Abilene weekly reflector., 1902-06-12
THE MINERS STRIKE
Many Men Quit Work for Fear Of
Their Lives
WORKNEN SNUCCLED IN At NIGHT.
The Suggestion That President Roosevelt
Take Up the Settlement Of the Strike
Aroused Considerable Intsrest-For.
elgners Sent to . Colliery.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 6.-Tbis wa,
an uneventful day in the anthracit,
coal miners strike and probably tn,
quietest since the engineers, fire
men and pumpmen were called out
last Monday. There were the usua
scrimmages in several parts of the
wyoming valley in which workmer
who refused to desert the compa
MES generally got the worst Of it
NO one, as far as is known, was Sc.
riously hurt. The work of the min.
ers' pickets and the stoning by boys
and young men is having its effect
Each day a fewer number Of men
leave their homes for the mines, fear
ing they may not again get home
alive. 1t was stated at strike head
quarters that 80 additional men had
Joined the ranks of the strikers dur
ing yesterday and that more are ex-
pected out to-day. The operators
are still able to fill the places Of
those that desert or are forced to
quit. Most Of the companies have
exhausted their force of company
employees and are now using non.
union men more freely. 1t was their
policy not to enlist the services Of
strangers until absolutely necessary
Non-union men from the larger cities
are still coming in, most of them be-
ing brought here under the cover of
darkness. They are sent to the col
lieries during the night because the
officials do not care to arouse the
anger of the men and run the risk Of
having the recruits attacked. Dur
ing the day and part Of the night
the strikers are constantly on the
watch and in few minutes can call
out the entire population Of a min
ing village If necessary.
The action Of the New York board
of trade in requesting President
Roosevelt to take up the matter Of
settling the strike aroused consider
able interest. President Mitchell
had nothing to say when he was
asked for an expression of opinion
on the new move. He said he knew
nothing about it except what he had
read in the newspapers. Mr.. Mitch
ell kept close to his office all day.
He spent the time in comforting with
committeeman from various parts of
the coal fields and did an unusual
amount of telephoning. He said
there was nothing new in regard to
a settlement of the strike and ex-
pressed himself as satisfied with the
progress of the miners campaign.
The mining superintendent who
were seen yesterday had nothing new
to add to the days budget of news.
All of them said they were getting
along fairly well. They continue to
have trouble in operating their
pumps, however, and in some mines
the water is creeping up slowly,
Notwithstanding the strenuous ef-
forts of the men on hand to keep it
lown. This is caused mostly by a
ack of tiremen to keep up enough
steam and also to the fact that some
If the men have to fill dual posi-
ions. The superintendent of one
company said yesterday that he had
received number of applications
rom engineers in cities outside the
'cal regions for positions.
The spirit Of unrest that has been
itself more or less in
his city and vicinity during the last
ew days broke out in earnest at
wo places in this city last night.
boy was dangerously, If not ia
ally, shot by guard at the Stanton
olliery and considerable portion
II the fence around the Murray col
iery was destroyed by fire. Shortly
fter the shooting the crowd sought
engeance on the company property
nd some one set fire to a trestle
york. The fire department was sum-
noned and with considerable diff
ulty put out the blaze. At the Muir
ay colliery, also operated by the
.ehigh & Wilkesbarre company, in
he eastern part Of the city, a crowd
I boys succeeded in burning about
90 feet of high fence that sur
ounds the company's property. The
re department extinguished the
laze.
The first serious outbreak of dis
rider in connection with the miners
trike in the Lackawanna region oc-
nrred last night at Forest City.
avid Ownes, Z pump runner at the
lifford colliery Of the Hillside COM
any, was attacked by a mob of 300
'rikers while on his way to work
4