Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-09-23
STRIKE Is NOW OVER.
OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN RESUMED
IN THE LEHlGH REGION.
Inquest on the Lattimer Victims Not Yet
Started-Breaker Burned at Beaver
Meadow and Incendiarism Charged.
Sheriff and Deputies Under 1000 Bail.

The strike of the miners in this region
is practically over. Early in the week
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Company's
men returned to work, having accepted
the new scale of wages, which gives all
/ decided advance: c. Pardee t& Co. s en-
ployes returned to their labors at Latti-
mer and Harwood; Coke Bros. & Co. s
men at Eckley ard Buck Mountain went
back to work, and all the smaller opera
tions, such as strippings and waSheries,
are going again the same as If nothing
had happened. The Lehigh Valley Com
pany's men at Jeanesville, Yorktown and
| Hazleton were promised increases on
several lines of work and resumed yes
terday
The greater part of the miners return
ed to work without having their grev-
ances settled, and there is a proba bility
that the dissatisfaction may crop out
again in the near future. Many are dis
posed to believe that the operators will,
to avoid future trouble, take action on
several of the complaints and remedy
some of the abuses to which the en-
ployes are subjected by superintendents
and bosses. Such action at this time
would have a beneficial effect in renew
ing good feeling between the operators
and men.
The committee which presented Drift
ton employees grievances to the company
was met this week by Superintendent
Smith, who informed them that the
same wages would be paid hereafter to
Drfton men as are paid at other collier
les for the same work. If this promise
is fulfilled, it means a large increase for
hundreds of workers in Drifton.
John Markle yesterday gave his reply
to the grievances presented by Markle
Il Co. S employees. He informed them
that inside wages will remain the same,
subject to such alterations as called for
by the scale adopted many years ago;
that powder will not be eTeduced in price
for the present; that dealing in the com
pany store will hereafter be optional
with the employees, and that the firm
will make prompt investigation of the
wages paid to outside hands by other
operators and if Markle's men do not
receive the same the rate will be revised
to conform with that paid elsewhere.
The inquest was not begun this week,
as had been intended, on account of the
witnesses and others who will take part
being present at the hearing of the dep
uties in Wilkesbarre, an account OF
which is given in another column.
BEAVER MEADOW BREAKER BURNED.
Between Z and s O'Clock on Tuesday
evening the people of town saw rehec-
tion in the sky which denoted that a
serious fire was in progress on the South
Side. Upon investigation it was learned
that the Evans breaker of Beaver
Meadow was burning. The structure
was totally destroyed, causing loss
estimated at $50, 900 to A. S. vanWickle.
~ Co., the proprietors, and further loss
of several thousand dollars to Kennedy
e Warner, who had the plant leased
and used it as washery. The breaker
was built ten years ago by the Evans
Company, but was sold year ago to the
VanWickle firm.
John Betz, IA pumpman, aud George
Simmons, the night watchman, discover
ed the fire, which originated at the top
of the building. They endeavored to
quench the flames with buckets of water
secured at the boiler house, but the fire
had too good of start and soon the
entire breaker was enveloped In flames.
People in Coleraine and the surrounding
towns rushed to Beaver Meadow with
their hose, made connections with the
pumps in the mines and began the work
of eXtinguishing the fire, but the flames
had gained snch headway before their
arrival that combat with the fire fiend
was practically useless.
While the fremen with their hose
were at work, another gang of men sep
Grated the plane from the breaker by
using dynamite, to prevent the entrance
of the flames into the slope. The
demolition of the plane saved the mines.
The Weatherly fire department arrived
by special train, but came too late for
any effective operation.
| The origin of the fire is unknown, but
! it is supposed to be the work of an in
| cendiqry. report was circulated that
the strikers had set the breaker atire,
but this is unsupported by proof and does
the miners employed at the colliery an
injustice. All the men working there
were satisfied and had taken no part in
the labor troubles except to strike in
sympathy with VanWickle's employees
until the latter were given an increase
in wages.
GoBlN'S PREJuDICED VIEWS.
General Goblin, when informed of the
fire. said: IF they are beginning to
apply the torch, the situation is grave
indeed. They are doing the very thing
that will prevent them from working or
| obtaining the redress they are asking -