The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-08
EVICTION RIOT.
Armed Deputies stoned and dubbed
by Wen. women md Children


PITTSBURG. Sept. 1.-The efforts TO
evict the striking miners of the Pittsburg
and Chicago Gas Coal Company at Orange
vile. one and a half miles from CASTOR
vile, resulted in a riot of no mean proper
tions, and the utter failure on the part Of
the company to accomplish its object When
the news that the evictions were to be at
tempted was received the whole vicinity
about Finleyyille, Gastonville and Orange
Vile became wildly excited.
About O'Clock last night twenty deputies
from Washington, Pa, in charge of Chief
Deputy Joseph Hemphill, reached Finley
vile. where they were met by a large crowd
of strikers and their friends. Each deputy
was armed with a Winchester rifle and a
revolver, but in spite OF this the strikers
headed by one hundred Polish women
closed in on them, and they received rough
treatment. They were gradually forced
back and finally retreated to Gastonvile
where they were followed by a crowd of
about two hundred men and women. At
Gs!stonyllle the deputies took refuge in the
once OF the company, where they were kept
ali night, during which the building was
bombarded with stones and bricks, and an
occasional shot was fired.
At O'Clock this morning the trouble of
the night reached a climax when the dep
uties sailed out of their besieged quarters
and started to march to Orangevile. Each
MS revolver vas exposed, but these had no
terrors for the besiegers. Headed by the
same women, the strikers rushed on the
deputies with stones, clubs and pick ham
dies, and blows fell thick and fast. One of
the big women wrested the rifle from a
deputys hands and struck him on the head
with it, INJECTING a serious injury.
By this time one thousand men, women
and children had Joined the crowd They
came from Venetia, Snowden, Calamity and
Finleyyille The deputies slowly made their
way to OrangeVille, receiving all sorts of
il suits and injuries, but never firing a shot.
They finally took refuge in a vacant house,
closely followed by the mob, which quickly
surrounded the building and threatened to
burn it. Finally one of the strikers APP
preached the house with a flag Of truce
and conference was held. The deputies
were ordered to leave the town, and after
a short parley decided to do so. They
emerged from the house a badly frightened
lot of men, and, walking between the
opened ranks of the strikers, started for
Gastonville. Almost every man III the
posse was cut and bleeding. and several
We're seriously hurt. One had his right
hand almost severed by a sharp stone. AS
the defeated deputies ran the gauntlet they
were greeted with Kisses, curses and ridi-
Guile. The strikers then closed behind them
and marched them to the station. where
they took the train for Washington. After
their departure the mob dispersed and ev
erything is quiet now. The officials of the
company say no further attempt will be
made to evict the miners for the present.
me qe sIrlk 1If.g mn miners VINO We're encampedd
abandoned their camp. The strikers said
they were satisfied to take 65 cents, and
will go to work. All the men of the
Westmoreland and Pennsylvania Gas Coal
Company were at work to-day. At Her
mimic the miners are actus'ly on the point
of starvation They were receiving 62 cents,
and voted to remain at work The strikers
from the river marched to Hermine and got
the men out. The Berwind White Company
then closed down it's mine, fenced In its
pits and shipped its mules to Clearfield. The
miners are now out of work and out of
money and their condition is serious. They
have begged the company to open the mine
and let them return to work at the old
price, but the company has not yet sig
nified its intention of granting the request.
About the same condition exists at shaft
No. A. at Sewickley. The men there were
receiving 65 cents, and were satisfied. They
were forced out by the river miners, and
the Pennsylvania Company closed the mine
and turned the mules out to pasture. Now
the men are in want and wish to return to
work