Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-30
ARMY OF STRIKERS.
1T ENCAMPs IN NEIGHnORHooD OF
DE ARNITT MINES.
FIRST CONFLICT In PENNSYLVANIA.
Fears of the Re-EnnctmcDt of the
bloody Scenes of '9f mt Sickle
sidering the Court Injunction.


Creek. and Sandy Creek. and In the
vicinity Of De Armltts, was invaded af-
ter midnight by an army of strikers who
came TO attend a mass-mee:ing to-day.
There were several thousand miners en-
camped on the hills surrounding the New
York and Cleveland Gas-COal Company's
property. They came from every direc-
ton. Large delegations arrived from
Winocks, Gastonvlle. F'inleyville, and
other points along the Wheeling Division.
nearly all of them carrying heavy walk
ing-sticks. and some being armed. There
were no threats Of violence, however, and
no indications Of drinking. Many were
supplied with food enough 20 last two
days Immediately on reaching Oak Hill
the strikers prepared for camp.
In the valley leading up from Turtle
Creek to one Of the New York and Cleve-
land mines the company had power
ful searchlight. 10 was kept shifting
about in hopes Of hanking any movement
Of the strikers to creep within reach OF
the mines unknown to the deputies. who
guarded every approach. Long before
eating their frugal meal prepared for
the days work The intention was to
sec as many of De Armitts men before
they got into the pits as POSSIBLE
About 4 o'clock 1900 strikers assembled
at Turtle Greek. and. headed by three
brass bands. with flags and banners fly
ing. marched past the houses occupied by
De Armitt's miners. The strikers hOoted
and yelled, and then marched to the
mines. where they planted themselves be-
fore the pits thus compelling De Armitrs
men to run the gauntlet to get 20 work.
A short time later Sheriff Lowry,
who had been wired to for assistance,
arrived from Pittsburg. with fifty depu-
ties, armed with Wnchesters The
strikers quietly withdrew, and the new
deputies were placed on guard.
THE MEETING.
When the meeting was called to order,
at 10 o'clock this morning. there were
5000 striking miners in attendance, and
before ii was well under way there were
5000 in the vicinity Of the school-house.
About $3.50 o'clock go miners from the
SanGy-Creek mines marched to the meet
ing. and quite a large number came from
Turtle creek. The demonstration had no
effect upon the men at Plum Creek, ana
all there 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. Dlstrict-President Dolan, Secretary
Warner. and NJ. Il. Carrick went among
the strikers, and counselled 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 en-
Enthusiastically.
President Dolan was made chairman Of
the meeting. and in short speech he
accused Mr.. De Armitt of insincerity. He
said that if De Armitts 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" he said. 1--WE will march 5000
men here and compel you to come out,
not by a force, but by shame"
DEBS ADVISES SOBERNEsS.
When Eugene V. Debs was introduced
there was great enthusiasm. He said
I'm part: II am here, not to encourage
passion, but 10 appeal to reason. You
are in the midst of the greatest contest
the world has ever seen. In order 10
win, you must remain absolutely sober
until the contest is over. Whiskey clouds
the brain, robs you Of your money. and
makes you brutal-and makes you do
just what your enemies want you TO do"
After the meeting the Sandy-Creek
miners returned to work. and the strikers
nd haI
Mr. De Armitt tonight made the fol-
lowing statement: "a few Of our men
from the Turtle-Creek and Plum-Creek
mines attended the meeting. About forty
of the younger men in the Sandy-Creek
mines were present. As far as the ef-
feet of the meeting on our men is con-
cerned. 1t was a fat failure. All of our
mines were in operation, and will be to-
morrow"
A large force of deputies are on duty,
and developments of a sensational cha
racter are liable TO occur at any time.
The men in the camp will be supplied
with food.
AN ALLEGED BREAK.
Late tonight William Warner, secre-
tarv of the Miners Union, telephoned
that a break in De Armitt's men had
taken place. He says that after the day
meeting another meeting was arranged
for tonight. and it was attended by
many Of the men who have been ar
work. Several local speakers. he said,
placed the matter before them in such
"A convincing way that the men from
De Armitts Turtle Greek mine resolved
not TO return TO work in the morning.
Secretary Warner says this is the most
important result Of the big meeting, and
II viii be taken advantage Of at once.
TO influence the men az the other two
mines TO come out. The miners officials
are jubilant over this victory.
Eugene Debs left tonight for Colum-
bus. on business. which he declined to
make public. Before leaving he eX-
pressed himself as greatly encouraged.
lie expects great results from to-days
meeting.
RAID IN ILLINOIS.
ROANOKE ILL, July 29.-Four hun
dred miners from Minonk. WenOna,
Teluca. Kingley, and Sreator made
raid on the mines at Roanoke this morn
ing. They arrived at o'clock and
camped outside the town conference
with the mine operators was held at
o'clock. the latter agreeing to close the
n,ire. and keep closed until the end OF
the gcnefdi sulhe' hS Nl"it''S WIZ VI
derlv EXCEPT that they seized a Santa
Fe train and demanded transportation
10 Minonk. This was refused. and the
rain was held from Ii o'clock until 7:3O
this evening.
PROPAGANDA IN INDIANA.
EVANSVILLE. IND. July 29.-J. Ii.
Kennedy. secretary of the Indiana miners.
is here. in an endeavor 70 get the miners
OF this district TO join the strike. Ken
nedy IS urging all organized labor to
use its influence with the '1iners. The
evansville miners. he says. are sending
coal to Chicago. and many other places.
where IL was never before thought OF
patronizlng the operators Of This city, and
the result is obvious. A nassmeeting Of
tho miners is to take place sOon.