Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-16
BREACH IN THE FORT.
Illinois Strike Raiders Win a Nota.
BILE Victory and Obtain En-.
trance to Decatur.
STRIKE OF THE MINERS STARTED

At Meeting at Which Only Miners and |
Raiders Were Present-siege of Coneen |
Goes on with Redoubled Energy-One
Thousand in the Investing Camp-Map |
Depresses the Strike Camps I'm the Pitts
burg Observation-Disclosures Report from |
West Virginia.
Decatur, Ills, Aug. 16.-A hundred |
Decatur miners yesterday morning
went to the camp of the Springfield and |
Pana miners on the edge of the city and
invited them to come in to meeting
Archie Neil. one of the leaders. said that
ever since it was known that they were
to be invited in Mayor Taylor had said
that his proclamation excluding them
was still in force, and that ashley intended
to violate no laws they could not come in
until the officers Of the law said that
they might. The Decatur miners then
called on the sheriff to admit the camp
ers. He said he could not without the
consent Of the mayor. Mayor Taylor
was waited on by a committee Of
Decatur men, and he finally consented
for them to come in if they would go out
again at night. Then the Decatur and
outside miners quietly marched in, about
400 men in all.
Strike Leaders Are Tacticions.
A meeting had been called by trades
union officers to protest against the en-
ployment of $50 deputies by the sheriff
at an expense Of $500 day, and the men
marched to the meeting. a. C. Weber
q al IA Cv,ott 1,4tl,
David F. Howe, pastor of the First
Methodist church, made speeches. say
ing that tie men had a constitutional
right to assemble; that there had been
no disorder, and so the board of super
visitors could not allow the big bills of
the sheriff, and that as there had been
no threats or intimidation there was no
reason to be afraid of the marchers.
Sheriff Discharges His Deputies.
Rev. Archie Neil, one Of the SPRING
field miners, said that they had come on
foot because they could not pay to ride,
to persuade the men at work in Decatur
to quit work and help in their great
struggle for more wages. His talk was
quiet and had a great effect. A meet
ing of miners only was announced for
last night in Miners hall and then the
men adjourned. The Springfield men
stayed in the city to attend that meet
ing. The sheriff has dicharged the spe-
cial deputies.
Raiders Get q Strike Started.
At the meeting of miners last night
eighty Decatur miners and $50 outsiders
were present. The Decatur men all
voted for a resolution to go in the mine
today, clean up their rooms, and come
out and attend a meeting at 8 o'clock
fnD irIt
pointed to go to each entry and notify
the rest of the men of this action.
About 400 men are working. 1t is not
believed that the action of last night
will cause the rest to strike, but it may
have the effect Of intimidating the ma
jority, who are German Poles, while
the men who want to strike are takers
and agitators. The Pana and Spring.
field men after the meeting all marched
to their camps outside Of the city.
Bradley Still Besieges Coneen.
st. Louis. Aug. ia special to The
Republican from Coffeen, Ills, says:
General Bradley holds forth west Of
town. His crusaders are returning from
Mount Olive and Staunton There was
throng of visitors going and coming to
the crusaders camp all day from the sur
rounding country. Sheriff Randle went
last night to his home at Hillsboro
Deputy Willoughby is in charge of the
mine guards and placed his men out
on all the roads. The outlook now is
that the crusaders are going to try to
force their way into town. Every
precaution is being taken that they do
not get in. Yesterday morning crusader
came to town inquiring for the Metho-
dist minister to see If he could get the
minister nraQnh n in
but owing to previous engagements the
minister could not go.
ReinfOrcemen.s for the Besiegers,
st. Louis. Aug. ia special to The
Republic from Mount Olive. Ills, says:
Interest in the strike situation was CEN
tered here yesterday. All yesterday
preparations were being made to renew
the siege at Coffeen. Farm teams and
wagons were hired and instead of tramn-
ing the miners will ride and make use
OF the wagons for beds. About ten large
| loads of provisions left here last even.
| ing. By sunrise this morning it is esti-
mated that 1000 men will reinforce the
| camp. Citizens of this place who have
| been held up by the Coffeen authori-
| ties and not allowed to enter that town,
have employed attorneys to bring suits
for damages. The litigation to follow
promises to be as interesting as the
| strike itself. About fifty women, wives
| of the miners from this and surround
ing towns, are making arrangements
| to go to camp. Their object will be to
| influence the wives of the miners there
| to prevail on their husbands to Join in
the demand for the scale Of wages and
, to join the suspension.
AMONG THE PITTSBURG CAMPERS
| Matters Are Not Comfortable WAITING
for the Injunction Hearing.