cleveland an,
Chicago.
Charleston. W. Va, July 16.-The Goa
diggers at eight mines in the Kanawh
coal field quit work tonight. The.
number about 600. Others have agree
to quit tomorrow. The probability i
that all of the miners between Charles
ton and Montgomery Will be idle by to
morrow night. They number abou
1900.
Williamson, w. "a. July 18th
miners working in the Logan Consol
idaied mines in MatteaWan, this coun