The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-15
Operators Said to Be Attempting
to Import Negroes.
MORE BLOOOSHEO FEARED
Troops Arc on the Ground and Will Pre-
vent Any Negroes Coming In-Msn-
ayers OF the Chicago-virden Com
pany Charged With Murder.

curing the a1tefnOOn, ana from z
o'clock till nightfail rumor followed ru-
NOR and not even the best Informed
had any idea Of what would develop
during the night. Rumors hat an
other ~trainload of negroes was on Its
way here kept the excitement to q high
tension. but the militia IL IN complete
possession OF the stockade and are
closely guarding the railroad property.
The ~coroner's jury heard Q large
number of witnesses to-day. but did
not complete its work. The inquest
will last until Monday or Tuesday.
Warrants were sworn out to-day be-
fore the local magistrate by an officer
of the miners union charging Presi-
dent Loucks. Manager Lukens n 9TH
ers with conspiracy to murder" but
on advice of the military officers In
charge here they were not served. This
action, however. caused the county at
torney to allow several guards. who
had been employed by the coal COM
pany, to depart for their homes in Chi
cago. as he thought they might be
needed for witnesses. Six guards from
st. Louis. who came upon the train car
rying the blacks Wednesday and who
were more or less seriously wounded,
were allowed to leave for home.
General Manager Lukens. Of the Chi
cago-Virden Coal company, to-day
made the following statement in regard
to the wage paid by his company and
the demands of the strikers:
"Under the old scale of wages prior
to the summer of 1897 fairly good min
ers could and did earn s2.25 per day.
The price of powder has been reduced
SO cents a keg since then, which makes
a material Increase in the miners
wages. At the price the miners are
demanding miners can make from $500
to 500 per day. All we desire Is an OPP
p~ortunity TO get our coal dug at a price
that win allow us to enter the market
and sell our coal without loss. and this
is impossible at the rate demanded by
the union workmen. The state has
taken absolute possession of our prop
erty n has practically prohibited US
from operating u mines"
Pana. Oct. IA telegram wa re-
ceived to-day from Virden saying in all
probability that Operator Lukens of
the Chicago-virden Coal compan
would attempt TO land at Pana the i'm
ported negroes who, after a bloody riot.
were shut out at Virden. The governor
has ordered Captain Harris. command
ing the militia here. to place a guard at
each of the coal mines and at the p
proaches of each railroad into Pana and
under no circumstances permit any
imported negroes to stop in Pana. Cap
tain Harris, in conference with the
miners president, Cravens, ordered the
miners TO get guns and be in readiness
to assist him in preventing the negroes
from landing. The miners nave COM
piled with he request.
1t is reported that negroes were taken
to Bloomington and from there are en-
route to Pana. Should the attempt be
made to unload them here a repetition
of the scenes at Virden Is likely.
Springfield, ILL.,, Oct. H.-The Ala
bama negroes n a been here since
the riot at Virden were to-day shipped
to st. Louis.
Chicago. oct. l4.-The Chicago & AL
ton railway officials threaten TO make
trouble for the state authorities be-
cause of the governors action in pre-
venting the unloading Of the Alabama
negroes at Virden. Vice President and
General Manager Chappelle OF the Alton
road held a conference with the legai
authorities of h company to-day,
after which II was stated legal repre-
sentatives would be sent to Springfield
and Virden. The Alton officials claim
the rights Of the company as a common
carrier have been abrogated.
ST. Louis. Oct. 14-Charles Griffin.
Wash Lattamore and Charles Bolton,
negroes whom the mine operators at
tempted to smuggle into the Chicago
Yirden Coal company's stockade at Vir-
den Thursday night are in Venice. Ill,
to-day. Griffin said the band of negroes
left Birmingham last Wednesday. Men
representing the coal mine operators
offered them good wages. No trouble
was spoken OF. One hundred and hve
negroes accepted positions. Many were
married and took their wives and chill
dren along. There were about 100
women and children in the rear coaches
when the miners fired on IT M Virden'
| The colored people were frightened al
most to death. but only n negro was
wounded, and he but slightly. After
the battle they were taken to Spring
field. Most of the egroe left the
train. Grimm, Bolton and Lattamore
remained. They were taken TO vfrden.
a place they were more than anxious
TO keep away from. Now they are PEN
niless and have no place to 60. II. C..
Rice. the conductor. told q reporter
when the train stopped at the stockade
gate last night the soldiers commanded
him to move the train on. He was told
II any negroes were put on they would
be shot At the request OF representa-
tives OF the mine operators he moved
the train on to East st. Louis.
Nirden, Ill. Oct. 14-Colonel Young.
with his cavalry. arrived to-day and
assumed military command or the
town. Young has over 500 men Tor
guard duty. Everything Is quiet here
to-day. All trains are stopped and
searched for negroes.
This afternoon a rumor became gen
eral that negroes were to be brougnt
back at any moment. Captain Craig's
men Immediately surrounded the rail-
road station and the vicinity was
cleared of citizens. Newspaper men
alone were admitted to the premises.
As the result Of a meeting held by a
number Of union miners, during which
/ the terrible fight OF Wednesday was
discussed. n warrant has been sworn
out by Virgil Bishop. a union miner.
| charging the manager OF the Chicago
virden Coal company with murder.
The warrant will not be served until
after the coroner's inquest. which is
now proceeding at the stockade. is COM
pleted.
Springfield. Ill. Oct. 14-whiie over
1000 miners. headed by a brass band,
we've lined nm in the street near the