Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-25
TROOPS IN FIVE COUNTIES
Are oSmpsd in Half the Territory Of the
PsnHylvania Strike,
SITUATION GROWING MORE CRITICAL
Many Personal Encounters Occur
MObs Destroy some Property and
the Output of Coal is
only Fractional.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24-of the ten
anthracite coal producing counties OF
Pennsylvania, state troops are tonight
camped in hve. Despite the presence Of
the troops in these districts rioting and
general lawlessness continues in the en-
tire hard coal territory from Forest City,
SusQuehanna county, on the north. to Will
Jamestown, Dauphin county, on the south,
distance OF more than 100 miles
The section of the strike region in the
vicinity Of Forest City which has been com.
paratively quiet ever since the strike be-
gan, was greatly wrought up today by
crowds of strikers interfering with and
beating men who had returned to work and
as result Sheriff Macy of Susquehanna
county tonight asked Governor Stone for
troops TO assist him and other civil author
tiles to preserve the peace At present
there are four full regiments, two COM
panies Of another regiment and two troops
Of cavalry. The Thirteenth is at Oliphant,
the Sixth is at Its armory In Wilkes
barre, the Eighth regiment and the Second
Philadelphia City troop are under canvas
on the top of a hill overlooking Shenan-
doah, one battalion of the Twelfth regi-
ment and the Governors troop are in the
Panther creek valley and a battalion Of
the Twelfth is preserving order in the
city Of Lebanon, where the iron and steel
workers are on strike.
Governor May Need Others.
II the disorder continues Governor Stone
will be compelled to call out additional
soldiers. While there has been no big gen.
eral riot the disturbances have been Of
such serious nature as to cause the au-
thorities much apprehension. Every ef
fort is being made by the sheriffs OF the
several counties affected and the troops to
prevent disturbances from growing to such
an extent as to cause bloodshed. Reports
are coming in from every section of non
union men and others being either shot or
clubbed. Houses of workmen have been
burned or dynamited, and attempts have
been made to hold up coal trains or derail
them. Coal is heing shipped from many
places, but compared with the normal out
put the quantity is Insignificant. The out
put for this week will be considerably less
than the average normal production Of one
day, which Is about 100000 tons. The
strikers claim that very little Of the coal
is freshly mined and that 1t is mostly coal
washed from the culm banks or that has
been stored at various points since before
the strike began. President Mitchell had
no comment to make today on the move
ment OF the troops into Luzerne county
He said the general strike situation Is un-
changed.
Reign OF Terror at wiIkesbaFres-
wILKEsBARRE, Pa. septs 24--A reign
Of terror existed in this section of the
strike region last night and early today
Sheriff Jacobs and his deputies were power
less to preserve order, although every at
tempt was made to do so. No sooner was
one outbreak suppressed than another broke
out. At Nanticoke the street cars were
boarded by the miners in search of nom
union men coming from or going to work.
A sheriffs posse and a crowd Of strikers
exchanged shots at Wanamie after the latter
had derailed a train of coal cars. At Plym-
outh a number Of nonunion men on their
way home from No. mine were held up
and beaten so badly that they were left
on the roadway for dead.
Shortly after o'clock a demand for more
| deputies was received from no less than
ten places in Luzerne county. Those ap-
| plying for aid said that IL help was not
sent at once there would be loss Of prop
ertg and possible bloodshed. Sheriff Jacobs
after a consultation with his attorney de-
cided to take no more chances, but to
appeal to the governor at once. Shortly
before o'clock this morning the sheriff
telegraphed Governor Stone, telling him that
the situation in the Wyoming region was
beyond his control and that in order to
protect life and property troops would have
to be sent here Immediately. The gov
ernors secretary replied that the matter
would be laid before the former at once.
At Exeter this morning a mob of SOC
gathered in the vicinity OF a washery and
prevented the employees from going to work
A deputy sheriff named Burke was knocked
down by stones and severely injured
Large crowds Of men and boys are gathered
around the washeries and mines in opera
tion and the situation is very threatening.
Governor and sheriff Confer.
HARRISBURG. Pa. Sept. 24,-Troops will
be sent to Luzerne county before night 4
rtoting in that locality does not cease
Governor Stone and Adjutant General Stew
art were in conference with Sheriff Jacob
at Wilkesbarre by telephone at 8 O'Clock thi
morning. The governor does not want [,
order out additional troops unless it Il
absolutely necessary. and before doing s,
he will investigate the situation in tn,
localities where there is trouble
sherin Jacobs telegraphed to the gov
ernor at o'clock this morning that tn,
conditions In Luzerne were such that II wa
impossible for him to maintain peace, pro
tect life and property and suppress riotinI
and disorder. He also said that II blood
shed was to be prevented the governo
would have to send troops to his assist
ance.
The message was received by Privat
Secretary Gerwig who called the sheriff
up over the long-distance telephone L
ascertain the situation more fully. Sheriff
Jacobs said the rioters had fired severa
shots into a washery near Wilkesbarre an
had blown up a railroad bridge with dyna
mite. He was alone In his ONCE Will
speaking with Mr.. Gerwig. and said
would not be necessary 10 send troops be
fore morning. No demand has since bee
received from the sherifI, and the stat
} authorities are hopeful that it will not b
necessary to order out additional troops.
Regiment waiting Orders.
, The Ninth regiment, whose headquarter
are at Wilkesbarre, is under waiting order
and II the sheriff renews his request 10
troops 1t is likely that this regiment wi
be ordered to his assistance.
The governors advices from Lebanon thl
morning are that the situation is improve
and that there are no signs OF furthe
rioting or an outbreak such as would re
! quire the presence Of additional troops.
Captain II. NJ Richards, treasurer OF tn
, American Iron and Steel company who wa