New-York tribune., 1902-07-04
OPERATORS NEW MOVE.
BONUS GRANTED TO MEN WHO REMAIN
AT WORR-MAY LEAD TO REOPEN
ING OF COLLIERIES-MITCH
ELI. RETURNS.
ELL RETURNS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l

strike developments to-day was the granting OF a
bonus of 10 per cent by the Erie Coal Company 10
all its employees. This money was paid to-day Tor
the last two weeks work. 1t is understood, whlie
the operators made statement regarding II, that
the bonus" is also TO be given by the other COM
panies and that it is part of the aggressive cam
pagn planned for breaking up the strike. II Is ex-
pected that it will be an important factor IN get
ting the men to return to work.
There have been in the last several days so many
indications of unrest that the granting of the in
crease is most timely as affecting the minds OF the
strikers. It is viewed by the business men OF the
region tonight the most important incentive
the companies have offered for the men TO return
to work. and II is taken the first of the aggres-
sve moves toward securing enough men TO operate
some Of the coleries before the national conVen-
tion July II.
The fact that it has not offered in the three
fortnghtIy paydays previous the present one
since the strike began is evidence that the COM
panies have plan under way of which the IO
per cent bonus is the opening wedge The opera
tors all decline TO discuss the possibilities of the
increase while the strikers surprised by IT, out
declare II will have no effect upon the men,
BULLET WHICH KILLED STRIKER LOST
The bullet which killed the striker Vanassa,
whose body was found outside the William A
colliery at Duryea on Monday morning has disap-
peared II would be the only clear evidence as 10
whether he was shot down by the coal guards be-
hind the stockade killed accidentally by
some of his friends. and the disappearance OF the
bullet makes the mysterious.
Coroner Saltry, of Lacks wanna, who' with DTS
Longstreet McGrath and Iolan, made the autopsy
on Tuesday has since the MADE repeated search
for the bullet in the brain cavity and has failed
to find IL.
Coroner saItry said tonight: Il cannot under
stand IT, / am certain the bullet is missing IL
entered the head behind the right and fractured
the bone above the right eye remaining IN the
head We have examined every particle OF the brain
matter and have not found it, Experts mere say
it may have dropped out of the hole 1t MADE when
IT entered but this would have been very unusual
1 cannot explain it. 1 do not believe 1t could wen
have been extracted with probe before the oooy
was turned over 10 me- We making a thorough
investigation"
The body was lying some thirty yards from the
stockade when turned over to the authorltleS.
Friends OF the dead say he was shot ana ieil
ten yards from the stockade. and that men from
the inside carried him the further distance Inc
story of the company is that In reply 10 seVeral
shots fired at the collery shot was fired in re-
turn at midnight and that the body of the man was
not seen until the next morning.
If the bullet had been found 10 be of the size
used in the OF the coal guards prosecution
would have followed. Seven OF them are unde-
s. 900 bail each on the charge Of manslaughter.
II it was not of the size they used 1t would have
exonerated them AS it is there is no proof
PRESIDENT MITCHELL BACK.
President Mitchell returned this evening from
the west where ne mas peen IOr lHe last SiA udsS'
cheerful and we'll pleased with the situation in
both fields He was heartily welcomed by the
leaders here and spent the evening talking with
them. He has had success in his efforts while IN
the soft coal districts. but would not talk about
what he had been able to accomplish toward
general understanding 10 the national conven-
tion. He said:
REGARDING the possible action of the national
convention I say nothing at this time. as 1
propose that II shall be left entirely to the men
themselves. and any action the delegates decide
upon will be satisfactory TO me"
Regarding the general outlook he said:
IT am satisfied with the situation it exists in
the bituminous and the anthracite fields. went
West 10 settle local matters among the miners of
Illinois, and this has been done In Michigan the
operators have made offer which includes GER
tain concessions and the matter has heen referred
back to the miners to vote upon, that cannot
tell what the outcome there will be
Il have been kept in close touch with the condi-
tions in both the anthracite and the bituminous
districts and I want 10 deny the stories Of breaks
in ranks. / firmly believe the men are stand
ing as solid s ever
Mr.. Mitchell will now be busy for days in
the general work of arranging for the convention,
He said that the statement attributed 10 him that
"the strike is nearer an end now than at any time"
is msapplied He said he knew of peace pro-
posals from either side, but that the strike has
lasted eight weeks IL is nearer the natural end
THREE STRIKERS BEATEN
The strikers indignant over the beating of
three of their number at Drifton to-day. The affair
was started by two men working along the
d. S and s Railroad who. the strikers be-
leved. had done some work at the Dritton
Colliery. body of hundred strikers passed and
some remarks We're made about the two men. ore
preciptated general conflict, in the course of
which twenty or thirty guards rushed down upon
them and began heating right and left with their
Wasko and John Pelcnei-were severely beaten and
arrested. When brought to this city their heads
and faces were black and blue, covered with big
cuts and bumps and besmeared with blood. They
were taken before Alderman Pollock and held under
$500 bail each on the charge of melting riot and
assault and battery Bail was procured for them.
Mrs Catherine OBrien and Mrs Maria Jones
were arrested this morning at Plains They
charged with assaulting John Thomas, a coal and
iron policeman at the Prospect Colliery in the
upper part OF this city. ON Monday. and were held
under 500 bail for cour.-
William Filter. charged on fourteen counts with
criminal libel. was brought before Judge Ferris for
habeas corpus hearing this afternoon and re-
quested that his bail of 5000 be reduced. After
hearing the evidence of several instances of threat
ening and actual boyeotting. the judge refused to
reduce the bail, and Filter was taken back to jail
FEAR TROUBLE ON HOLIDAY
There is much apprehension among the operators
and the authorities OF the region that the celebra-
ton OF the Fourth and the shooting which is
at the colieries and efforts burn the stockades.
In most of the towns the Mayors and Burgesses
have refused to allow the shooting of dynamite
crackers, and Sheriffs Schadt OF Lackawanna:
have placed deputies at those coieries where
there might be violence with orders to prevent
ar6i any gditneTng @ OF cr0Wus OWES ana any shooting OF
furnished with copies of the riot act will use
VIII be open all day, and force of men will be
on hand 10 reply in case Of a summons The COM
mttees of the miners will also be active in pre-
Is in the enthusiastic small boy. who will think
1t funny TO aim rocket at a breaker. Every
an outbreak.