Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-10
SOME SAD TALES
Continued from page ~

cents a gallon for oil which sells III HID
zleton. few miles away, for Is cents,
and 81 cents quire for, blasting paper
that can be had for 10 cents.
Chairman Gray asked what the outside
market price for powder was. Some OF
the independent operators said sl.25 a kes
and the attorneys for the miners said the
price was 80 to % cents a keg. The com
panes are selling it to miners at $50 d
keg.
Andrew Hannik a Hungarian. told how
the Markles had evicted him. He was
followed by Henry Coll, another Markle
miner. who told how his family, including
his mother-in-law. who. was 100 years of
age, were set out on the road with their
house hold goods. He gave a graphic de-
scription of how he was injured in the
mines many times. He said that one OF
his legs was no better than a wooden
one: he had only one eye. his hands have
been crushed. his ribs broken and his
skull fractured. The company gave MIN
nothing until after the employees took up
a collection for him. Then he was given
$50 after having been on the injured list
two years. The company took out of the
that he was one of the Is cvicted by the
Markle company. The only rent he owed
was for the months during the strike.
Company gave no reason for evictinS him.
Then followed the most pathetic story
yet told the commission. The old miner,
decrepit from many injuries, told under
the examination. how the evictions were
carried on. His wife was sick and hcr
100 years-od mother was blind and unable
to walk.
The day on which they Were evicted
was rainy. He took them the best nc
could to HaZleton, seven miles away, and
placed them in a cold, damp. cmpty
house. This was last month when the
atmosphere on the Hazleton mountain
was quite cold. His wife became worse
Medical aid was kindly furnished by a
Hazleton doctor, but it did not help her
much. We were greatly worried because
of our having been turned out If our
house and one night. the witness said
between sobs. she died.
she died,' exclaimed 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 l buried her.
yesterday"
All the commissioners and many oi
those in the court room were much af-
fected by the old miners story. The
witness went on to say that he did no;
know whether the centennarian was alive
or not.
She was in bad condition owing to her
daughters health when I left home last
night he explained.
No one cross-eXamined him.
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
Workers of America for the HaZelton
district. told of conditions as he found
them at the mines of the Markle Com
pany.
National Board Member Gallagher
resumed the stand in the afternoon and
explained the powder question.
An 1S-year-old Hungarian slate pick
er employed by the Markle Co. said
that before the strike he received IS
cents; now he received only 80 cents
day. The company never notified him
of the reduction. He said the breaker
boss who stands over the pickers often
dubbed him, kicked him and swore at
him.