Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1900-10-17
STRIKERS ON MARCH;
DISPERSED BY TROOPS
Clash Between Miners and MI
litia Narrowly Averted.
DRIVEN FROM THE MINES
While the Troops Were Holding One
Mob In Check Another Chased the
Workmen Out, Closing the Collier
ies-Quiet Again Prevails.


Workmen Out, Closing the Collier
ies-Quiet Again Prevails.
LANsFoRD, Pa, Oct. l6.-About 800
men and 6OsNomen and girls marched
Is miles from the southside, Ha8elton
region during the night to the Panther
Creek valley, where they expected to
close all of the ten collieries of the Le-
high Coal and Navigation company, but
just as the weary marchers were near
ing their destination this morning they
were met on a mountain road by three
companies Of infantry and, at the point
Of the bayonet, were driven back miles
to Tamaqua and dispersed. Another
crowd of 800 strikers from the northside
of Hazelton also marched here and sue
ceeded in closing the company's col1ery
at Nesquehontng, near Mauch Chunk,
before 1t was scattered.
It was probably the most exciting
morning that the Panther Greek and the
Nesquehoning valleys have ever expert
enced. Strikers were scattered over the
various roads, and companies of soldiers
were scurrying in all directions heading
off the marching men. The troops were
patient with the strikers, while the Ia
boring men were very careful not to
commit overt acts in the presence OF the
troops.
Clash Narrowly Averted.
For a moment, just after the two
forces met on the road in the darkness,
it looked as if clash would come, but
the good sense of those who had charge
Of the strike prevented a possible con-
fict.
Ihe United Mine Workers, ever since
the strike started, have been trying to
close the collieries of the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation company in this region.
Organizers were constantly in the neigh
borhood, but as a rule they did not meet
with much success, so it was decided TO
use stronger methods to get the men
employed in the ten mines out on strike.
Accordingly it was arranged that a
big demonstration should be held in the
valley. 1t was to have been held yes
terday morning, but, owing to the heavy
rain and muddy roads, 1t was called off
until this morning.
The marchers came down like two
armies, the southside men marching by
way of Tamaqua, while the strikers
from the northside went over the noun
tain at Beaver Meadow and entered the
Panther Creek valley by way of Mosque
honing.
The marchers went through the town
without stopping for rest and headed
for Coaldale, ~ miles away. Five car
riages containing newspaper correspon-
dents who had been travelling along at
the rear of the procession were request
ed to take the lead so that they would
not interfere with the plans of the strik-
ers. Following the newspaper men
came two conveyances containing the
women and then followed long line OF
Hungarians. Italians, Poles, Slavs and
English speaking mine workers
Commanded to Halt.
At a point half mile from Coaldale
there is q sharp turn in the road and as
the newspaper men rounded it there
came command of "Haltl" and about
80 feet in front of them stood solid rows
of soldiers who were stretched across
the road with bayonets fixed.
Sheriff Toole of Schuylkill county was
with them. The commander of the
troops speaking to the waiting crowd
said;
"In the name of the people of the state
of Pennsylvania, command you to dis
perse and to return whence you came.
The strikers began to protest that they
could not be stopped on public high
way and many Of them showed dlspo-
sition to resist the soldiers.
The officer in charge Of the troops,
however, kept his men in position and
the strikers, seeing that the soldiers evil
dentlyssmeant business, slowly began re.
turning to Tamaqua.
Mother" Jones, who was In the
crowd, vehementlys protested against
the action ct the troops In stopping the
maVchers, but she was ordered to move
on.
The women had to be almost pushed
along, so slowly did they walk. They
continually jeered at the soldiers, call
ing them all kinds of names and threat
ening them with punishment if they
should dare to visit McAdoo.
1t took from o'clock until after 8 to
drive the crowd back to Tamaqua.
General Goblin In Command.
Eight companies of militia left She.
nandoah at 1870 o'clock this morning,
leaving two companies behind. Briga-
der General Goblin was in command.
On their arrival al Coaldale three com
panies, under command of Colonel
O'Neil, were sent out to meet the south.
side marChers Three companies were
left at Coaldale, while two companies
under General Goblin came here. When
the soldiers had driven the strikers over
the mountains company was sent bach
to- Coaldale, where they boarded coal
cars and were sent to Tamaqua to quel
any disturbance THE scattering strikers
might stir up there.
Further along the road a company
was deployed to protect colliery, while
the marchers were passing it and an
other was also sent to Tamaqua. The
three companies combined in the latter
town and soon had the marchers vel
scattered.
While all this had been going on tht
northside marchers had everything theil
own way in the Nesquehoning valley
They succeeded in persuading enough
men to remain away from the LehigE
Coal and Navigation company's No.
colliery to compel its shut down.
General Goblin sent two companies O.
soldiers over there and soon had order
restored.
| Men Refused To Refurn