The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-18
THE STRIKING FIREMEN.
THEY SEEM TO BE IN A FAIR WAY
TO GET THEIR DEMANDS.

Nearly $4,000 Miners Idle and Many
Railroad Crews Suspended on Ac-
count of the Strike-Both Miners
md Engineers Seem to he strong
Iy in Sympathy with the Firemen.
strikers Issue n Statement Saying
Entire Anthracite Region Is Prac-
ticalIy at StandstiIl-Two Coal
Companies and state officials Sign
Contract.
Wilkesbarre. Pa, July 1.-THE close
of the second day of the stationary
firemen's strike finds fully 49, 900 miners
idle in the Wyoming district of the
anthracite coal region, which extends
from Duryea to Nanticoke. The num-
Der of idle men was increased to-day
by the suspension of railroad crews on
nearly all coal branches No coal being
mined, there is none to haul to the
breakers
The total number OF men idle now in
the whole anthracite region is esti-
mated at $1,000. There are 10000 mine
workers in the Lackawanna region, but
they are not all out. If the strike ex-
tends to the Hazelton, Schuylkill and
Shamokin regions 10000 men may be
idle before long.
The tie-up in this region is complete
and the strikers are much encouraged.
The hosting engineers met this after
noon, and although the meeting was
secret, 1t is learned from pretty re-
liable source that the striking firemen
received the moral support of those
present. 1t Is almost certain that none
of the engineers will consent to take
the places of the striking firemen.
Will Tie Up Anthracite Region.
The strike leaders believe that the
work of organizing the firemen In 9TH
er sections of the coal field will proceed
and eventually the whole anthracite re-
Gion will be tied up.
The coal company officials believe
that before this can take place the min
ers will become uneasy and insist on
going to work. AS soon as the miners
make move in that direction the bot
tom is expected to drop out of the
strike. President Mullahy and State
Secretary Gerrity went to Lackawanna
county this afternoon to address meet
ing there. Other officers of the associa-
ton have gone to the Hazelton dis
trict.
The following official statement was
issued from strike headquarters this
evening:
THE entire upper middle anthracite
region is practically closed down to-
day by the fremen's strike. Reports
received at headquarters from Forest
city and vicinity and the middle an
thracite region are that all collieries
ana many manufactures are at a
standstiil. The Mount armel and
Shamokin districts are ordered out Fri
day morning at o'clock by the state
board unless their demands are grant
ed. The Hazelton region is under the
advisement of the state officials and
subject to call on few days no
tice.
The First Contract Signed.
THE first contract ever entered into
by an anthracite coal corporation was
signed this morning by the officials of
tn Kingston Coal Company and the
Parrish Company of Plymouth, and the
state officials, granting the firemen an
eight-hour day at $l.70 per day, their
demand
MANY local industries have granted
the demand and hourly reports bring
others. All but the mining companies
will have given in before three days
are past, we confidently believe, from
the reports of our district leaders.
THE engineers have emphatically re-
fused to work in all the territory now
covered by the strike, and have sacri-
feed their positions in the fireman's
behalf For the state hremen, we, as
officials, place ourselves on record as
not returning to work until every en-
gineer has been returned to his position.
We extend grateful appreciation to
their organization.
indications point to another victory.
The United Mine Workers are standing
noby by US and are giving every aid
to our cause. (Signed)
u. F. Mullahy,
state President.
u. A. Gerrity,
State Secretary"