Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-12-10
WOMAN MARKLE EVICTS DEAD
Tears Start to Commissioners Eyes as
Miner Tells Story.
cENTENARIAN CAST ON STREETS IN RAIN
Family Turned out for Rent Due
During strike, Although Man
worked Years and suf-
fered Many Injuries.

bNOAlts nehTIitbb cruelty Dy I0e
Markle firm on boys, the strike commission
was today told a pathetic tale of a wife
dead and a centenarian woman dying as
the result Of a Markle eviction.
The narrative told simply, though in a
voice shaking at times with sobs. brought
tears to the eyes OF many and so over
came Judge Gray that he could not sit still.
He rose from his seat and strode nervously
up and down while the broken hearted
miner poured forth his misery.
The witness, Henry Coll, was an old
man, SCARED and worn with years OF un-
derground toll. He started by telling
some few Of the injuries which have befal-
len him in the mines. One Of his legs, he
said, was no better than a wooden one he
was minus an eye, his hands had been
crushed, his ribs broken and his skull
fractured. Yet only once had the company
consented to compensate him, and then only
when his fellow employees forced $50 do
nation, and even then the money he owed
the Arm was first deducted.
Then he went on to tell the most pa
thetic story yet brought to the attention
of the commission.
He was one Of the thirteen evicted by
the Markle Bros. a month ago because
they we're unable TO pay the house rent
uub the peTlOu his WIG was
sick and her 100 year old mother, blind and
unable to walk yet they were all thrown out
on the street and left to shift for them
selves as best they could. without money,
almost without hope, the tolls SCARED vet
eran managed, he scarcely realized how, to
get the poor woman over the seven inter-
vening miles to Hazleton and lodge them
in a cold, damp house, the only shelter he
could obtain.
Wife Dies of Exposure.
Here local doctor came to his assist
ance and treated the two sick women with
out money and without price; but II was
too late. The sickness and exposure had
done their work. "for one night" explained
the poor fellow between his heart broken
sobs, "my wife died"
The commissioners by this time we're al
most as fearful as the poor old man him
self. They strove to keep back the tears
which sprang all too readily to their eyes.
and Judge Gray rose from his seat and
paced nervously back and forth. When the
witness reached the climax the kindly
hearted jurist looked at him a minute and
Queried sympatheticsliy, "she died?"
"Yes, sir" responded witness, "she died
and buried her yesterday"
Then he went on TO tell how the old
mother lay gradually wegksnlngs woffsfrG
over her daughters state and the losS- OF
the old home
II don't know IL she is alive today or
not" he said. and no one wishing to cross
examine, left the box dismissed by the
chairman with the emphatic statement
that is all Mr.. Coll. and that's enough"
When the commission resumed, H. G.,
Reynolds announced the death of DR.. ]. N.
Rice, an independent operator, who was
party to the arbitration scheme and prom
| lnent In the present negotiations. The
chairman expressed sorrow at the news.
The first witness was James McGonigle,
a miner formerly employed by the Marhle
company. He said the breasts he was
working in were so dangerous that he
complained to the company officials that he
| might be killed. He was told that II he
worked any other breast ne would not be
| given any cars. He went out on strike, and
after the suspension was refused work and
| evicted from his house.
B. D. Gallagher, another Markle miner,
| testified that the company charged him 80
| cents a gallon for oil that sells in Hazleton
a few miles away for Is cents, and 80 cents
a quire for blasting paper that can be had
| for 10.
Market Price of Powder.
Judge Gray asked the outside market
price for powder. Some OF the independent
miners said S1.25 per keg, but attorneys
for the miners said 80 to 95 cents. The
companies are selling 1t to the miners al
$3.50 a keg.
Andrew Hannik, a Hungarian, told how
the Markles evicted him. He was followed
by Henry Coll whose evidence was the
feature Of the day.
II took a moment or two after Mr.. Col
left the stand for commissioners and coun-
sci to resume their composure. Then two
more witnesses told how they were refusef
work by the Markle company, and J. B
Gallagher, the national board member Of
the United Mine Workers Of America fol
the Hazleton district, took the stand anC
described conditions as he found them a
the mines.
The air in some Of the gangways. hN said
was SO bad that miners lamps would no
burn. II he had drill hole started and hii
lamp went out he would continue work II
the dark until his condition became 81
weakened by the air that he had to go out
So far as he could remember, not on,
man who was on any Of the Msrkle griev
ance committee was now working for tina
| company.
Gallagher explained the troubles at tn
Markle mines after the recent strike wa
over, when the men refused to go to worl
because John Markle imposed certain con
ditions.
Boy is CIubBed and Beaten.
An 1s-year-old Hungarian slate picker a
the Msrkle mines said before the strik
he received IS cents, but now only 7
! cents a day. The company never notihe
him Of the reduction and he still did tn
same work
The breaker boss. who stood over tn
pickers often dubbed him, kicked an
swore at him for not picking slate faster.
: Mrs. Kate Burns Of Jeddo followed wit
= a story OF how she and her two boy
4 worked thirteen years to pay of a hous
= rent and coal bill due the Markle company
Her husband was killed In the Markl
S mines. The company never offered her
. penny. but the employees gave her $3.50.
When the eldest child was IA years oil
. she sent him to the mines TO help earn III
daily bread. At the end OF the hrst mont
\ his wage statement showed that she owe
1896 for back rent. The boys wages fc
the month had been taken on the bill an
he oaine home empty handed.
She submitted to this and in the cours
: OF time her next boy was old enough
J, help and he, too. was sent to the collier!
= Like the older brother, he received no pa!