The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-22
ALL MERE RUMORS,
But They Afforded Plenty of Excite
ment I'm Strike Circles.

PITTSBURG, Pa, Aug. 21.-There was no
extension of the strike to-day, and the steel
managers did not attempt to start any more
mills Late in the day the fires were
lighted in the Demmler tin-plate works at
McKeesport. but the machinery was not
started and no attempt was made TO op-
crate it. 1t is believed, however, that the
move is preliminary to a start with nom
union men. The managers of the company
have been preparing for several days to re-
open a number of their properties. and 1t
is thought they have decided to act at once.
Their Monessen plant is moving ahead un-
interruptedly with fun crews, and their
Crescent works at Cleveland has about half
the machines in operation. There has been
no break in the Carnegie group, and the
mills that have been started with nonunion
men since the strike began are going
ahead with about the same force of men.
The leaders on either side were busy all
day, but at nightfall both said there were
no announcements to make. Veryl Preston
was at the office of the Carnegie Steel Com
pany and conferred at length with Presi-
dent W. E. Corey and other leading off,
cials President Shaffer was at the Office
of the Amalgamated Association all day,
and spent most Of the time comforting with
delegations of strikers.
On the streets it was a day of exciting
rumors beginning with a circumstantial
story of a plot to destroy the Monongahela
tin plate plant and ending with a tale of
the removal of the largest plants of the
United States Steel Corporation to Eng
land. Between the two, rumors again set
tied the strike in several ways. However.
official denial was given to all these in
teresting stories. 1t was another day of
peace in all the strike districts. although
the general probability of trouble still
holds good at the places where feeling runs
high.
Ii is claimed that an attempt was made
last evening to fire the Monongahela works
of the American Tine Plate Company. Ac-
cording to the story told by John Schuster,
general labor boss of the plant. pressure
gauge was knocked off of an eight-inch
gas main and burning paper thrown into
the place with the idea of destroying IL with
explosion and fire. He said he plugged the
break before the brand was thrown and
saved the works. The strikers Indignantly
deny that they had anything TO do with
any plot TO wreck the plant and a few dis
credited Schusters story entirely. Investi-
cation later showed the story 10 be without
foundation
John Sternsdroff. a rougher from Rich
mond. Va, who claimed that he was a
member OF the party of strike breakers
brought 10 Monessen on Sunday by Alabama
Joe Carter, was at strike headquarters to-
day. He said that Carter had entirely mis-
represented the facts TO him, and that he
had slipped out of the works the first time
chance presented itself. He says four
teen men left Richmond. that five deserted
en- route and that three left when he did
He placed the number of men now in the
mill at eighteen and said very little work
was being accomplished. The strikers well
coined Sternsdroff and were eated over his
statement. When he told them that an