The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-05

told him there would positively be no
concessions or arbitration to settle the
strike and that the conflict will only
end by the unconditional surrender of
the strikers.
Mr.. Baer further stated that the di-
rection of the strike for the Morgan in
| terests has been left exclusively in his
hands. with instructions to win COM
plete victory at any cost. He accepted
the task with the condition that he was
not to be hampered in any way. He
has no advisory board executive COM
mittee or other body to share with him
the responsibility he has shouldered,
and receives advise and suggestion
only when he seeks them
That President Baer was to lead the
| operators side of the battle was ex-
pected here, when 1t was disclosed dur
ing the conferences between the min
ers' leaders and the operators that the
superintendent of the coal department
OF each of the large companies was re-
Quired to forward to him an exhaustive
statement to be used in combating the
demands of the miners
Five firemen at the Cayuga and three
at the Brisbin. two Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western collieries. quit
work yesterday at the solicitation of
committees of strikers who had been
working on them at their homes. They
finished their shift today after notifying
the company that they were to join the
ranks of the strikers. Here and there
among other companies colieries men,
principally firemen. are deserving in
ones and twos. A few men who went
on strike Monday have returned, the
companies claim.
Twelve pump runners employed in
the Bellevue and Dodge mines, who quit
work on Monday in obeyance to the or
ders issued by President Mitchell and
the district presidents, held meeting
yesterday afternoon at 110 South Main
avenue. for the purpose of deciding
whether or not to return to work to-
day.
The meeting was attended by District
President Nichols and Michael Healey.
a member of the executive board of the
United Mine Workers. They convinced
the men that 1t would be unwise for
them to return to work. and in conse
quence the men decided to remain away
from the mines.
Several of the men who had continued
work since the order went into effect,
were among the number who decided
to remain out. The pumpmen en-
ployed at the Pyne mines also quit work
yesterday.
SO far the places of the deserting men
have been filled without much difficult
ty. Few men have been imported.
Most of the deserted posts are filled by
bosses. Office clerks and the like. The
Delaware, LackaWanna and Western
company is working it's Hampton
washery with twenty-five Italian la
borers recruited from the Italian COL
ony in Dunmore. Before the strike,
some of them were employed in the
Pennsylvania Coal company's mines.
Today these men will work either the
Bellevue or Diamond washery, and the
next day, one of these or else the |
Hampton. according to the press of the |
need for fuel for the boilers.
Coal is being loaded from the big |
storage piles in Keyser Valley into cars |
which are to be shipped TO Hoboken for |
sale to preferred customers
RECRUITING WORKAEN.
Recruiting stations have been estab- |
lishcd in New York to secure engineers,
and fircmcn to relieve |
the bosses. Office hands and the like,
who have been pressed into emergency
service in these positions. AT this time
of the year. when the big buildings dis
pense with the flre-room help. New
York has hundreds of men of this de-
scription who must seek other employ
ment for the summer.
A new ally of the strikers has arisen
in the shape of hunger-crazed rats.
When the mines are working, the big
rodents that have their being UNDER
ground. live on the feed they steal from
the mule barns and the scraps OF food
the miners dump from their dinner
buckets. The miners and mules hav-
ing come out of the mines, and their
food being no longer available, the
rats are without means of sustenance
When hungered they become very
vicious and would not hesitate to at.
tack a man.
Pump-runners who are compelled to
work inside the mine have reported
that during the past few days great
swarms of rats have come about them,
and they fear that they may be at
tackled if the pangs of hunger increase
the ferocity and desperation of the ro-
dents.
At some of the mines, the rats can get
out at different parts of the workings
and forage on the surface. At others,
where ladders or carriages are the only
means of exit, they must remain under