Evening journal., 1898-10-15
THE VIRDEN STRIKE
The Coroner's Jury Examines
Many Witnesses.
WARRANTS FOR MURDER SWORN OUT
Charges Against Manager LuIScnH,
President LoucIss and Others-Not
TO he Served Until Coroner's Jury
Reports-statement by LuISens.

Of excitement swept over this town
hourly throughout the afternoon yester-
day, and from o'clock till nightfail
rumor followed rumor, and not even the
best informed had any idea as TO what
would develop during the night. Ru-
mors that another train load Of negroes
was on the way here kept the excite
mont at a high tension, but the militia
are in complete possession Of the stock
nde and are closely guarding the rail-
road property.
The coroners jury heard large num-
Der Of witnesses yesterday, but did not
conclude its work. The inquest wf1l last
until Monday or Tuesday.
When the coroners jury arrived at
the stookade. they were accompanied
by Hon. J. w. Patton OF Springfield
who Is Manager Lukens' attorney and
also by representative of the legal de-
partment of the Chicago and Alton
railroad, who Is here looking after the
interests OF the railroad company. DR..
Peterson OF the Thiel Detective agency
was the first witness called yesterday.
He recited in detail the incidents lead
ing up to Wednesdays battle and told
the story OF the fight at the north gate,
where he was In charge Of the COM
pany's guards. He was sure that his
men did not open the battle, and, fur
thermore, he asserted that he caution
ed them not to fire on numerous occa-
sions during the battle.
The most important testimony was
that Of ]. A. Debarrow Of East st.
Louis, who was in charge of the special
guards on one of the cars OF the train
which was fired on In Wednesdays bat
tie. In his statement Debarrow said
that when the train carrying the i'm
ported negroes had reached a point
about 100 yards south Of the depot the
firing began from the exterior on ell
ther side Of the tracks, and he gave
orders TO the men TO drop to the floor
of the car. lie stated that the occu-
pants OF the car were colored men, wo-
men and children and that when he
gave these orders he could hear the WOO
men and children screaming and Yell
ing that they had been shot. After the
depot was passed he said the fire be-
came very fierce again on the outside
and continued until the train reached
the stockade. When the train drew up
alongside the inclosure, he said that Il
was met with another volley of shots
from the east side OF the track opposite
10 the stockade After the firing ceas-
ed he heard the order from the gate Of
the stoclSade: Come out Pile out
quickl" which he thought came from
Or. Preston, captain Of the stockade
guards. Debarrow stated that he and
six negroes ran straight into the in
closure without stopping He claims
that the guards on the train had not
fired single shot during the whole en-
gagement.
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, union miner.
charging the managers OF the Chicago
Virden Coal company, Messrs. Lukens,
Loucks, Yorke and others. with MUIR
der.
Bishop is one Of the leaders among
the union miners. The warrant was
sworn out by him before Police Magls-
trate Roberts of Virden. The COM
plaint names Fred w. Lukens. T. c.
Loucks Mr.. Yorke and others as ac-
cessories before and after the fact and
as principals.
Magistrate Roberts put the warrant
in his pocket for safe keeping and now
CblIlcs IL hIounu Win MN.
At first it was decided TO serve the
warrant yesterday but after a delib-
Grafton it was thought to be best TO
avoid complications to hold It until
after the inquest had been completed.
The afternoon session lasted several
hours. The wounded guards II in num-
Der. who We're on the train with the ne
groes, testified that the firing was be-
gun by the strikers. Some acknowl-
edged that the guards returned the fire.
but none would acknowledge that he
individually had fired. The men said
they were under strict orders not to fire
except in self defense. one OF the
wounded guards who had been at the
stockade previous 20 Wednesday. IN his
testimony stated that he positively
knew there were no guards in the tow
er over the shafts, and that none Of the
firing came from the stockades.
At 1880 the jury took a recess
General Manager Lukens OF the Chi
cago-Virden Coal company yesterday
made the following statement in regard
to the wages paid by his company and
the demands OF the strikers:
Under the old scale Of wages prior
TO the summer OF 1897 the pay at oui
mines was 25 cents per ton mine run
and fairly good miners could and die
earn $2.25 per day of ten hours. free OF
all expenses. The payrolls show an av.
erage Of 1929 per day net for ever,
miner In the mines. with range OF 81 n
to S4.56 per day. The price OF powder
has been reduced so cents a key sine,
then. which makes a material increas,
IN the miners wages. At the price min
ers are demanding, 40 cents per ton. al
average miner can earn from So to S
per day, and a good workman woul,
have no difficulty in earning Sc per day
We have had men In our Virden min
working at So cents per ton, screene,
coal. which equals ABOUT 25 cents pc
ton at mine run, make over Sc per day
The charge that the Chicago Virdei
company is depressing it's miners am
is not willing 20 pay its employees liv
ing wages is perfectly absurd and is no
entertained for a moment by peopl
who are familiar with the situation
The miners are fighting to get all the
possibly can for their labor We do nc
object 70 the men making good wages
the more the better All we desire is a
opportunity 10 get our coal dug at
price that will allow US 70 enter tn
-I~.t fst.