New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-15
LABOR RIOTS INVESTIGATED
CORONER'S JURY AT WORK on THE VIR-
DEN MINING TROUBLES
EXCITEMENT STILL RUNNING HIGH-vorSDED
FOR THE COAL CoMPANYs PREsI-

GUARDS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SWORN OFT
FOR THE COAL ooMPANy's PREsI-
DENT AND MANaGrR
Nirden. H. Oct. IA culver of excitement
swept over This town hourly Throughout, the after
noon and from O'Clock I'll niehtfall rumor fol-
lowed rumor. and not even the best-informed had
any definite idea 70 what would develop during
tho night Rumors that another trsnload or
negroes on lis way here kept the excitement
~ a high tension but the militia are in complete
possession OF the stockade. and are closely guard
ing the railroad property
The coroner's fury heard large number Of wit
nesses today but did not conclude its work. The
inquest will last until Monday Tuesday. When
the jury arrived a. the stockade they we're accom-
panied by j W. Patton OF Springfield H.. who Is
Manager Iukins's LAWYER. and also by a repre-
sentative Of the legal department ~ the Chicago
and Alton Railroad. who Is here looking after tho
interests Of the railroad company. Dr. Peterson, OF
the Thie Detective Agency. the first witness
called to-day He recited in detail the Incidents
leading M N Wednesdays battle. and told the story
Of the fight AZ the north gate. where he was in
charge NJ the company guards He was sure thst
his men lid not open the battle. and Furthermore
he asserted that he cautioned them not 10 fire on
numerous occasions during the battle
The most important testimony was that OF j. A
Debarrow. Of East 81. Louis who was in charge o'
the special guards on one Of the cars o' me ""'n
fren
Debarrow said that when the train carrying the
imported negroes had reached point about one
hundred yards south Of the station the firing began
from the exterior either side Of the tracks and
he gave orders the 10 drop 70 the floor of
the car. He stated that the occupants OF the car
were colored men. women and children. and that
when he gave those orders he could hear the
women and children screaming that they had been
shot After the station passed he said the fir
Ing became fierce again the outside. and con-
tinued until the train reached the stockade. When
the train drew up alongside the Enclosure he said
that II met with another volley Of shots from
the side Of the track, opposite to the stockade
After the firing ceased he heard the order from
the gate Of the stockade: Come out pile out
quick" which he thought. came from Dr. Preston
captain OF the stockade guards. Debarrow stated
that he and six negroes straight into the in
closure without stopping He alleged that the
guards the train had fired a single shot dur
ing the whole engagement
GUARDS GIVE TESTIMONY
The afternoon session lasted several hours. The
wounded guards. eleven in number. who were on
the train with the negroes testified that the firing
was begun by the strikers. Some acknowledged
that the guards returned the fire. but none would
acknowledge that he individually had fired The
men said they under strict orders not 10 fire
except In self-defence one Of the wounded guards
who had been at the stockade previous 10 Wednes-
day in his testimony stated that he positively knew
there guards in the tower over the shafts
and that none OF the firing came from the stockade
At 4:3o the jury took recess until tomorrow
morning
When the question OF shipping the ex-guards and
wounded out OF town came up, DR.. Peterson stated
that the men sent out yesterday were sent out on
night train. This did not suit Colonel Young Il
am oppoeed 10 doing anything under cover OF dark
ness that can be done In daylight he said 1t is
not only more trouble. but 1t creates unnecessary
excitement and that is one thing above al others
must avoid"
Warrants were sworn out to-day before the local
magistrate by an officer Of the Miners Union
charging President Loucks, Manager Lukins and
others with conspiracy 10 murder" but on the
advice OF the military officers IN charge here. they
were not served. This action, however. caused
Colonel Young 20 refuse 10 allow several guards
who had been employed by the coal company 10 de
part for their homes in Chicago as he thought they
ST Louis who came up on the train carrying the
blacks Wednesday. and who were more or iess
seriously wounded; were allowed to start tor nome,
after a consultation Of Colonel Young. Manager
and Mr. Patton. Three Of the men were so badly
injured that II was necessary TO carry them 70
sell. wounded in shoulder: 3 j snyder. wounded
in the face and leg; Thomas McEnlee. buckshot
0F H%rran Slightly wounde Si" J. + smith slightly
wounded. Dr. Cyrus A. Peterson. OF St Louis,
ST. Louis on a special train over N, Burlington.
Nilwood and Greenridge attended the funeral o'
A. Brenaman. az Girard to-day. There was no dis
order.
VIEWS OF THE COAL COMPANY.
General Manager Lukins 81 the ChicaFo-Nird"u
Coal Company tc day made the following state
ment II, regard 70 the wages paid by his com
pany and the demands OF The strikers:
Under the old scale ~ wages prior 10 the sum
mer 81 1897. the pay AZ our mines was twenty-five
/ cents mine run and fairly good miners could
and did earn 81 q day Of ten hours. free ~ all
expenses The payros show an average OF s. - 2
day net for every miner In the mine. with range
OF 81 "a a - day. The price Of powder has been
reduced fifty cents a keg since then. which makes
material increase IN ~ miners wages Al the
price miners dema nding. forty cents ION. an
! average miner from g. TO q day, and a
good workman couC have difficulty in earning
! &c day We have had men in orr Nirden mine
which equals about twenty-eght cents 4 ton az
mirc run mako over g. 2 day
The charge that the Chicago Nirden Coal Com
pany depressing its miners and = not willing ~
paw iis employees living wages Is perfectly absurd.
! and is not entertained FOR moment by people Who
| familiar with the situation. The miners arc
hghtlng N get a they possibly for their labor.
! We do not object the men making good wages
| the moro the better. All desire IL oppor-
tunitv 10 get coal dug price that will allow
| us 10 enter the market and sell coal without
loss "a ourselves and this is impossible az the RI -
| of pLv demanded by the union workmen
The State has taken absolute possession Of our
properly" he said. and has practically prohibited
! US from operating our mines
Sheriff Davenport. who left Virden during the
| battle on Wednesday. returned from Carlnville to
| dav He summoned here 70 appsar before the
| Coroner's Jury 10 give testimony bearing IN the
| riot