The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-16
Body of 1 800 Marching Strik-
ers Turned Back.
Intercepted by Three Companies
Of National Guard.
ONE COLLIERY CLOSED
BY Another Body of 500 Before
Being Scattered.
An Exciting Morning in Panther
Greek Valley.

Lansford, Pa, oct 1s-About 1.5o0
men and 60 women and girls, marched IS
miles from the south side Hazleton re-
gion during the night for the Panther
Creek valley where they expected to
close all of the ten cOllieries of the LIE
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 four
miles to Tamaqua and dispersed.
Another crowd of 800 strikers from the
north side Of Hazleton also marched
here and succeeded in closing the COM
pany's No. 1 colliery at Nesquehoning
near Mauch Chunk before it was scat
tered. The presence of the soldiers was
entirely unexpected and the strikers
were much crestfallen that they failed
in accomplishing the object OF their long
march
It was probably the most exciting
morning that the Panther Creek 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
of the marching men. The troops were
patient with the mob OF strikers, while
the labor men, We're very careful not to
commit overt acts in the presence of the
troops. For q moment just after the two
forces met on the road in the darkness
II looked as If a clash would come but
the good sense of those who had charge
of the strikers prevented q possible con
nict.
The march on Panther Creek valley
was on the strikers programme for sew
erat days The United Mine Workers
ever since the strike started have been
attempting to close the cOIIieries of the
4-ehlgh Coal and Navigation company
,f-ra1-
slantly IN the region but as a rule they
did not meet with much success. so if
was decided to use stronger methods to
get the men employed In the ten mines
out on strike Accordingly it was ar
Hanged that a big demOuStra ton should
pc held IN the valley. It was to have
Desn heId yesterday morning but owing
10 the heavy rain and muddy roads if
was called off until this morninr rT5oss
VINO took part were strikers from Me-
-Auo0 yorktown, Bunker Hill. and Sill
yer Brook, from the south side of Haz-
4etons and the Freeland. DriftOn JeddO
ana Beaver Meadow strikers from the
HoIth SIDE The women and girls all
came from McAdoo, which borough is
& &tIe only one IN the Hazleton region
Nulcn mas organized female u1arcbers
The marchers came down like fT-o
armies, the south side men marching
Dy way of Tamaqua, while the
strikers from the north side went over
the mountain at Beaver Meadow and
entered the Panther Creek valley NV
way OF Nesquehoning. The south side
army concentrated at McAdoo and the
o.uer % march was given at 1890
CLOCK last night. There We're several
ME and drum corps and a brass band
IN the line. The women and girls were
conveyed IN two large omnibuses. The
whole town of AIcAdoo was out to see
tne rnarchers start Until 12 o'clock the
night was very dark, it being difficult 10
see any distance in the mountain passes
Dut aIter midnight the moon came out
the remainder of the journey the march
eTs mad plenty of light. AS the town of
Iamaqua was entered at ? a m the
strikers began to make as much noise
as tney could in order to awaken the
people who were unaware of the coming
OF the strikers. The marchers went
through the town without stopping for
rest and headed for Coaldale, four and
a hal1 miles away.
Five carriages containing newsDaner
correspondents who had been trailing
along at the rear of the procession were
requested 70 take the lead so that they
would not interfere with the plans Of
the strikers Following the newspaper
men came the two cOnyeyances contain
ing the McAdOO women and then follow
60 long line of Hungarians, Italians
mine workers
At a point half a mile from Coaldale
there IS a sharp turn in the road and as
the newspaper men rounded if there
came a command of ..balt's ana abo3,t
fifty feet in front of them stood solid
rows OF soldiers who were stretched
across the road with bayonets fixed.
Sherln ToOie of Schuylkin county was
with them The commander of the troops.
speaking to the waiting crowd, said;
In the name of the people of the state
or pennsylvania, command you to dis
perSe and to return whence you cane.''
1ne strikers began to protest that they
could not be stopped on a public high
way and many of them showed a dis
position to resist the soldiers. The Off
ser IN charge of the troops, however.
kept his men in position and the strik-
ers7 seeing that the soldiers meant busi-
ness slowly began returning. toward
Tamaqua
Mother Jones who was in the crowd.
Vehementiy protested against the action
eI tne troops IN stopping the marchers
Dut She was shut off and ordered to move
on The McAdoO women had 10 he al
most p1shed along, so slowly did they
walk. Iney continually ieered at The
soldiers ealing them all kinds Of names
and threatening them with punishment
If they should dare to visit McAdoo It
took from : clock until after to drive
the crowd back to Tanauua
During all Of this time the identity of
the troops was unknown owing To the
darkness. and II was reported through
the crowd that they belonged to t6e
regiment of Scranton rrha
soldiers were really members Of the
Fourth regiment which has been station
ed at Shenandoah for three weeks Eight
companies Of the regiment left Shena1-
panies behind Brigadier General Goblin
was in command. On their arrival at
Coaidale three companies under com
mand of Col. O'Nein were sent out to
meet the South Side marchers- Three
companies were left at Coaldale while
two companies under command Of Gen.
Goblin came here When the soldiers had
driven the strikers over the mountain a