Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-11
A WET DAY IN CAMP.
Striking Miners Contend With Actual
Hardships-Typhoid Epidemic Feared

Striking Miners Contend With Actual
Hardships-TyphoId Epidemic Feared
Pittsburg. Pa, August 10.-A crisis
is fast approaching in the miners move
ment against the New York and Cleve-
land Gas Coal Company. The next
few days should determine whether or
not the strikers object will be realized.
TO-day's work, while not viewed in
disappointing light by the campers at
Turtle Greek, Sandy Creek and Plum
Creek, yet the happenings were not OF
the most encouraging sort. To begin
with they had to contend with their
first spell of bad weather. A heavy
rain drenched the camps and prevented
the marcherS from carrying out the
regular programme. At Plum Greek
the rain and continued absence of a
band kept the men in their quarters
with the result that little, if any, mis-
sionary work was undertaken. The
storm also had the effect Of preventing
the march 10 the Spring Hill mines,
between Wilmerding and Wall Station,
which are owned by Alexander Demp-
ster. The only march Of the day was
made by the $50 men at Camp Deter
mination. who left camp shortly after
3 o'clock. and marching close to the
Oak Hill tipples, spent two hours in
the vicinity Of the miners homes
There was not even ordinary excite
ment attached to the invasion along
ThOmpsOn's run.
A summary of the days development
finds conditions much the same as they
were yesterday, save that the company
claims TO have made further break
in the strikers ranks at Turtle Creek
and Sandy Greek. The Plum Creek
mine was running considerable coal to-
day and the number of men reported
at work equals that of yesterday. The
failure to hold a meeting at Camp lso-
latiOn was another disappointing fea-
ture of the day. and the men are loud
~ clamOring for the presence of the
officials. The batch of Italians that
struck camp yesterday are expected to
do much good amCng their fellow
cOUntrymen at work in the Plum Greek
mine, but active laborS are being with
held until tomorrow morning, when 1t
will be positively known whether or
not the men propose remaining away
from the pits.
District President Pat Dolan this
afternoon accused the operators of the
Pittsburg district with having broken
faith with the striking miners in this
district He also outlined the policy to
be pursued by the United Mine Work
ers in their tight and says they are now
ready to carry the fight into the cen
tral Pennsylvania district, where it is
proposed TO close down all the mines.
He cannot predict when the strike
will be settled but claims his organ
ization can stand the strike until the
last of September.
The operators. he said, had promised
10 pay the price when the supply at
DeArmitt's mines had been cut off.
This had been done. but the operators
had failed to keep their part of the
contract.
The miners who have been working
regularly az Oak Hill mines were paid
this afternoon. Those who joined the
strikers did not get their cash. the
company withholding il, as under the
contract the men forfeited their wages
by striking. There was no excitement.
Between 800 and 400 employees were
on hand, but few of them received any
money. Mr. DeATmitt made a speech
to the men, telling them he Sympathiz-
ed with them. and that the money was
withheld. not because the company
wanted it, but because it had to carry
out the terms of the contract. He de-
nOunced the midnight marching and
the eneampment. and said it was
blot upon the history OF the county
that the laws are not enforced and such
movements stopped
An epidemic of typhoid fever pre-
walls in the Turtle Greek valley and
it is feared that the disease will break
out in the miners camp. The health
authorities have warned the citizens
not to cse the water from Turtle creek.
as it is known to contain typhoid