The herald., 1897-08-01
THE FIRST
FATALITY
In Connection With the
Coal Strike
A NON-UNION LEADER KILLED
AND A RIOT rs NARROWLY
AvERTED
A N0N-UNI0N LEADER KILLED
In All the Regions Matters Are Quiet
but Trouble Is Feared on
Monday
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SCOTTDALE, Pa, July 31-William
Cummings the leader of the non-union
men brought here by the Scottdale Iron
and Steel company to take the places of
strikers was shot and instantly killed
tonight in front of the Commercial hotel.
Cummings and three companions, all
non-union men, encountered a number
Of strikers as they came out of the bar
racks and war of words ensued. Some
one fired a revolver and a dozen shots
followed in quick succession. Cum
mings dropped dead with bullet in his
temple and his three companions fled
to the mill, hotly pursued by an angry
crowd. When the non union men reach
ed the enclosure the deputies on guard
surrounded them and the mob was
forced to retreat. Sheriff Zanoor If
Greensburg is now on his way here with
fifty men. AT midnight everything was
quiet however, and there was no fear
of further outbreak. Reports as to
how the shooting occurred are conflict
ing. James Dolf, one of the non-union
men who were with Cummings, was ar
rested tonight and other arrests will fol-
low. The situation is very much
strained and no one can predict the out
come
BEFORE THE STORM
PITTSBURG, Pa, July 31.-Anxiety.
expectation and suspense, which were
the conditions in the coal mining situa-
ton about De Armitt's mines today,
have given place to pace and quietness
tonight After running counter to dep
uty sheriffs several times during the
day, the strikers peacably withdrew this
evening and are now asleep in their
camps. AS the miners will not work to-
morrow the strikers will take rest,
and no trouble is expected before Mon
day morning.
The week closed with miners officials
satisfied that they had made marked
impression upon the diggers of the New
York and Cleveland Gas Coal company,
who, it seems are wavering as to their
purpose.
All the men are out at Sandy Creek
and but few were at work at Turtle
creek today. Plum creek was in full op-
Grafton and the entire force of the strik-
ers was centered at this point but with
out success. Late this afternoon Presi-
dent Dolan took twenty-five strikers
from the camp and marched to Plum
creek, where meeting was organized
Speeches were made by President Dolan
and Vice President Mackey, and the
men cautioned to keep within the law
While the meeting was in progress the
sheriff, with an armed force of deputies,
appeared. Sheriff Lowry read the in
junction prepared by De Armitt, and or-
tr;lr 70
dent Dolan replied that they were on
public ground and produced certificate
showing the place to be public high
way. Sheriff Lowry again ordered them
to disperse, and after short parley the
meeting was closed and the strikers
marched back to camp. Upon their re-
turn it was learned that 400 men from
the Panhandle district had started for
Turtle creek and would reach there to-
morrow morning. When the reinforce
ments arrive arrangements will be made
to march to Plum creek about midnight
Sunday and guard the mines until the
men start to work, when another effort
will be made to induce them to come out.
The camp has been organized on mill
tary lines. Guards and pickets are on
duty and all strangers will be kept on
the outside.
Several wagonloads of provisions were
received and enough rations are now on
hand to feed 5000 men. Sheriff Lowry
said this evening that he would visit
the camp in person tomorrow and after
making careful investigation would
probably decide to take some decisive
action Monday.
Camp Desperation" at the McCrea
schoolhouse will be the headquarters for
the strikers for many days. Commit
tees and subcommittee will visit the
offending miners in their homes tomor-
row with the hope of inducing them to
join in the movement.
At midnight President Dolan stated
that he had received word that 700 men
were on their way from Thomas run, 100
from Carnegie and 100 from Mucklerat.
BY noon tomorrow, he said, 1000 men will
be in camp.
A call has been issued for mass meet
Ing of all the miners in the Pittsburg dis
trict at McCreas schoolhouse near De
Armitts mines on Monday morning at
II o'clock. The call urges all miners
throughout the district to meet at their
mines and arrange to proceed to the
meeting place and continues: 'The
miners of this district confront crisis
In tnelr peaceable, laWabiding contest
for bread they have been outraged in
the name Of the law by the sheriff of
Allegheny county. 1t is absolutely
necessary that the miners register an
emphatic protest against the misinter-
pretation of the statutes"
1t is expected that at least 100 miners
will attend the meeting. Speeches will
be made by President Garland of the
Amalgamated association, President
Thomas of the Patternmal1ers' league.
and the local officials
KANSAS MINERS QUIT
PITTSBURG, Kan, July 31--The
miners at Weare shaft No. 5, a meet
ing this afternoon, voted to suspend
work until "Wednesday next and called
mass convention of all the miners in
the district for Tuesday next, at which
meeting action will be taken on the
demands of the miners for better now
der at lower prices and for an increase
in the price for mining. The actor to-
day is said to be due to the ignoring of
the demands of the men by majority
Of the miners. At the conference or
Friday last between miners and opera