The San Francisco call., 1897-08-26
Operators Charge Strikers
With IncendiariSm and the
Poisoning of Mules.
UNITY UNDER OPERATORS
ARMED GUARD.
The De Armitt Company Accused
of Holding Back Miners Wages
Amounting to $4,000.

PITTSBURG, Pa, Aug. 25.-The camp
OF negro laborers at Unity, near the striK-
ing miners camp at Plum Creek, which
has a record for lawlessness unequaled in
this State, is TO be broken up. During the
past month there have been several MUIR
ders and a score or more OF shooting
scrapes at the camp In which many OF the
negroes were injured. Last night three
men were shot and on Sunday one man
killed and four dangerously wounded.
Yesterday was payday at the tunnel
and it also marked the arrival OF 100
colored women of the worst character at
the negro camp. With the advent of
these women and lots of bad liquor all
records for lawlessness and disorder at the
camp were broken and the widest excite
ment ensued. So Dad has the situation
now become that even the'railroad super
intendents on the work are afraid to enter
the camp Tomorrow the company Will
march a strong guard OF heavily armed
men into the camps and drive out all the
women and gamblers at the muZzles CT
Winchesters. This done dead line will
be drawn about the camp and they will
not be permitted to return. The whole
neigh borhood at Unity is in state of ter
rorism. The farmers dare not walk the
roads unless heavily armed and then only
by TWO and threes-
No marching was done by the miners in
the De Armitt region in the early morn
ting. The roads are in bad shape from the
recent heavy rains. The men sauntered
out in small groups and continued their
,-l-., h.,
This was payday at Oak Hill, and the
campers believe that since the men have
received their money they will join the
strikers.
At Plum Creek the strikers seem to be
losing ground every day. To-day the
company decided that every man who did
not 60 to work at once could not go at all
hereafter
1t is said that the De Armitt Company
has held back in wages at the three mines
$50. 900.
The company claims that the reason the
output OF coal has been so small with so
many men a work was because many of
the men simply went into the mines to
keep their jobs, not working any more
than they had TO. Now the company says
they are all working hard. There were
no evictions. Superintendent de Armitt
said that he had no reason for hurrying 2
the men out of heir homes and would give
them few days more of grace.
The power house of the Federal Coal
Company, operated by E. W. Powers. at
Federal, Pa, on the Pittsburg, CHARTERS
and Youghiogheny Railroad, was burned
shortly after midnight The flames spread
rapidly, and great difficulty was exI eri-
enced IN saving the tipple. There seems
to be no doubt that the fire was the work
of incendiaries, as three men were seen
running down the railroad few minutes
before the flames were discovered.
Since the strike was started Mr.. Powers
has made himself unpopular by threaten
ing to import colored men and start his
mines. The Federal mines were operated
by machinery. The loss was $4,000.
Striking miners are accused of poisoning
the mules in Sterling mine at Hastings
Pa. One mule has died and another is
missing and four more are extremely
OK. The com pany is reported to have
had the carcasses of the animals exam
ined, with the result OF proving death was
due to poison. 1t is understood The mine
moved. 1t is one OF the largest mines in
Hastings, and is the one at which the
men and Superintendent Nicholson have
had so much trouble.
Representative of all the coal operators
in the Pittsburg district met at the Monon-
gahela House at 10 o'clock this morning
TO devise ways and means for opening the
mines Immediately at all hsZ ards. The
meeting was held behind clio ed doors and
adjourned at 80 o'clock this afternoon
After the meeting the operators said the
entire session had been taken up with the
discussion of the following resolution,
which was adopted:
Inasmuch as the efforts we have made to
bring this strike to an end have failed, and
that now there is no possibility OF settle
ment on the lines of conciliatlon and arbitra-
ton; therefore, be 1t
ResoIUed, That we have no course left open
but TO continue the struggle along the lines
that may appear to be most productive of the
results desired in the interests of miner and
operator alike.
ResoIved, That we discharge all committees
and adjourn sine die.
1t is said that the operators will now
prepare to open their mines. Notices will
be posted at once in conspicuous places
about the various pits of the district mott
flying the strikers that they can return to
work if they care to. Af:er sufficient time
has elapsed and the men do not return
the operators will engage employees from
other places and start their mines.