New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-19
MINERS GROW DESPERATE.
TROUBLE PROBABLY AHEAD IN THE
PITTSBURG DISTRICT.
A THOUSAND MEN MARCHING ON THE cANNoNs
BURG MlNEs-A PEACEFUL BATTLE FOR
eREAD--woMEN STIR THE MEN
TO ACTION,


Pjttsburg July IS What has happened to-
day in the Pittsburg coalmining district indi-
eates tha; there is trouble ahead. The strike
IA. been on for two weeks, with no cause for
alarm In any quarter. but to-day the pangs OF
hunger and mutterings of discomfort have taken
tangible form. and before morning 900 miners
will have marched on Cannonsburg, the OBJ
1ective point being the Boone and Allison mines
few days ago the operators OF the mines made
a requisltior on the Sheriff of Washington
County for additional deputies. 1t Is supposed
that there at least thirty deputies at each
mine well armed for any friction that may take
place.
To-day the miners Of the Mlers and Toms
Run district held mass-meetings. The men
employed in the Slope and Bridgevlle mines
Essen Nos. 1 and 2 and Stems mines, met at
Bridgeville. Cecil was the scene of a meeting
of Laurel Hill Nos. and +. Creedmoor and
Bishop mines. and the diggers employed in the
Standard and Ellsworth mines. in Millers Run
also held a meeting. The gatherings were at
tended by men. women and children.
The women did not lag in the interest taken
Many Of them openly branded their husbands
as towards. They argued that they might as
well fight as starve. The men said that the VIC
tory could be won provided every coal miner
employed in the sections where the lake trade is
supplied would Join the general movement of
idleness.
Plans for bringing out the miners at work In
the Boone and Allison mines were discussed
Special committees were sent from one meeting
10 the other 1t was dcided to march on to Can
nonsburg mines tonight. The Ressing brass
band and the Cecil drum corps were engaged
and the march across the country is on. The
procession will be made up Of tthree divisions
from the different sections. They will meet at
Brdgeville and take up the tramp Of twelve
miles across the country. miner who was en-
thusiastc over the plan, said that there would be
al least one thousand men in line.
II was learned .ata tonight that the scheme
has been in process of formulation for several
days. II was talked Of several days ago. and
got to the ears of the operators of the Cannons-
burg mines: hence their decision to increase
their force Of deputies Whether the miners
will 20 armed is not yet known. but they ex-
pect to be at the mines when the offending dig
gers are ready to 60 TO work, and will use every
influence possible to keep them from going into
the mines Some Of the most conservative OF
the leaders claim that there will be no blood
shed. They say that when the golfers see such
q big demonstration in favor Of what they term
a peaceful battle for bread they cannot enter
the mines and retain their manhood.
Every effort was made to keep the movement
a secret, for fear the force Of deputies at the
mines would be further increased. Just what
the result will be it is difficult at this hour to
tell. The men known TO be in condition
Of semi-insanity on the strike question. They
have been goaded by suffering wives. daugh-
ters and 'eethearts, and it appears as If it is
.he begipr i1g of the epa or The strike.
The Yc-,0t.sttToIIs induce tire cUai operators
Of this district to sign a uniformity agreement
are still going on. The Commissioners having
II In charge feel as If they would be able to
accomplish It, Secretary c. Frank Schmid said
tonight that the prospects were brighter than
they have been since the negotiations began. He
said that within the next few days powerful
and potent influences would be brought to bear
on the operators, and with the strike in the
present condition the indications We're for
successful consunlmation of the agreement
AS an evidence that the operators are not
counting on arbitration, il was announced to-
night by prominent operator that, if the
strike In West Virginia does not prove success
ful the Pittsburg operators will make an effort
early next week TO start their mines at the 69-
cent rate the rate now asked by the strikers
They will declare that. as they are willing to
pay the price asked, the law must protect them
In the operation Of their mines.