The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-09
EvCTIONS.
A Pathetic Scene in Strike
Court at Scranton
Aged Miner Tells Story of How
He Was Turned Out.
JUDGE GRAY is MOVED.
AS He Listens to the Tale of
Suffering and Death.
Nobody Offered to Cross Exam
inc the Witness.

Scranton Pa, Dec 9-When the
strike commission opened its session to-
day, H c. Reynolds. one of the attor-
neys for the independent opera tors. an
nounced the death of DR.. J. N Rice. an
independent operator who was party to
the arbitration scheme and was pronll-
merit in tie present negotiations. Chair
man Gray for the commission expressed
sorrow at the death of DR.. Rice.
In a few we'll chosen words Judge
Gray called attention to the uncertainty
of life and reminded all who are parties
to the controversy that they may at any
moment be called to that high tribunal
which gives exact Justice to all.
The first witness called was James
McGonigle, a miner formerly employed
by the Markle company He said the
breast he was working in was so dan
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
miner, testified that the company
charges him 35 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
ceatr-
Chairman Gray asked what the out
SlQe market price IOf DONuST was. COulc
of the independent operators said $1.25
keg, but attorneys for the miners said
80 TO IS cents a keg- The COMPANIES
are selling it to the miners at S1.50
ke%
Andrew Hannik, a Hungarian. told
how the Marbles evicted him. He was
followed by Henry Coll another Markle
miner, who told how his family includ-
ing his mother-in-law. who was 100
years old. were set out on the road with
their household goods. He gave q
graphic description of how he was in
jured >lany times in the mines. He said
one of his legs no better than q
wooden one: he had only one eye, his
hands had been crushed, ribs broker,
and skull fractured The company gave
him nothing until after the employees
was given SEQ. after being on the in
jured list for two Fears. The company
took out of the collection the rent ne
owed.
said thai he was one of the 13 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.
Then. followed the most pathetic story
yet told the commission. The old miner.
decrepit from many injuries, told under
examination of how the eviction was
carried on The wife was sick and her
100-year-oid mother was blind and un-
able to walk The day on which they
were thrown out was rainy. He took
them as best he could to Hazelton, seven
miles away and placed them in cold.
damp, empty house. This was last
month when the atmosphere on the
Hazelton mountain was quite cold. His
wife became worse. Medical aid was
kindly furnished free by a Hazelton
doctor, but It did not help her much.
I'VE were greatly worried because of
our having been turned out of the
house,an one night" he said between
I c-r,N1c atc1@.-
"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.
Yes. sir. she died. and I buried her
yesterday"
All the commissioners and many If
those in the court room were much
affected 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 con-
dition owing to her daughters death
when he left the house last night
No one cared to cross-examine. and
Judge Gray said:
This IS all. Mr.. Coll, and that's
enough
Two more witnesses told of how they
were refused work by the Markle com
pany. and then J. B. Gallagher national
/ board member of the United Mine Work
erS OF America for~t1e HazeltOn district
took the stand and told of conditions
as he found them in 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
mad drill hole started and the lamp
went out he would continue work in the
/ dark until his condition 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. Gallagher explained
the troubles at the Markle mines after
/ the recent strike was over when the
men refused to go to work because John
Marlxle imposed certain conditions.