The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-09
A REMARKABLE STRIKE
Unanimity Among Miners in De-
manding Higher Wages.
SACRIFICED THEIR PERCENTAGES
Men Working Under the Ironclad
Agreement Forfeit Ten Per Cent OF
Their Wages, Under the Agreement,
and Quit Work.

Their Wages, Under the Agreement,
ana Quit Work.
Pittsburg, July Cit Is safe to say
that the amount Of coal dug yesterday
on the Wheeling division Of the Balti.
more and Ohio railroad would not fill
one fiat car. Such complete shutdown
as exists in this district SO soon after
the Inauguration of the strike Is ad-
mittedly q surprise to those living in
that section. A number of miners were
at work Wednesday, the majority OF
them in the pits Of the Pittsburg and
Chicago Gas Coal company, at Snow
den and Gastonville. but yesterday 1t
Is doubtful IL the diggers at work alons
the whole line would number 50, all OF
these at the Gastonville pit of the
Pittsburg and Chicago company.
careful review of the situation proves
the assertion of the miners officials
that the Wheeling division is solidly
advocating the strike. All the mines
above Flnleyville-Anderson. Germania,
Hackett, Eclipse and Nottingham-are
completely tied UP. Five cars were
loaded at the ~Germania Wednesday.
but it was with coal which had been
lying on the dump since work was sus-
pended last Friday.
The Coal bluff mine of the J. M. Ris-
ker company, employing 150 men, was
entirely idle yesterday. The big first
pool mines of the Robbins company
were completely closed. There was a
doubt as to whether or not the 'Slavs
would return to work after their holi-
day Tuesday, but this has been dis
PEELED and the foreigners seem as en-
thuslastic as any on-the strike ques-
tion. Miners along the line have been
anxiously watching the diggers OF the
Pittsburg e. Chicago company at Cas-
tonville and Snowden. Up till yester-
day 1t was matter of doubt whether
or not they would come out Vague
rumors of the Finleyville diggers
threatening to pull them out were
floating around, but were not believed
to have much foundation The COM
pany, though, was prepared for any
move of the kind, and notices were
posted warning all not concerned with
the working Of the mines to keep Off
the property. 1t is also said that they
had a number of special guards on
hand to watch the movements of the
men.
These men have all been working un-
der the ironclad agreement, and as this
meant a forfeiture of 10 per cent. OF
their wages, held back by the firm
since the first of the year, if they vol
UNFAIRLY quit work. the strikers were
in doubt as to whether they could be
induced to join the movement At
meeting held Wednesday night, how
ever, it was decided to come out for the
district rate, and yesterday the mines
were practically idle. By their action.
it is said, the men will lose nearly
$4,000 in percentages.
The miners officials were elated over
their success on the Wheeling division,
The mines; in that section have with-
out doubt caused the officials not a
little worry. for much coal for the Ohio
Pennsylvania trade could have been
shipped out of there had the miners re-
mained at work, and 1t would have
very seriously interfered with the gem
eral Suspension. 1t Is reported that
the operatars, on this division have ad-
yertised for men to fill the places OF
the strikers. If this is true, and an at
tempt is made to. resume with nom
union men, 1t Is feared there Will be
serious trouble. It is not likely. how
ever that a sufficient number of men
can be gotten together to- start the
mines.
The miners on the Wheeling division
apparently have no fear in regard to
the length of the strike. large num-
ber of them were asked how long the
strikers could stand without suffering
from want. One and all were firm in
the belief that all could scratch along
for several weeks all right. "Well,' re-
piled digger in answer to a question,
"the man who owns the pit / work In
said once, when we had some trouble
with him and went out, that the miners
could live on weeds in the summer.
and I guess we can. Any way, we are
willing to try for right smart spell"
About one-third Of the full quota of
diggers were at work at the Pan Han
die mines of M. A. Hanna & Co. This
is an increase over Wednesday. and is
due to the fact that the firm posted
notice to the effect that if the men did
not return to work yesterday the money
due them on their ironclad contracts
would be retained The amount, it Is
said, aggregates $4,000
The net result Of the struggle up to
date, as CLEANED from unbiased as
well as from partisan sources, is about
as follows: Nineteen thousand men
idle, an almost total suspension of
work in the mines along the Mononga-
hela river: suspension practically to-
tai on the Wheeling division of the
Baltimore e. Ohio railroad, only about
so men working there; all Of the rail-
road mines closed down, with the ex-
ception of the M. A. Hanna G. Co.
mines along the Pan Handle, the New
York G. Cleveland Gas Coal company
and few individual mines, which can
have but little effect upon the situa-
tion.
A nrownal MANS identify.