Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-08-15
STRIKERS RAID FARMS
Are FOraging in Agricultural District
+. Of Catawissa Valley.
FARMERS ASK FOR PROTECTION


If Troops Are Not Sent to Prevent
Raids They viii Appeal to the
sieriff-sOldiers Feeding Hungry
Women and Children.
Shenandoah, Pa. Aug. 12.-Com-
plant was made to brigade headquar-
ters yesterday that strikers are for
aging in the rich agricultural district
Of the Catawissa Valley. which
spreads its broad and fertile length
along the other side Of the mountains
north OF this city. The life Of one
farmer has been threatened because
he attempted TO protect his property,
and the raids have reached such seri.
Gus proportions that the farmers are
preparing to take some concerted &C
ton to stop further depredations.
The complaints reached headquarters
yesterday afternoon, and 1t Is not IN
likely that cavalry will be sent into
the district for the purpose Of stop
/ ping the raids. If the cavalry is sent
there It is probable that a platoon Of
the troopers viii be left In the valley
to Iatrel the farms day and night.
The farmers are drawing up petit
ton asking for protection, which will
be sent to the sheriff in ease General
Goblin decides not to send the troops
into the valley.
Lucien Munbeck, a farmer, reported
| e.. time nocf raids huUa
been made on his place by parties OF
men. Early yesterday morning he
caught a man tearing out whole stalks
Of corn. He ordered the man OF the
place, and as he was leaving he fired
two shots at the farmer. The latter
was armed, but did not shoot A
widow who owns a farm reported that
several men come on her premises
and started to dig out potatoes. She
ordered them off the patch, but they
paid no attention to her, and did mo-
leave until they had taken all thel
needed, One farmer has several mel
patroliiag his faFm day and Hight
The foFagers do not eentine them
selveiI to stealing crops, but also taxi
away with them chickens and geese.
The soldiers in camp are daily feed
ing several hundred women and chill
dren. They come there, saying the.
are hungry, and as there is more thai
enoui;h food In the camp te suppl
the wants Of the men, the officer
permit the soldiers to give semethin
to the needy applicants, The nun
Der that came last week was small
but 1t Is increasing every day. Som
Of the women and all of the childre
, come to the camp in their bare fee
E Many Of them bring baskets to carr
the food home It is a common sigh
j to see some of the women and chi
( dren take scraps from the leavings {
. the soldiers. Colonel Hoffman, of tn
I Eighth Regiment, was asked if all {
e these persons were foreigners. an
= he replied that a good many belonge
G 10 the Bnglish,speaking classes.
J. The officials of the Mine Worker
= Union deny there Is any actual wan
s They maintain that the local unioI
d are we'll able at this time to take cal
n of all cases Of distress. The striI
e situation remains unchanged, and IL
region Ihereabouts is peaceSHl.
The estimated cost Of the coal mi
ers' strike to date is as follows: I
5 operators, sSO,5OO,OOO; to striker
y wages. s14,6O0.O00; to other worke
a made Idle, $4,000 600; to Busine
I. men iii region, $40, 100000; to bui
n ness men outside, $6.0OO,OOO; mai
le tanning deputies. $775,OOO; maintai
!. ing noil-union men, ssSO,OOO; damal
y to mines, $4,000, 900; wage loss Of la
y mill strike, 100000; cost of troops
y field. $4,000; total. s71.7OO.OOO.