The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-30
A MINERS INVASION
Thousands of Them Camp
Near DeArmitt's Mines.
5000 STRIKERS MEET
NO VIOLENCE OR EFFORT OR AT
TEMPr TO HURT THB MEN
A SYMPATHETIC STRIKE THREATENED

A SYMPATHETIC STRIKE THREATENED
Debs Advises Miners TO Stay Sober in his
The Greatest Contest of the Age--Whis-
key Cowds the Brains and Makes
You do WHAT Your Enemies
Want You to Do"
Pittsbarg, Pa, July 29.-Oak Hill, the
vicinity of the Turtle Greek, Plum Greek
and Sandy Greek, of De Armitt, was In
yaded after midnight by an army of
strikers, who came to attend the great
mass meeting to be held near the mines
today. 1t is estimated that by daybreak
there were several thousand miners en-
camped upon the hills surrounding 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 Willocks, Gastonville, Finley
vile and other points along the Wheeling
divisions, nearly all of them carrying
heavy walking sticks, and some were
armed. There were no threats of violence,
however, and no indications of drinking.
Many were supplied with food enough to
last two days
Immediately upon reaching Oak Hlll
the strikers prepared for camp.
In the valley leading up from Turtle
Greek to one Of the New York and
AZ had
erful searchlight. 1t was kept shifting
about in hopes Of flanking any movement
Of the strikers to creep within reach Of
the mine until known to the deputies
who guarded every approach.
Long before daylight the strikers were
up and after eating their frugal meal
prepared for the days work. The lnten-
ton was to see as many of De Armitts s
men before they got into the pits as pos
sibie.
About o'clock 1900 strikers assem-
bled at Turtle Greek and, headed by
three brass bands, with flags and banners
fymg, marched past the houses occupied
by De Armitt's miners. The strikers
hooted and yelled and then marcned to
the mines, where they planted themselves
before the pits, thus compelling De Arm
tits men to run the gauntlet to get to
work.
A 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 our guard.
When the meeting was called to order
at 10 O'Clock this morning there were
5000 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 25O miners
from the Sandy Greek mines marched to
the meeting and quite large number
came from Turtle Creek. The demonstra-
ton had no effect upon the men at Plum
Greek and all went to work.
The strikers used all their powers of
persuasion upon the diggers, but none
were molested and no threats were made.
Previous to the meeting Eugene V. Debs,
District President Dolan, Secretary
Warner and NJ p Carrick went among
the strikers and counseled them to keep
within the bounds of the law and pre-
serve order throughout the day. Their
advice was received with good grace by
the men, who cheered the officials enthu-
siasticaly.
President Dolan was made chairman
of the meeting and in short speech
ne accused Mr.. De Armitt of insnceiity
He said that if De Armitt's men did not
come out there would be a sympathetic
strike all over the United States.
NJ. p Carrick was next introduced and
he said that workingmen all over the
United States are interested in this
strike because it will have a tendency to
raise wages everywhere. "If you men
OF the De Armitt mines will not come
out now we will march $4,000 men here
and compel you to come out, not by
force but by shame"
When Eugene V. Debs was introduced
there was great enthusiasm. He said
in part: II am here, not to encourage
passion 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 Jon must remain abso-
lutely sober until this contest 10 over
Whiskey clouds the brain, robs you of
your money and makes yoB brutal and
also makes You do just what your enemies
want you to do"
After the meeting the SANDY Greek
miners returned to work and the strikers
went into camp and had lunch.
Mr.. De A1nitt tonight made The fol-
lowing statement
"A few Of OUT men from the Turtle
Greek and Plsn Greek mines attended
the meeting. About forty OF the young
or men in the Sandy Greek mine were
present. 40 fAs a. the effect OF the
meeting on eur men IL concerned, it was
. Eat failure All Of our mines were
In operation and will be tomorrow"
A large force Of deputies are on duty
and developments Of . sensational char