Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-30

AA0@~s
Pittsburg, Pa, July 29.-oak Hill
in the vicinity of the Turtle creek
Plum creek and Sandy creek mines
Of DeArmitt. was invaded after mid
night bv an army of strikers, who came
TO attend the great mass meeting to
be held near the mines to-day. 1t IS
estimated that by daybreak there were
several thousand miners encamped up
on the hills surrounding the property
Of the New York and Cleveland Gas
Coal Company.
They came from every direction head
cd by brass bands. Large delegations
arrived from WillOcks, Gastonvillei
FinIeyville and other points along the
Wheeling division. Nearly all Of them
carried heavy walking sticks and some
were armed. There were no threats OF
violence. however, and no indications
Of drinking, many being supplied with
food enough to last two days.
Immediately upon reaching Oak Hill
the strikers prepared for camp. the
scenes around Turtle creek after mid
night were strange
Poorly clad miners stretched them
selves out in the sOftest spots they
could find and slept with their arms
folded under their heads for pillows.
The SQUADS from each mine camped TO-
gether. stacking their formidable walk
ing sticks and banners together. Eacn
detachment was in charge OF men Sc
lected before the march began who
acted as officers. The foreigners had
their own officers and the English
speaking miners theirs. Orders were
implicitly followed.
In the valley leading up from Turtle
creek to the New York and Cleveland
mines the company had a powerful
search light. 1t was kept shifting
about in hopes Of flanking any move
ment of the strikers to creep within
reach Of the mine unknown to the
deputies who guarded every approach.
Long before daylight the strikers
were up. and after eating their frugal
meal. prepared for the days work. The
intention was to see as many OF Dear
mitt's men before they got into the
pits this morning as possible. .
About o'clock 1900 strikers as
ssmbled at Turtle Creek. and, headed
bv three brass bands. with flags and
banners flying, marched past the
houses occupied by DeArmitt's min
ers.
The strikers hooted and yelled and
then marched TO the mines. where they
planted themselves before the plts'
thus compelling DeArmitt's men 70
run the gauntlet to go to work.
A short time later Sheriff LOwery,
who had been wired to for assistance
arrived from Pittsburg with fifty
deputies. armed with Winchesters.
The trikers quietly withdraw and the
new deputies were placed on guard.
When the meeting was called to or
der at one o'clock there were 5000
striving miners in attendance, and
before it was we'll under way there
were 5000 people in the vicinity OF
the school house
About $3.50 o'clock $50 miners from
the Sandy Greek mines marched TO
the meeting, and quite a large number
came from Turtle Greek.
The strikers used all their powers
Of persuasion upon the diggers. but
none were mOlested and no threats
were made.
Previous to the meeting Eugene v
Debs, District President DOlan. Sec
retary Warner and NJ. P. Carrick went
among the strikers and cOunseled them
to keep within bounds of the law and
preserve good order throughout the
day. Their advice was received with
good grace by the men. who cheered
the officials enthusiastically. The
meeting is without doubt the largest
ever held during a strike in Western
Pennsylvania. and the leaders are
hopeful of its efforts upon DeArmitts S
men. The speakers told the miners
that they were jeOpardizing the sue
cess OF the strike by continuing at
work and urged them to come out and
make the suspension complete
throughout the district. Two hun
dred deputies are now on guard about
the mines. but no trouble is appre-
hended.
President Dolan was made chairman
OF tue AMNCAAnH anu III q oAAlAt cNNNNA
he accused Mr.. DeArmitt Of insincerity
He said that If DeArmitt's men did not
come out. there would be a sympathy
strike all over the United States.
NJ. P Carrick was next introduced
and he said that wOrkingmen all over
the United States are interested in this
strike. because il will have a tendency
TO raise wages everywhere. IF. you
men of the sDeArmitt mines viii not
come out now we will march $4,000
men here and compel YOU to come out;
not BY force. but by shame. We viii
shame you out by our starving women
and children. You are closing the
wheels of commerce. and the whole
labor world viii strike in sympathy
with us If need be. Resort to no VIC
ience. my friends. Trust in your lead
ers. and we viii win this strike in Other
wavs than by violence"
when Eugene v. Debs was intro
auced there was sE6at enthusiasm. H;
said. II am not Re to encourage pas
sion. but TO appe to reason. You are
~ the midst of Il greatest contest the
world has ever bOwn. Whether you
mcceed or fail dNends on yourselves