The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-13

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ragged hills, sluggish,
winding river and amid the
noise AMI dust of a mining
4 district lay the village Of
Avon. peaceful and quite
in the stiffness of an early
October morning. In all directions un-
sightly-looking chimneys lowered high
above each other, and here and there
odd-shaped coal breakers stood out
lined with monotonous regularity
against the blue, autumn sky.
Night still partly shrouded the sleep
ing city. when multitudes of men and
boys of widely different nationalities
might have been seen moving hurriedly
and noisilv about through the streets
ard byways. Many of these workers
were bent towards the dingy breakers;
while others, leaving the city and busy
world above them went down into the
weird gloom of the mines. There was
striking difference in their forms and
features: some hal borne the tolls and
labors of life more lightly than their
companions. There was. however, a
noticeable sameness about each brow:
each showed signs of hardships and
discOntent from nearly every eye
youths brightness had departed. yet
each was suffering for himself--not a
n:urmur of discomfort had ever es-
capped their lips.
Mr. j. Warren. foreman and also
owner of the mines. was. through some
Misunderstanding. greatly dislilked by
nearly all his men: but there was one,
Dave Hardy by name, who had a
peculiar affection for the foreman, and
as Dave was an old man and knew
more about the city and mines
than anyone else. in spite of this
love for Mr.. Warren. his opinion
was desired in all important mat
matters. But as much as Hardy re-
spected Mr.. Warrtn. Antonio Capellio.
spirited leader among the miners,
despised him. A few years back un-
Intentionally. Antonio had incurred the
anger Of Mr.. Warren and had been
discharged. Since then he had been
planning night and day for revenge
He worked persistently to stir up the
spirit of revolt among his companions
and he was succeeding; for OF late the
miners We're becoming restless. and It
was only too plain that the time would
soon come when they would rebel
against what they termed existing
conditions
Never had affairs gone we'll at the
mincs. and. though hardly noticeable.
each year they grew steadily worse.
And even after an agreement was
made, whereby wages We're more uni
form. tha probability of a strike grew
nlore and more apparent: in fact. the
outlook for a peaceable settlement was
gloomy indeed. as about this timJ
notices were posted TO the effect that
wages would be reduced ten per cent.
icr tho ensuing three months. Before
il had needed bu: a spark to kindle
the drift wood Of rebellion that ha(
lcen acc.lmulatng for years; now the
spark was in sight. and Antoni saw it
and famed it to a flame.
AS no reasons We're givn for the re-
,'uction. the miners looked upon i, as
II direct result, not Of necessity. hut
Of avaricn and greed. Public meetings.
1t which Antonio always prefy.detA
were now held often. FTe was a fair
81 eakcr and perhaps saw this his last
and best opportunity to carry out a
long -hOred-fOr revenge.
On Il night in the latter part of Oc-
tubcr the most important meeting OF
the miners took place. Every miner
"f note was there, every well-known
laLorcr about the mines and collier
i'S "iS present.. even lii' SIdle- -DlCkcTS
and driver hoys were there in force,
and regarded this night as the most
critical period of their life.
After the meeting had been called
tc order. Antonio. with voice trembling
slightly. yet with an earnestncss and
force that deeply moved the men,
arose and addressed them, closing
with the following:
Fellow citizens: We have been too
lenicnt in the past. too careful in what
we have said and done. Up to this
time the miners of this valley have
been and are being silently. slowly.
surely deprived Of their liberties and
Independence. Now. if ever. is the
lime to strike a blow for freedom that
viii be heard not only in this city of
Avon. but throughout the length and
breadth of this valley-throughout all
America. Yes, ! believe the sound of
our struggle will even be heard in
heaven and eventually victory will be
ours. lApplauSc) Severe cases de-
mand severe remedies, and we must |
Use our only cffectual remedy-the |
strike! Citizens and miners. strike |
say and today: and may the God of |