The record-union., 1897-08-06
Strikers Have Practically Won at
Turtle and Sandy Greeks.
A Few Men Working in One of the Pits, but
Putting Out No Coal.
Deputies at Plum Crcek Having a
Hard Time-Kept Constantly on
the Move From Daylight Until
Long After Sunset to Protect
the Mines Against Marching
Strikers.

Strikers.
PITTSBURG, Aug. 5.-Out of the
1900 strikers who camped at Turtle
Creek last Saturday barely 300 now re-
main at Camp Determination. In addi-
ton to the large number turned out of
camp and cut off from the free lunch
distribution yesterday, many We're
drafted to Plum Creek, where the great
struggle for supremacy between the
strikers and the New York and Cleve-
land Gas Coal Company will be carried
on.
At Turtle and Sandy Creeks the stri-
kers have practically won. The Turtle
Creek mine, known as No. 4, is closed
down as tight as the strikers can ever
hope to close it by their present peace
full means of agitation. It 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 1T Sandy Greek.
Reports from Plum Creek are conflict
ing. De Armitt claims that 30 men are
still working, while the strikers say they
counted but thirty going into the pit
this morning. The deputies at Plum
Creek are having a hard time. Many
are complaining, and a number have
resigned. They are up from before day
light until long after the sun has set.
They are under a constant strain. All
the mines are connected by private tele-
graph and telephone wires, and every
stranger or body of strangers moving
along the highways is Immediately re
ported to the nearest office by scouts,
and the foreman or managers of all the
pits get notice At the point upon
which any march thus reported seems to
be directed, there is a stir among the
deputies. AS these marches are of al
most daily occurrence, day and night in
all directions, the deputies are in a state
of apprehension and activity. The
feeding and lodging facilities are limited
and are not adequate to the demands
made upon them. And what adds to the
deputies discomfort is the fact that
none of them are used to hardships.
Early this morning President De Ar
mitt had a brush with the marchers.
They were on the march, and as they
approached they opened ranks for him
to pass through When they neared the
end of the road leading into the Muir
raysville road he stopped them, saying
the road was the private property of the
New York and Cleveland Gas and Coal
Company. The men held a consuta-
tion, and concluded to march on, which
they did. De Armitt marched with
them, threatening them with arrest,
but no arrests were made
1t became rumored about among the
campers to-day that President De Ar
mitt had made arrangements to bring
300 colored men to the mines from Vir-
ginia, and that they would be here by
Saturday.
STRIKERS SHOCKED BY ELEC-
TRICKY.
PITTSBURG, Aug. 5.-Const erna-
ton was caused in the miners camp
last evening by a terrific wind and
electrical storm which passed over the
Turtle Greek Valley, doing great dam
age.
At Sandy Creek a tree in the yard of
the jefferson schoOlhouse, under which
was a group of striking miners, was
struck by a bolt and shattered into
matchwoOd splinters.
Venice Coffey and George Sedgewicz
We're shocked into insensibility and
their condition is critical. Six others
We're also shocked.
The occurrence caused the widest ex-
citement among the striking miners.
The storm came upon them without
warning, and there was a wild scurry
for shelter, of which there was none.
except that afforded by their small
tents.
When the storm came up many Of
the strikers took refuge in De Armitt' s
stables where the deputies are quar-
tered They We're not discovered until
the storm had passed and they were
then ordered away.
The strikers are jubilant over their
successes at De Armitt's mines. The
total output yesterday was eighteen
cars.
Colonel McC'andless, the Surgeon-in-
Chief of the National Guard, and Quar-
termaster. We're in Turtle Creek to-day.
II is said they were looking for a suit
able site for a camp, in case the troops
should be called out. Colonel McCand-
less refused to affirm or deny that he
was in the district in connection with
the inquiries being made by the Gov
ernor. At present there is absolutely
no need of troops.
President Dolan has announced that
the next demonstration at Camp De-
termination will take place on Satur-
day. 1t will be a record breaker. All of
the steel workers from Homestead and
Braddock will be present. Plans are be-
ing matured for the strikers to march
TO Braddock and there meet the visit
ing contingent with their bands and
march back, gathering up recruits all
along the route In this way they eX-
pect to hiring in an enormous crowd. Al
the least, 1000 are expected.
BY the first of next week, when the
strike leaders say they expect to have
all the New York and Cleveland Com
pany's mines closed, the strikers at
Turtle Creek and Plum Creek and San
dy Creek will move on into the West
moreland field and camp at the differ
ent mines there. All of the Westmore-
land mines are running and it is to stop
the putting of coal into the Pittsburg
market from there that the move is
contemplated.
The manager of the Westmoreland
Coal Company stated that the strikers
will be treated as trespassers. The
PENNSYLVANIA Gas Coal Company will
pllrsue the same tactics.
hot