The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-04

iron police was wholly unnecessary In
and about colleres; that they were
engaged by the coal companies solely
for the purpose of causing bother SO
as to bring OH the militia: that the
mine workers themselves stood ready
to furnish protection against assaults
on operators interests and so on and
SO forth.
Taking President Mitchell and the
| other strike leaders at their word, the
North American Coal company, through
President Anthony, addressed a letter
to President Mitchell announcing that
the company would start its washery
| without making requiston for depu-
ties or installing coal and iron police
protection, and requesting that Presi-
| dent Mitchell see to it that the COM
pany could proceed with it's operations
| without being enforced to bring in the
| much abused and detested coal and
iron police.
President Mitchell replied that it was
not up to him to furnish protection
for the company. but he gave his posi-
| tive assurance that the company would
not be molested in any way by MEM
| bers of the United Mine Workers Of
America.
BEGAN OPERATIONS.
| On the strength of this assurance
| the company commenced operations,
without hiring a single watchman,
other than the usual force of one for
the day and one for the night.
| One week ago Friday the company's
pump house was blown up by dyna-
mite. The following Sunday night dy-
Mantle was exploded along their car
lier line. Frequently the washery and
workmen have been stoned. and last
night they were mobbed Manager
| Sharkey said, when he reached the GEN.
trail city and got through relating his
| experiences, that the company is be-
ginning to lose faith in President
Mitchell's assurances.
1--WE have not entirely lost faith in
Mr.. Mitchell's assurances that coal and
| iron police are not necessary just now
in this region for the protection of
coal property" said Mr.. Sharkey, "but
if our experiences of the past few
| weeks continue, we will feel inclined to
back up Mr.. Mitchells assurances with
a few Maxim rapid-tire guns"
The mobbing, last night, while ex-
citing, was unattended by any serious
results, thanks to good fortune and
bad aim.
Manager Sharkey at the head of his
thirty-four men left the washery lit
tie before 6 o'clock and started up the
Delaware and Hudson tracks towards
the central city as is their wont. A
crowd Of about half hundred men
and boys that had been lying in wait,
dropped in behind them and proceeded
to volley them with stones. The wash
cry men quickened their gait and their
assailants did likewise.
IT RAINED STONES.
From the washery to the silk mill it
| fairly rained stones. The workmen
made no show Of fight, but hurried on
to get out of reach of the mob. The
assailants did not attempt to get very
close, as their numbers did not war;
rant them in engaging in a hand-to-
hand conflict. The workmen, by skill
full lodging, managed to escape beirg
hit very often and finally got safely
away from the stone throwers, who did
not care to risk carrying the hostilities
into the built up portion of the town.
The stone throwers were no sooner
left behind than the workmen encoun-
tered the silk mill girls, just emerging
from the mills. They We're hooted and
jeered and subjected to some very
uncomplimentary remarks. One of
them was hit on the head with bag
of wet dirt thrown from window of
the MILL it was not until the workmen
reached Washington avenue that they
left their assailants behind.
"One more experience Of that kind"
= al
will be something doing around the
National"
PETTEBONE STARTED.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western company has succeeded in
starting up another colliery, the Petite
bone. at Kingston. Miners have been
cutting coal there for several weeks,
and yesterday, the work of running it
through the breaker was begun. This
makes six collieries the Lackawanna
company is now working. Tomorrow
the company expects to start up the
new Bellevue washery.
The Marvine colliery of the Delaware
and Hudson company which started
up Tuesday was shut down, yesterday.
At the companys office, it was stated
liat TIC MdiNih VIII iiol Iui regularly
for some time yet. The cutting of coal
will continue right along, but the
breaker will only be run when sufficient
coal is at the foot to warrant the start
ing up of the machinery.
Superintendent Tobey, of the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western COM
pany, said yesterday, there are num-
ber of his company's collieries that
are likely to resume operations at any
time. Each of the district superintend-
ents has been instructed to start any
colliery when sufficient number of
men have been secured to operate it.
At Tuesdays conference with the dis
trict superintendents 1t was learned
that at several collieries the superin-
tendents are only waiting for few
more men before making start.
SHOW NO ALARM.
The mine workers officials do not
evidence any great alarm at the re-
ported resumption of work at local col
lieries. They say that the number of
men employed is so small that the coal
they can produce is comparatively in
significant. None of them will for a
moment admit that they regard these
operations as an indication of break
up Of the strike.
The district officers of the mine
workers went to Wilkes Barre, yester-
day, to attend conference called by
National President Mitchell.
President John II. Devine, of the