The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-12-11
TELLS SAD TALE
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION HEARS
PATHETIC STORY OF OLD
! MINE WORKER.
LISTENERS VISIBLY AFFECTED

After Being incapacitated for Further
Service as Result of Injuries Re-
ceived in Line of Duty Himself and
Family Are Thrown Out of Com
pany's House-subsequent Exposure
Results in Wife's Death.
Scranton, Pa, Dec. 10.-When the
strike commission opened it's session
H. G. Reynolds. one of the attorneys
for the Independent operators, an
nounced the death of DR.. J. N. Rice,
an Independent operator, who was a
party to the arbitration scheme and
was prominent in the present negotia-
tons. Chairman Gray, for the COM
mission, expressed sorrow at the death
of DR.. Rice.
The first witness called was James
McMenigle, a miner. formerly en-
ployed by Markle & Co. He said the
breast he was working in was SO dan
gerous that he complained to the COM
pany officials that he might be killed.
He was told if he worked any other
breast he would not be given any cars.
He went out on strike and after the
suspension he was refused work and
evicted from his house.
B. D. Gallagher, another Markle min
er, testified that the company charges
him IS cents gallon for oil that sells
in Hebelton, few miles away, for IS
cents, and 80 cents quire for blasting
paper that can be had for Is cents.
Chairman Gray asked what the out
side market price for powder is. Some
of the Independent operators said $1.25
a key, but attorneys for the miners
said 80 to IS cents key. The COM
panies are selling it to the miners at
$3.50 key.
Andrew Hannik, Hungarian, told
how the Markles had evicted him. He
was followed by Henry Coll, another
Markle miner, who told how his fam
lily, including his mother-in-law, who
was hundred years old, were set out
on the road with their household
goods He gave a graphic description
of how he was injured many times in
the mines. He said one of his legs
was no better than wooden one; he
had only one eye, his hands had been
crushed, ribs broken and skull frac-
tured. The company gave him nothing
until after the employees took up a
collection for him. Then he was given
$50, after being on the injured list two
years. The company took out of the
collection the rent he owed.
In answer to other questions he said
he was one of the thirteen evicted by
the Markle company. The only rent
he owed was for the months during the
strike. The company gave no reason
for evicting him.
Eviction Causes Wife's Death.
Then followed the most pathetic
story yet told the commission. The
old miner, decrepit from many inju-
ries, told under examination of how
the eviction was carried on. The wife
was sick and her 100-year-old mother
was blind and unable to walk. The
day on which they were thrown out
was rainy. He took them, best he
could, to Hazleton, seven miles away,
and placed them in cold. damp empty
house. This was last month when the
atmosphere on the Hazleton noun
tain was quite cold. His wife became
worse. Medical aid was kindly fur
nished free by Hazleton doctor but
it did not help her much. ...,
1--WE were greatly worried because
of our having been turned out of the
house and one night" the witness said,
between sobs, "she died"
"She died?" said Judge Gray, who
was pacing to and fro across the room,
as he quickly turned when he heard
the mans last words.
Eyes, sir; she died and buried her
yesterday" -....
All the commissioners and many of
those in the courtroom were much af-
fected by the old miners story. The
witness went on to say that he did not
know whether the centenarian was
alive today or not. She was in bad
condition owing to her daughters
death when he left home last night,
Mr.. Coll said.
No one cared to cross-esamine and
Judge Gray said:
"That is all, Mr.. Coll, and that's
enough" ...... r.
Two more witnesses told of how
they we're refused work by the Markle
company and then ]. B. Gallagher, ma
tional board member of the United
Mine Workers of America for the Ha-
zleton district, took the stand and told
of conditions as he found them at the
mines of the Markle company. The air
in some of the gangways, he said, was
so bad that miners lamps would not
burn. If he had a drill hole started
and the lamp went out he would con-
tinue to work in the dark until his con-
dition became so weakened by the air
that he had to go out.
So far as he could remember not one
man who was on any of the Markle
grievance committees Is now working
for that company.