The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-08-12
GREAT MASS MEETING.
More Than Five Thousand Strikers ut
McCrea Schoolhouse.


McCrea Schoolhouse.
Pittsburg, Aug. 4.-The mass meet
ing of miners at the McCrea school
house today was the greatest during the
strike, and probably the largest gather
ing of the kind ever seen in Allegheny
county. More than 5000 striking
miners we're gathered for an all-day
session, and labor leaders harangued
them in various tongues, while bands
of music served to stir up the enthusi-
asm to the highest pitch. From early
morning miners of every nationality
were gathering at the schoolhouse.
They came in big bands and small ones.
but the one that set the camp wild with
enthusiasm came from Turtle creek.
It had 900 miners from that camp,
and when they came in sight there was
such cheering as has not been heard
81 ace the strike started.
They came down to the schoolhouse
with bands playing stirring airs and
banners waving in the breeze. 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 rushed around shaking
hands, shouting, and even embracing
each other. The crowd that had gath.
cred was SO much larger than the men
had anticipated that they were wild
with joy.
Of
the Turtle Greek division the speakers
arrived in carriages. They were A. P.
Carrick, president of the Painters and
Decorators Union; w. A. Carney, vice.
president of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton; Mrs. Jones, the female agitator,
of Chicago, and M. G. Monahan, of the
Painters and Decorators Union. In
addition to these, the leaders of the
miners were lined up to speak as the
occasion demanded.
J. T. Mccoy, a prominent member
of the typographical union, extended
the sympathy and financial support OF
the printers of the country, and said
the organization made per capita
assessment for five weeks to be paid for
tie benefit of the strikers.
Two new camps were instituted this
afternoon after the meeting. The one
at Plum Creek is Camp Resistance, and
the one at Sandy Creek will be called
Camp Isolation. Each camp in the
beseiged district will be kept supplied
with guards Headquarters, as hereto.
fore, will be at Camp Determination,
at Turtle Creek
The force of deputies was kept busy
during the entire night. Every move
was watched, and trouble seemed to be
in the air. The condition is said to
have been critical Both sides feel
that there is crisis near at hand.
The officials of the New York & Cleve-
land Gas Coal Company gave out the
statement tonight that their forces were
increased in the Turtle Creek and
SANDY Greek mines, and that more men
were at work at Plum Creek than since
the campaign against the company
started.
The hearing of Patrick DOlan will be
held tomorrow before Justice Semmins,
of Turtle Creek. The miners officials
have retained attorneys, and the case
will be fought to the end.
Whatever the immediate elimination
of the strike situation may be, it is
evident that Sheriff Lowrey consider:
the time a critical one. Tonight he
telegraphed Governor Hastings fully
concerning the conditions existing here,
with the evident purpose of having the
governor prepared for any emergency
that may arise in the near future. 1T
is learned that the governor has been
impressed with the gravity of the stu
alton, and that he has instructed the
Acknowledgement to remain in his office
awaiting any requisition that may be
made on him for troops.
While the ranks of the strikers at
Turtle Creek were being augmented,
parties of marchers were in the field to
induce miners not to 60 to work. About
$50 gathered at Plum Greek mines be.
fore the men started to work. A line
was opened up and as the diggers neared
the pit mouth they passed between the
lines of strikers. There was no attempt
at force, but a number of diggers
stopped and talked with the strikers
and then passed into the mine. Some
were induced to come out. About an
hour later the strikers moved off in the
direction of the McCrea schoolhouse.
At Oak Hill mine a demonstration
was made, but no men were induced tc
quit. At Sandy Creek mine, many
men are out. The company say loo
are at work, while the strikers say
only % went in.