The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-05
Special to The gcranton Tribune.

Spe cial to TIE gCranton Tribune
Pittston. Sept All was quiet to-
day at the stevens Colliery in West
Pittston. where a fatal riot occurred
Saturday morning. The strikers nave
not been near the place since leaving
immediately after the trouble. Sherin
Harvey arrived on the scene shortly
after the trouble on a summons from
Manager Kingsbury, Of Scranton and
has been at the place constantly ever
since, taking his meals and lodging
in the company store. He has thirty
deputies surrounding the company's
property, twenty by night and ten by
day.
]. 4. Wisner, of New York, presi-
dent of the Stevens company. and his
son, Clinton Wisner, secretary of the
company. were on the ground yester-
day and today comforting with the
managers.
The funeral of Wikofski. the victim,
occurred this morning, and although
ii was expected that demonstration
would be made the funeral was con-
Quoted very quietly.
1t is the company's intention to ar
rest all the strikers who participate
I'm the riot, and warrants have been
sworn out for the arrest of twenty
seven. although the officers are having
a hard time trying to find them. as
they have kept out Of sight since S9t-
urday. Four of the men were seen in
attendance at the funeral today and
Immediately placed under arrest One
of them escaped. but the other t,tree
were given a hearing and sent to jail
They will be given a hearing in the
court room tomorrow and an effOt.
Will be made to have them released
on bail The striking foreign 'rs are
under the impression they are union
men, but Organizer James says they
are not, as they forfeited their right
to the charter several months ago by
the nOn-payment of the per capita tax
and were recently arrested charged
with fraudulently using the name and
charter of the union. AS soon az the
strike broke out the Englsh-sneahlng
miners organized a union, but the for
eigners refused to join them. Tho five
roCkmen who were attacked while on
their way to work Saturday are mem-
bers of Branch No. 667, United Mine
Workers association of America.
'LN1IITTLELS ,SIVVr I1ZINVDHO
In connection with the discussion as
to which faction are union men. and in
regard to the trouble at this COlliery
Penjamin James, organizer of United
Mine Workers, makes this statement:
Il deplore the riot and it's accompany.
ing hloodshed. | knew there would be
trouble here None of the men enga ged
in the riot We're members Of the United
Mine Workers. When the trouble start.
cd at the Stevens / was requested tC
use my good offices TO bring about 4
settlement But the men engaged il
the strike put the cart before the
horse. They struck before submitting
their grievances in writing to the com
pany officials. This is contrary to the
rules Of the United Mine Workers
our organization does not sanction 9
strike unless as a last resort. | want
ed the strikers to appoint a cOmmitta
10 wait on the operators of the mine
hut my advice was not taken. TIE
men met in secret session and l knew
nothing of their proceedings. The!
put up fraudulent notices about th'
mine. These notices read that IN,
United Mine Workers had sanctioned
the strike. OF course the organization
would not do this as the men We're no
members Of it. i tore the notices dowr
and offered n reward for the arrest o
the parties who put them up"
The striking foreigners have thre,
demands or grievances as follows: In
crease in price per car from 90 cent
TO N.2O, positively no dockage at all
and cents per inch for rock work
The company are willing to grant tn
five cents for rock work. and a ney
system of dOckage. but no increase il
wages. Manager Kingsbury informe,
the mer that II they could prove to hin
by comparison and figures that tn
miners at the Stevens are not gcttin
as high a price as at other mines Il
this vicinity, he would willingly gran
them an increase. But the foreigner
have not taken up the proposition.
Branch 667. United Mine Workers
composed of the English speaking mi
ners at this colliery will meet tomor
row evening and discuss the situation
DIR. Bevan performed an autopsy y
tn" body Of WilCOfsk and found tina
the bullet had entered the back Of tn
head and was hattened against III
front of the skull where 1t lodged