The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-10
THE MINERS STRIKE.
THE CONTEST TURNING ON PLUM
CREEK MINE.

The Other De Armit Mines
Strikers Brush With De Armit-Rum ors
of Intended Importation of Negro Miners
De Armit's Promised Surprise Not
Observation-Disclosures of Aid for the
Miners-Indiana Miners Strike.
Pittsburg, August 5.-Out of the 1000
strikers who were encamped at Turtle
Creek last Saturday, barely 800 now re-
main at Camp Determination. In addi-
ton to the large number Of men who
We're turned out of camp and cut off
from the free lunch distribution yes
terday, many were drafted to Plum
Creek, where the great struggle for su-
premacy between the strikers and the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company will be carried out.
At Tugtle and Sandy Creek the strik-
ers hats practically won. Turtle
Creek mine, known as No. 4, is closed
down as tight as the strikers can close
it by their means of agitation. 1t is
true that a few men are still at work
in the pit, but they are not putting
out any coal The same holds good
at Sandy Creek. Reports from Plum
Creek are conflicting. Superintendent
De Armit claims that 255 men are still
working, while the strikers say they
counted but thirty going into the pit
this morning. The deputies at Plum
Greek are having a hard time. Many
are complaining. There is no such
thing as uninterrupted rest for them.
They are up before daylight until long
after the sun has set. They are under
constant strain. There are seventy-five
deputies on duty here and it is stated
tina this number will not be decreased
for the present.
Early this morning Superintendent
Samuel De Armit had a brush with the
marchers. They were on the march
and as he approached they opened
ranks for him to pass through. When
they neared the end of the road leading
into the Murraysville road he stopped
them, saying the road was the private
property Of the New York and Cleve-
land Gas o Company. The men
held a consultation and concluded to
march on, which they did. De Armit
marched with them, threatening them
with arrests, but no arrests were made.
1t became rumored among the camp
cGS IOudy ina n. w. I. LIE <AII1llt Hdu
made arrangements to bring 800 color
ed men to the mines from Virginia,
and that they would be here by Satur-
day. The officials of the company,
when seen, denied the rumor and said
that nothing of the kind was cOntem-
plated.
Citizens who are in sympathy with
the striking coal miners undertook in
a novel way today to secure contribu-
4inrc Of prnuioinno from tho ronpnhontc
of the southside to be sent to the COM
missary department of the miners
camps. A local band was engaged, to-
gether with several large express wag-
ons and a procession headed by a stand
of the national cOlOrs was formed. The
band played patriotic music and slow
ly moved up Carson street, stopping at
each corner. The merchants all along
the route came forward with liberal
contributions of everything needed and
soon the wagons were filled. At the
Southside market liberal contributions
of vegetables were placed on the
wagons.
A large mass meeting of the miners
OF the M~OnOngahela valley was held at
Roscoe this afternoon to devise means
for carrying on the strike and to in
duce the few men at the mines at Eliz-
abeth, Bunola and Webster to come
out. 1t was decided to organize a
marching party and this will be done
in a few days.
The miners families along the Mo-
nongahela valley are reported to be
wanting the necessities of life. DeS-
titution is prevalent at every mining
hamlet and hundreds of families have
not had enough to eat for several days.
At Monongahela City a supply house
has been started and a committee ap-
pOinted TO solicit provisions.
Miners closed the day in This city by
a meeting on Duquesne warf, where
a crowd of from 5000 to 10, 200 people
assembled to hear Eugene V. Debs,
Mrs. Jones and several local speak
ers make addresses. The speakers were
given a hearty reception and the sem
timents expressed were loudly cheered,
especially when illusions were made to
the unrighteousness Of the suppression
of free speech and lawful assemblage.
1t was learned positively tonight
that Governor Hastings has hid men
in the Turtle Creek region for two
weeks past to keep him posted on the
condition of the strike. Factory Inspec-
tor Campbell has been the chief lieu
tenant of the executive in this work.
Colonies Logan and M~cCandless, Of the
general staff, have also been over the
field and will MAKE their report to the
governor. 1t is safe to say that they
will say the national guard is not
needed at his time.
The surprise predicted this afternoon
has not as yet been sprung on the
miners. 1t is not known whether the
intention is to import miner from Vir-
ginia or an attempt on the part of the
company to prevent the miners from
meeting or marching. Superintendent
De Armit intimated today that the
would try to have a stop put
to this practice and hat they would
bring the matter to the attention of
the authorities.
Terre Haute, Ind, August 5.-Vice
President Llewellyn wired Secretary
Kennedy, of the Indiana liners or
ganization, from WinslOw, that miners
at Hartwell, Petersburg, Titles, Ayr
shire and Jackson are all out. This
work has been accomplished by the
marching miners that set out early this
week from Washington. Linton M
Princeton. 1t is understood that no