The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-17
Thwnrted by Soldiers, who Barred the
Way to Galleries with n Brist-
ling Front of Bayonets.
IN EIGHTEEN-MILE TRAMP
IN WHICH NEARLY 1000 MEN, WON.
EN- AND GIRLS TOOK PART.
One Body Of Strikers Successful In In
ducing N Few Men to Quit Work
Arrests by the Troops

| eighteen miles from the south side Halle
| ton region, during the night. for the Pan
ther Creek valley, where they expected
TO close all of the ten collieries OF the Lee
high Coal and Navigation Company. but
just as the weary marchers were nearing
their destination. this morning, they were
met on a mountain road by three COM
| panies Of infantry, and at the point or
bayonets were driven back four miles TO
| Tamaqua, and were dispersed. Another
crowd of 500 strikers from the north side
Of Hazleton also marched here. and sue
ceeded in closing the company's No. 1 col
| liery at Nesquehoning, near Mauch
Chunk. before it was scattered The pres
ence of the soldiers was entirely unex-
pected, and the strikers were crestfallen
because they failed in accomplishing the
object of their long march.
1t was probably the most exciting morn
ing that the Panther Creek and Nesquehon-
ing valleys have ever experienced. Strik-
ers were scattered over the various roads,
and companies of soldiers were scurrying
in all directions, heading of the march
ing men. The troops were patient with
the mob of strikers. while the latter were
very careful not to commit overt acts In
the presence of the troops. For a moment.
just after the two forces met on the road.
in the darkness, it looked as If a clash
would come. but the good sense Of those
who had charge of the strikers prevented
a possible conflict.
The march on Panther Creek valley was
on the strikers programme for several
days. The United Mine Workers, ever
since the strike started. have been at
tempting to close the collieries of the Lee
high Coal and Navigation Company. in this
region. Organizers were constantly in the
region, but, as a rule, they did not meet
with much success, SO 1t was decided to
use stronger methods to get the men
employed in the ten mines out on a strike.
Accordingly, it was arranged that a big
demonstration should be held In the valley.
1t was to have been held yesterday morn
ing, but owing to the heavy rain and mud
dy roads. it was called off until this morn
ing. Those who took part were strikers
from McAdoo, Yorktown, Bunker Hill and
Silver Brook, from the south side of Halle
ton. and the Freeland. Drifton, Jeddo and
Beaver Meadow strikers from the north
side. The women and girls all came from
Borough, which borough is the only one
in the Hazleton region which has organized
female marchers.
The marchers came down like two ar
mics. the south-side men marching by
way of Tamaqua, while the strikers from
the north side went over the mountain at
Beaver Meadow and entered the Panther
Greek valley by way of Nesquehoning.
The south-side army concentrated at Nc
Adoo, and the order to march was given
at 1890 last night. There were several
fife and drum corps and a brass band I'm
the line. The women and girls were con-
veyed in two large omnibuses. The whole
town of McAdoo was out to see the march,
ers start. Until u o'clock the night was
very dark, 1T being difficult to see any
distance into the mountain passes, but after
midnight the moon came out from behind
a bank of clouds, and for the remainder
OF the journey the marchers had plenty
o. light. AS the town of Tamaqua was
entered, at 2 a m, the strikers began TO
make as much noise as they could, I'm
order to awaken the people. who were
unaware of the coming of the strikers.
The marchers went through the town with
out stopping for rest, and headed for Coal
dale, four and a half miles away.
CORRESPONDENTS AT THE FRONT.
Five carriages, containing newspaper cor
respondents. who had been trailing along
at the rear of the procession. were re-
quested to take the lead. so they would
not interfere with the plans of the strik-
ers. Following the newspaper men came
the two conveyances containing the Nc
Adoo women and then followed a long line
of Hungarians, Italians, Poles. Slavs and
English-speaking mine workers. At a
point half a mile from Coal Dale there
paper men rounded IL there came a COM
mand Of Halt" and about fifty feet in
front of them stood solid rows of soldiers
who were stretched across the road with
bayonets fixed. Sheriff Toole, of Schuyl-
kill county, was with them.
The commander of the troops, speaking
to the waiting crowd, said: I'm the name
Of the people of the State Of Pennsylvania,
/ command you to dispense and 10 return
whence you came The strikers began 10
protest that they could not be stopped on
a public highway and many OF them
showed a disposition to resist the soldiers.
The officer In charge of the troops. how
ever. kept his men in position. and the
strikers, seeing that the soldiers evidently
meant business, slowly began returning to-
ward Tamaqua.
Mother Jones. who was I'm the crowd.
vehemently protested against the action of
the troops in stopping the marchers, but
she was shut off and ordered TO move on.
The McAdoo women had to be almost
Eushed along. so slowly did they walk.
They continually jeered at the soldiers.
calling them all kinds OF names. and
threatening them with punishment If they
| should dare TO visit McAdOO. IL took from
5 o'clock until after 6 to drive the crowd
back to Tamaqua.
During all of this time the identity OF the
troops was unknown. owing to the dark
ness and il was reported through the crowd
that they belonged to the Thirteenth Regf-
ment of Scranton. The soldiers were really
members OF the Fourth Regiment. which
has been stationed at Shenandoah for three
weeks. Eight companies OF the regiment
left Shenandoah at 1905 a. m. leaving two
companies behind. Brigadier General Goblin
was In command. On their arrival at Coal
Dale three companies. under Command OF
Colonel O'NeiIl. were sent out TO meet the
south-side marchers. Three companies were
left at Coal Dale. while two companies I'M
der command of General Goblin came here.
When the soldiers had driven the strikers
over the mountain a company was sent
back TO Coal Dale. where the soldiers
boarded coal cars and were sent 10
Tamaqua TO quell any disturbance the
scattering strikers might stir up there.
Further along the road a company was de-
ployed TO protect a colliery while tie
marchers were passing IL and later * was
also sent 10 Tamaqua. The three COM
panies combined in the latter town and
soon had the marchers wei scattered.
While all this had been going on the
north-side marchers had everything their
own way In the Nesquehoning Valley. They
reached there after 2 o'clock and succeeded
In pe-suading enough men TO remain away
from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
panys No. 5 coliiery 10 compel its shut
down. General Goblin sent two companies Of
soldiers over there and soon had order