The weekly examiner., 1901-07-06
STRIKERS IN CAMP.
IN TENTS ON AN ISLAND IN THE
 SCHUYLKILL RIVER.

and Ghildren Left In TOwn-HOu-
 tine of the Camp Life.
 The first American camp of strikers in Pennsylvania is established on Fsstz's island, a tract of about 15 acres in the Schuykill river, three miles be- low Reading. About 800 men, striking employees of the Reading Iron com pany, are already in the tents, and ad- ditions are made daily to their number.
 There is every evidence of a long strike, and as fast as men can make their arrangements they leave town and go into camp, so that 1000 idle men are living in the tents rented. Houses in town have been given up, and arrangements are made for the comfort and support of the women and children who remain in town while the men folks are absent in camp. No women are allowed in the camp except in the afternoon.
 Strict rules have been drawn up for Camp Flynn, named in honor of J. H. Flynn, the man sent to Reading from Pittsburg to take charge of the labor truble He has the reputation of never having lost a strike.
 Breakfast is served at a. m. Each tent mess serves meals for from six to the commissary. Bread and butter, coffee and fried potatoes and fresh fish generally form the breakfast. Meat and vegetables, with bread and coffee, make up the dinner. Potatoes With jackets on, bread and butter and fresh fish are served for supper. This bill of fare of course varies. Fresh country eggs are brought in by the farmers and are cheap enough to be served for breakfast Ham and bacon, beans, meat and fresh vegetables are liberally served.
 Organizer Flynn brings provisions in- to camp by the drayload. A favorite supper for the strikers is potato soup and boiled cabbage, bread and butter, but the men say that when not at work they do not require much heavy food. On Sundays the men have chicken for dinner, the fowls being sold at whole sale rates by the farmers. Suckers, bass and catfish are caught in the river.
 One of the best springs of pure wa ter in the country is near the camp. and there is plentiful supply. The river furnishes excellent fishing, boat ing and bathing. Very large trees give ample shade. A large flag pole was raised bearing the stars and stripes, with two large streamerse let tered -tIndependence,, and .Hers Till Victory' The iron workers. engineers and other trades of the United States are contributing money for the sup port of the camp and the families of the strikers.
 The men i'll camp do their own laun- dry work at the river side. The camp streets are named after the various strike leaders. No tramps are allowed to enter the camp, and hoodlums are ordered off. Homeless men with union cards are received, but the idea is to keep Camp Flynn exclusively for this strike of iron workers.
 Mass meetings are held under the trees nearly every afternoon and re- ports received from the various idle mills. Speeches are delivered by the walking delegates and by visiting labor leaders.
 Notices have been sent out from camp to the citizens of Reading to pay no heed to beggars soliciting aid in their behalf The strikers are well supplied. and so are their families. Men asking aims must show their un- ion cards, otherwise they are to be looked on as impostors.
 No baseball is allowed on Sunday in the camp ground, and Farmer Fritz's green fields on the island will be am- ply protected. Concerts, card parties, ball tossing, quoits, foot racing, jump ing, cricket and other pastimes form abundant amusement for the men when not in meeting, preparing their meals or cleaning up their tents.
 Said one of the strikers ill camp:
 "I don't know how long this novelty will be interesting to us. We'd all rather work than be idle, of course, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Some of us have not had a picnic like this in years. We'd enjoy it much more, though, if there was no
 
 strike. You see, we take pride in those fine mills up in the city. and we'd have more real fun if the works were going. But, as they are not, we are trying to have all the fun we can.
 we have all the volunteer doctors we need to keep us in good health, but there is not much danger of any one getting sick here. We don't want any thing intoxicating in camp if we can help it. Disorderly men or women are likely to be thrown overheard if they venture too near. It won't do city thieves much good to rob the farmers near our camp if we get at them. We are bound to protect the people or we might be blamed.
 "While we are having a happy go lucky time of it about the tents and on %n