The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-17
Fewer Mine and Fire Bosses Quit
Work Yesterday Than the Strike
Leaders Hoped For.
MINING REGION FLOODED
AND MOST OF THE 10000 MEN AND
BOYS REMAINED INDOORS.
Several Disturbances Reported-Con-
ditions in the Two Virginias-
General Labor News.

WILKESBARRE, Pa, June 16-The
sixth week of the anthracite coal miners
strike began to-day without a ripple to dis
turb the calnness OF the situation. Rain
fell nearly all day, which helped to keep
the more than 10000 idle men and boys in
doors. Several reports of assault on work
ingmen and coal and iron policemen were
received here from different sections of the
region, but no one was seriously injured
Most of these attacks occur under the cover
OF darkness or at starting time in the morn
ing.
1t was expected that to-day would Wit
ness the refusal of large number OF fire
bosses and other mine bosses to go to work.
but the best information obtainable shows
that the number of men who quit was not
large. In fact, several of the mining super
intendents in this region asserted they had
more men at work at the engines and
pumps than they had last week. President
Mitchell and other labor leaders question
this assertion and on the contrary claim
that nearly half of the men who were at
work on Saturday refused to go into the
collieries to-day. Neither side gave out any
figures.
Casper Clark, OF Toledo, president Of the
International Team Drivers Association,
came in for some attention by labor lead
ers to-day. He submitted to an interview
in which he said his organization would
do all it could to help the striking miners.
He said he will make a thorough canvass
of the region to learn the sentiment Of his
men, which will help to guide the National
Association if the miners should ask the
teamsters for help.
There a revival to-day of the story
that the central Pennsylvania soft coal
miners will be called out very soon, but
President Patrick Gilday, of the central
Pennsylvania district. threw cold water on
the proposition. He reiterated what he
had said yesterday that the central Penn
sylvania men would not be called out ex-
cept as an extreme measure. He thought
a curtailment of soft coal production in
his district would be a more likely action.
Some of the miners in his region, he said.
have already suggested TO him that the
number OF days of work each week be cut
down to three, four FIVE thus cutting
off considerable supply of soft coal that
is coming East.
Nothing was given out at state head
quarters TO-DAY. President Mitchell merely
anthracite the West Virginia strike.
The mining superintendent of the big coal
companies and individual operators had
nothing new to report.
There was a general shooting ARRAY near
the William A. colliery of the Lehigh Valley
Coal Company at Duryea shortly after
midnight. in which no one was hurt. There
are conflicting reports as to the nature of
the trouble. Residents of the neighbor-
hood said several coal and iron police left
the colliery after midnight and were at
tackled by a number of men who were ly-
ing in wait. They managed TO board a
car for Pittston, it is said. without being
injured. All this denied at the office
of the Lehigh Valley company The Of
ficials of the company said a number of
Italians were having a celebration and
that they began firing revolvers in the air
They were not near the colliery. Four
coal and iron police of the company were
seen at the offices to-day. They said they
and get clothes. They deny that they were
attacked