Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-17
ARMY Of |.5OO hARCHERS
CHECKED BY BAYONEIS.
SOLDIERS DISPERSED THE STRIK-
ERS IN THE PANTHER CREEK
VALLEY.
SIXTY WOMEN AND GIRLS
TOOK PART IN THE EIGHTEEN
MILE NIGHT MARCH TO CLOSE
MINES.

LANSFORD, Pa, October 16.-About
1900 men and so women and girls
marched eighteen miles from the South
Side, Hazleton region, during the night,
for the Panther Greek valley, where
they expected to close all of the ten col
lieries of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation
Company. But just as the weary
marchers were nearing their destina-
ton this morning they were met On
the 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 500 strikers, from
the North Side of Hazleton, also
marched here and succeeded in closing
the company's No. l colliery at Mosque
honing, near Mauch Chunk, before it
was scattered. 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.
1t was probably the most exciting
morning that the Panther Creek and
the Nesquenhoning valleys have ever
experienced. Strikers were scattered
over the various roads, and companies
of soldiers were scurrying in all direc-
tons, heading off the marching men.
The troops were patient with the strik-
ers, while the marchers were very care
full not to commit overt acts in the
presence of the troops. For a moment
just after the two forces me 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. Ever since the strike started ef-
forts lave been put forth to close the COL
lieries of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Co. in this region. Organizers did not
meet with much success, so it was decided
to use stronger methods. Those who took
part in the march were strikers from the
McAdoO, A%udenreid. Yorktown, Bunker
Hill and Silver Brook, from the South Side
of Hazleton, and the Freeland, Drifton,
Jeddo and Beaver Meadow strikers from
the North Side, The women and girls all
came from McAdoo, which borough is the
only one in the Hazleton region which
has organized female m~archers.
HAZLETON, Pa, October 16.-The re-
port that Frank Pardee, manager Of the
Calvin Pardee & Co. c~oiliery, at Cranber-
ry. had requested the governor to send
troops into Luzerne county, is not exactly
correct Mr.. Pardce tonight denied that
he had done so, but said he and Governor
Stone had talked on the ACCESSIBILITY Of
having soldiers in this region. 1t is Mr..
Pardee's belief that if troops were sta
toned here, il would lave considerable eff
feet in the way of keeping the peace and
preventing marches.
This was an exceedingly quiet day
around the headquarters of the United
Mine Workers. President Mitchell spent
most of the day in disposing Of the mail
which had accumulated during last week.
Mr.. Mitchell said he had no communica-
ton or even an intimation that the opera
tors would accept the proposition made by
the convention.