Iron County register., 1897-09-16
A GRAVE SITUATION.
Trouble Likely to occur at Hazel'
ton. Pa.
An Ominous Occurrence at Church-NIin-
ers Preparing to Attend Funerals OF
Dead Rioters-Gen. Goblin Says He
VIII Permit No More Marching.

HAzLEroS, Pa, Sept. l2.-The situa-
ton here tonight is graver than 1T has
been at any time since the bloody at
fray of Friday afternoon. There is
strong reason to fear conflict between
the strikers and the military to-mor-
row, and there is an indication that
from 5000 to 1000 more miners will
join the malcontents.
Feeling continues high against
Sheriff Martin and his deputies, and
the intensity of the situation is such
that q sudden turn of the head or q
word spoken above the ordinary tone
brings running crowd. The soldiers
are watchful and ready for any emer.
gency, and the people of the town are
IN a state which may easily become
panic.
An incident of ugly omen occurred
during the funeral of three victims
this afternoon. While services were
being held inside St Joseph's church.
about 9, 600 of the foreigners were con-.
gregated about the doors. A Dumber
of them raised their voices. and 1T is.
declared by eyewitnesses that q police
man stationed near the door became
unduly officious. Instantly an omin-
Gus muttering followed, mingled
with scowling looks and clenched fists.
Word was Immediately carried indoors
to Rev. Father Aust. He hurried out
to the door and bundled the men who
seemed most quarrelsome into the
church. A few words of counsel to the
others prevented further demonstra-
tions.
Trouble is in the air, and if it is to
come the time will be tomorrow morn
ing. This is clear from the words ut
tered tonight by Gen. Goblin, COM
mander OF the third brigade. The
striking miners have made elaborate
preparations for a demonstration at.
the funeral of ten of the victims, which
is fixed for half-past ten o'clock in the
morning. The military authorities are
determined that nothing of the kind.
shall be permitted. and that from this
time on there shall be no march
ing of any character what
soever, whether during funer--
ais or otherwise. This resolution
is not generally known, and the miners
arc going on with their arrangements.
Gen. Goblin talked over the telephone
to Gov. Hastings for an hour or more
this afternoon. He said he had merely
made formal report to the governor
of the situation. 1t is apparent, how
ever, that the commander is not.
cheered by the immediate outlook,
although he says he thinks there will
be no further turbulence. He would
not say when the troops are likely to-
be withdrawn.
Furthermore, he made q revelation.
which put a startling aspect upon the.
situation. This was that the house of
the engineer of No. colliery had been
broken into late last night by six
masked men, and the engineer, who Is.
a cripple, was numerically beaten.
There is no clew to the identity of the
assailants. The only work the man.
has been doing lately is the pumping
necessary to free the mine from wa
ter. The general had also received n.
formal report of the Audenreid out
rage of last Thursday night, when the
strikers broke into the house of Conner
Jones, superintendent of the Lehigh
and Wilkesbarre Coal company. Jones,
whose unpopularity with the miners.
was one of the first causes of the strilxe,.
was not there, but the men literally
wrecked the interior of the house and
attacked mine powder house near by
and stole therefrom a quantity of dyn-
amite. As soon as he heard of this.
Gen. Cohen assigned a guard of the
Thirteenth regiment to remain at