Evening star., 1900-10-16
MARCHERS DISPERSED
Unsuccessful Attempt Of Strikers to
Close Ten Mines.
IN THE PANTHER CREEK VALLEY
Two Bands, Aggregating $500
Men, Scattered by Troops.
WOMEN IN THE M 0 B
IN THE PANTHER CREEK VALLEY
WOMEN IN THE MOB

teen miles from the SouthSiGe HaZieton
region during the night for the Panther
Creek valley, where they expected to close
all of the ten collieries of the Lehgh Coal
and Navigation Company; but just as the
weary marchers were nearing their destina-
tion this morning they were met on
mountain road by three companies of In
fantry and at the point of the bayonet
were driven back four miles to Tamaqua
and dispersed. Another crowd of 800 str1k-
ers from the north side of Hazelton also
marched here and succeeded in closing the
company's No. 1 colliery at Nesquehoning,
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 accomplish
ing the object of their long march.
1t was probably the most exciting morn
ing that the Panther Creek and Mosque
honins valley have ever experienced. Strik-
ers 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
mo- of strikers. while the labor men were
very careful not to commit overt acts in
the presence of the troops. For 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
possible conflict.
March Planned Several DAYS Ago.
The march on Panther creek valley was
on the strikers program for several days.
The United Mine Workers. ever since the
strike started, have been attempting to close
the cOllieries OF the Lehigh Coal and Navi-
cation Company in this region. Organizers
were constantly in the region, 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
big demonstration should be held in the
valley. IL was to have been held yesterday
morning, but owing to the heavy rain and
muddy roads 1t called off until this
morning Those who took part were strik-
ers from McAdoo, Audenreid, Yorktown
Bunker Hill and Silver Brook from the
south side of Hazeton. and the Freeland
Drtfton, 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 marchers.
81 The marchers came down like two armies
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 creek
valley by way of NesQuehoning The south
side army concentrated at McAdoo and the
order to march given at 1890 o'clock
last night. There We're several fife and
drum corps and brass band in the line
The women and girls were conveyed in two
large OInnibuSes.
The whole town of McAdoo was out to
l.
the night was very dark, it being difficult to
see any distance in the mountain passes
but after midnight the moon came out from
behind a bank OF clouds and for the re-
nainder of the journey The marchers had
plenty OF light. As the town of Tamaqua
was entered at a. m. the strikers began to
make as much noise as they could in order
to awaken the people. who were unaware
of the coming of the strikers. The march
ers went through the town without stopDinp
for rest, and headed for CoaIdale, four
and half miles away.
Newspaper Men in Lead
Five carriages containing newspaper cor
respondents who had been trailing along at
the rear OF the procession were requested
to take the lead, that they would not
interfere with the plans of the strikers.
Following the newspaper men came the
two conveyances containing the McAdoo
women and then followed long line of
Hungarians, Italians. Polanders, SIavs and
Engiish-spcaking mine workers.
AT point half a mile from Coaldale
there Is a sharp turn In the road and as
the newspaper men rounded 1t there came
command of Halt and about fifty feet
diers, who We're stretched across the road
with bayonets fixed. Sheriff Toole of
Schuylkiil county was with them. The
commander Of the troops, speaking to the
waiting crowd, said:
In the name of the people OF the state
OIL pennsylvania. 1 command you to dis
ptiSe ana 10 return whence you came"
The strikers began to protest that they
could not be stopped on a public highway
and many of them showed disposition to
resist the soldiers. The officer in charge
OF the troops, however, kept his men in
position, and the strikers seeing that the
soldiers evidently meant business slowly
began returning toward Tamaqua
Mother Jones, who was in the crowd,
vehementiy protested against the action of
the troops In stopping the marchers, but
she was shut of and ordered TO move on.
Mn Az flnn bod h.,
along so slowly did they walk. They con-
unually jeered at the soldiers, calling them
all kinds OF names, and threatening them
with punishment If they should dare to
visit McAdoo 1t took from 3 clock until
after to drive the crowd back to Tamaqua
Identity of Troops Unknown.
During all of this time the identity of
the troops was unknown, owing to the
darkness. and It was reported through the
crowd that they belonged to the 18th Regi-
ment Of Scranton. The soldiers were really
members Of the 4th Regiment, which has
been stationed at Shenandoah for three
weeks. Eight companies of tie regiment
left Shenandoah at 1920 am, leaving two
companies behind. Brigadier General
Goblin was in command. On their arrival
at Coaldale three companies under COM
mand OF Colonel O'Neill were sent out to
meet the south side marchers. Three COM
panies were left at Coaldale, while two
companies under command of General
When the soldiers had driven the strikers
over the mountain a company sent
back to Coaldale, where the soldiers board
ed coal cars and were sent to Tamaqua to
qCell any disturbance the scattering strik-
ers might stir up there. Further along the
read a company was deployed to protect
colliery, while the rnarchers were passing
u, and later it also sent to Tamaaua
The three companies combined in the latter
town and soon had the marchers we'll scat
tered. While all this had been going on
the north side marchers had everything
their own way In the Nesquehoning val
ley. They reached there after O'Clock and
succeeded in persuading enough men to
remain away from the Lehigh Coal and
Navigation Company's No 1 coliery to
compel its shutdown. Gen Goblin sent two
companies of soldiers over there and soon
had order restored
Superintendent w. d. Zehner Of the COM
pany stated 10 a representative OF the As
ISOLATED Press that II Sheriff Brislin Of
Carbon county, in which the colliery 10
located. had performed his duty in q proper
manner the NesQuehoning colliery would