The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-03
They Gather by Thousands
and Are Buoyant,
GUARDING THE MINES
PHI IiMADDRS COUNSEL THEN
TO KNHP WITHIN THR LAW.
FRANTIC RUSH FOR THE BREAD SUPPLY

For rive Weeks tOr the StrikerS-'H VIC
tory Claimed to be in Sight
But is Denied.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 2.-The striking
miners have broken all records, both as
to numbers attending their mass-meeings
and the excellent order and law-abiding
behavior they have exhibited. Too much
praise cannot be given the strikers for
this latter condition. They have been
subject to the control of leaders, who
profting by former experience, have so
forcibly instilled into the minds Of their
followers the stupidity of law-breaking
that the peaceful attitude and actions of
the strikers have been a source of won
der to all the prophets, who have from
day to day predicted dire happenings. 1t
is conceded by all that in former times.
under similar circumstances, riot and
bioodshed would have resulted long ago
from the conditions under which the min
ers have been placed during this strike.
1t is the hope of all well wishers of the
strikers that this peaceful warfare will
continue throughout and until the contest
10 settled definitely.
The mass-meeting Of miners at the
NcOrea school house to-day was the
largest during the strike and probably
the largest gathering of the kind ever
seen in Allegheny county. More than
5000 striking miners met for an all-day
session and labor leaders harangued them
in various tones, while bands of music
served to stir up enthusiasm to the high
est pitch. From early morning miners
ef every nationality were gathering at
the school house. They came in big
bands and small ones, but the one that
set the camp wild with enthusiasm ar
rived at 1925 this morning from Turtle
Greek. 1t consisted of 1,600 miners from
that camp, and when they came in sight
there was such cheering as has not been
heard since the strike started. They
came down to the camp at the school
house with bands playing stirring airs
and banners waving in the breeZes. Cheer
after cheer went up from the camp and
the marchers returned them with>a will.
When the miners of the two parties met
there were some wild scenes. Men rush
cd around shaking hands, shouting and
even embracing each other. The crowd
that had gathered was so much larger
than the men had anticipated that they
were wild with 10y.
A few minutes after the arrival of
the Turtle Creek division, the speakers
arrived in carriages. They were: M. p.
0arrick, President of the Painters and
Decorators Union: w. A. Carney, Vice
President of the Amalgamated Associa
ton; Mrs. Mary G. Jones, the female
labor agitator, of Chicago, and NJ. J.
Counahan, of the Painters and Decora-
tors Union. In addition to these the
leaders of the miners were allowed to
speak as the occasion demanded.
There was a rumor in the camp that
Sheriff Harvey A. Lowry would appear
with deputies and force the meeting to
disperse but it was evidently unfounded.
The speeches were not of an infamma-
tory character, and the big crowd was
orderly during the whole day.
1t was announced that but % men were
at work to-day in the Plum Greek mines
while only two or three were in the
Sandy Greek mine. The policy of the
miners is to form camps at these mines
as we'll as at Oak Hill and maintain
large parties on guard. President Dolan
announced that he got land from private
parties on which to pitch his camps.
The feeling in the camp was one of
triumph. The miners claim that they are
on the high road to success, and the en-
thusiasm which was seemingly slumber-
ing yesterday, was at fever heat to-day.
J. Il. Mccoy, prominent member of
the Typographical Union, extended the
sympathy and financial support of the
printers OF the country and said the or
ganization had made per capita as
sessment for five weeks to be paid for
the benefit Of the strikers.
A large number of the men who at
tended the meeting were nearly dead
from hunger. Some Of them had eaten
nothing since four o'clock yesterday and
the commissary wagon had not arrived
when the meeting was over. It was not
until nearly 2 o'clock, that the wagon
carrying the provisions came out to the
camp. When it arrived there was rush
for bread which would put to shame any
foot ball rush ever seen ON the grid iron.
After the meeing was over and the
men had satisfied their appetites, they
went back to their camp at Turtle
Greek in an orderly manner, where they
rested and made preparations for tomor-
row. Two new camps were instituted this
afternoon after the meeting. The one at
Plum Creek will be known as 'Camp Re-
sistance," the one at Sandy Creek will be
called Scamp Isolation"
Each camp in the besieged district will
be constantly supplied with guards.
Headquarters, as heretofore, will be
"Camp Determination" at Turtle
Creek
procession was wagon drawn by -four