New-York tribune., 1902-07-15
MOB NEARLY BURNS HOUSE
QUIET WHERE RIOTING WAS LAST
WEEK-READY FOR NATIONAL
CONVENTION
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUYE.l
Wilkesbarre, Penn. July 14.-William Hoff-
i1nan and his father, of Upper Lehigh, escaped
with their lives from mob this morning, and
are still hiding in the woods, TO which they fed.
They employed at the Upper Lehgh Col
lery, and refused to stop work few days ago
when ordered to do so by the strikers. This
morning about l o'clock their house was at
tackled. While the mob was battering down
the door the two men escaped from window.
The mob. finding only Mrs. Hoffman and the
children in the house turned them out and pro-
ceeded room by room. 10 wreck the place The
furniture smashed, the bedclothes torn
windows broken and dishes shattered AS a
last act the stove was upset, and the redhot
Goals spread the floor. After the fire was
well started. however a few members of the
mob returned and extinguished it. The au-
thorities arrived too late to do any good. Some
Of the leaders We're recognized, however, ana an
effort win be made to arrest them.
At Lansford. where the rioting occurred last
week ali was quiet to-day, the arrests being a
lesson TO the rioters. Many warrants are stli
unserved, because the men they describe are
missing. Thirty under bail. The Cltl-
gems Alliance, although not week old, is ac-
tive In fur1hering the prosecution of all charges
that Interfere with a mans right to work, to
sell or to- buy and to remain unmolested
the trouble is over.
President Thomas Duffy has returned from
the district, and he says: Everything is quiet
at Panther Creek. and I feel safe in saying
that in the future order and decorum will pre-
vail. Much of the trouble l am satisfied was
entirely due the deputies who in not a few
Instances unfit to fill these positions
The delega -es to the Indianapolis convention
will leave here tomorrow night. The number
for
luton providing financial aid for the strikers by
allowing the soft coal to remain at work is
not yet obtainable II is believed. however, that
a majority of them stand for the latter propo-
sition.
District President Nichols says OF it:
The public can be given to understand that
so long as the miners have enough bread TO
strike If obtain the financial support
of the bituminous miners at the Indianapolis
and not until October l, as some of the news
papers have stated. We do not how de-
termfned the operators are to hold out to the
bitter end, because know that stand
the fight. When they are brought TO realiZa-
fion of this, they will be when the Indian
apois convention is held. they will Immediately
change their tune and assume an entirely diff
ferent attitude
District President Duffy takes a different
view of the situation. He says:
It is impossible for any one to say what the
outcome of the convention will be, but the dele
cation from this district goes with the sole pur-
pose Of voS sing in favor of national strike.
shall accompany the delegates TO the cOnven-
tion unless / find il necessary for remain
at home. If / must remain at home l will do
so cheerfully, feeling confident that the national
convention will decide the best course TO
pursue.
District President Fahey had nothing to say
on the matter, but it is known that most of the
delegates from his district have been told to be
guided by the advice Of their leaders, who, it
is believed, are for financial aid first and then
national movement if the aid fails TO win the
strike.
A large force of strikers pickets this
ing guarded all the roads leading from Free
land to the adjacent collieries, and turned back
all the men who started for work. There was
no violence, although some of the men who
protested were hustled along vigorously. Despite
this picket guard Coke Brothers & Co. report
that eight striking engineers and fremen re-
1urned TO work this morning.
A store is being conducted by the mine work
ers at Tower City which is supplying all the
members of the organization who unable
10 obtain credit at the general stores with the
necessaries of life. No goods are sold to per
sons who are not members of the union.
A mass meeting Of miners was held this morn
ing in Plymouth and attended by crowd esti-
mated at nearly two thousand. President Mich
ols of District No. ! the principal speaker,
and he advised the strikers to stand firm,
suring them that the fight was virtually won