Evening star., 1901-07-18
BREAK IN THE RANKS
United Mine Workers Desert the
Striking Firemen,
ALTON PROVOKES ILL-FEELING
Several CoIIieries Start Up and
Resume Operations.
PROVOKBS ILL -FEELIN G


erS at NanticOke. The Pennsylvania Coal
Company started up two of its collieries
and was able to hoist coal. At o'clock
yesterday few men returned to work. but
gradually the number of applicants for
work increased. and at / pm. it was re-
ported that all places were filled At one
CoIIiery the United Mine Workers are re-
ported to have returned 10 work almost in
a body The strikers say less than one
third of the regular force is at work.
The output Of the mines of the Susque-
hanna Coal Company at Nanticoke Is 5000
tons day. An official of the company told
the Associated Press representative this
afternoon that he expected the company
viii be able TO get out it's full quota of
coal today
The hoisting engineers held meeting
here today. They resolved to stand by
the striking firemen until the strike is set
tied
An official Of the Lehigh and Wnkesbarre
Coal Company. which employs 5000 men
and boys said this afternoon that the COM
pauy had received a proposition from the
United Mine Workers to return TO work as
soon as sufficient number Of firemen
could he secured to keep up steam,
Reading increases Wages
POTTSVILLE. Pa July 1s,-The Phila-
pany has issued notices at its thirty-six
coIl'eries, increasing the wages of station
AIRY firemen to 81. ~ week. which with
the Ii per ceF- general increase of last fall
makes the wages Of this class of men equal
10 Sl1 per week. The new rate went into
effect on July l.
VIII Not BE Called Out.
SCRANTON, Pa. July fS.-The firemen
vDpTS pf he nit cd
Workers Will not be called out 10 support
the men who have now tied up half the
mines Of the Lackawanna valley and rem
dered idle at least 10000 men IN the terri
rory from Pittston TO Forest City. This
was the outcome of informal confer
ence here today between District Presi-
dent Nichols OF the Mine Workers and
State President Mullahy OF the Stationary
Firemen's Association. The firemen are
provoked over this phase Of the situation
and are getting their fellow workmen to
give up their membership in the miners
union and join their OWE trades organiza-
ton 1t is asserted that one hundred men
viii do so before the day ends.
The situation among the idle mines is
practically unchanged today The Della
ware and Hudson Company got the Won
Storch COlliery into operation this morning
with the cooperation of the miners, who
last night decided TO go to work and help
20 man the boiler rooms. None of the
other companies show any increase in the
number of mines working. The indications
today that other local unions of the
mine workers Will take action similar to
that Of the Won StorCh men. At the off,
Ces Of the several general sUperintendents
in Scranton there Is a buOyant feeling that
the strike cannot continue much longer.
Meanwhile coal shipments from this re-
gi0U are being stopped In order to be
ready for any emergency that may arise.
Ordered to Strike Tomorrow.
SHAMOKIN. Pa, July 1S.-The local col
Nery fremen's organization received orders
from headquarters at Wilkesbarre today to
g1 on strike tomorrow morning. There are
fifteen coIIieries between here and Mount
Carmel the men at all Of them being or
EGuized. If the tie-up is made complete
about 1000 men and hoys Will be rendered
itle- The strike of !SD employees a. HiCk-
Ory Ridge Colliery ended today by the men
having their working cards inspected away
from the company's property. They were
advised TO do this by United Mine Work
ers officials pending the visit of a com
Uitte- 10 the various coal companies 10
learn whether the operators will not in the
future allow the inspection of cards on
c EHpaDy property
Counter Claims in Lackawanna.
WILkESRARRE. Pa. July 1s.-The third
DAY If the stationary firemen's strike finds
The situation about the same. although
President Mu!lahy Of the strikers associa-
ton reports large gains in the Lackawanna
T. gipn. This is denied by the operators
v hn claim the situation In the upper por-
tor of the coal field Is little better than
yesterday More fremen are at work. they
say The operators also have information
that il i going to be a difficult matter for
the strike leaders 10 get the men in the
HaZl.tpu region out. Al strike head4Uar-
tsrS they say it Will not be difficult at all.
while all the mines that were idle in the
u tUmi1g region yesterday are idle today,
the companies seem to have slightly the
b-st ut IL. They have increased the num-
Der - tremen at great many of their COL
l"rles- At the Cunningham mine where
eight mon were at work yesterday, sixteen
ar working today. Some of them were
miners and. II IS said, members of the
Inired Mine Workers
The action Of the miners has created not
q Etue iI-feeIing among the striking fire
T"n. but they say they not discour-
astL They claim the United Mine Work
erS are with them. and that while here and
there a miner may take a strikers place
there i no fear of stampede. Some OF
the miners are willing TO take the fremen's
places. as they claim the fremen had no
right 10 strike at this time The Parrish
Coal Company. which yesterday signed an
asreentnt To give their fremen shorter
d ur~. were unable TO work today because
they could not get from the railroads
A bolt Of lightning struck the woodwork
IN The air shaft Of the Stanton mine Of the
lsSt night and ignitcd large body of gas
-Four heavy streams Of water were sent
down thu shaft. and a o'clock this morn
Ing the hrv was reported out. The com
pany fought The fire with its own fremen.
stoned by strikers
Wil.kESBARRE. Pa. July 1s.-Some
noH-Union frernen at the Maltbv collieries
of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company were
stoned by strikers and breaker boys as
they were changing shifts this morning, and
several were hurt. but none seriously. No
shots were fired The company has sent
men 10 guard the mines and prevent riot
Ing
Statement of Strikers.
The following official statement was Is
sued from strike headquarters at Wilkes
barre last evening:
The entire upper middle anthracite region
Is practically closed down today by the
hremens strike Reports received at head
quarters from Forest City and vicinity and
Inc middle anthracite region are that all