The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-24

minded men Il picture OF
an occurrence which took
place In Pittston on Wednesday night
In order that we may not be accused OF
colorng the picture. we shall copy II
Just as it appeared in that reliable and
accurate paper. the Pittston Gazette:
.""About $50 o'clock. the hillsides in
the vicinity of the Pittston washery, OF
the Butler Coal company, commenced
to present an animated appearance
Groups of men lolled on the grass and
smoked and talked. 1t was just O'Clock
when the plant shut down operations
for the evening and the workmen
started for their homes. Five of them
took to the Delaware and Hudson rail-
road and went to the Cork Lane depot.
They passed through the lines of the
strike sympathiZers and were not
molested. 1t was different with the
other five, however. Their homes were
in this city. and they took short cut
across the field surrounding the wash
cry. When this party reached the Back
Road. every hill emptied it's crowd onto
the highway, and the five men We're
quickly surrounded by thousand men
and boys. Queries We're addressed to
the men as to whether they intended to
keep at work or not. Receiving an an
swer in the affirmative, the crowd grew
abusive, and then stones commenced to
fly.
THE non-unon men kept steadily on
their way and paid no attention to the
stones that came HURTING through the
air in their direction until the crowd
pressed them too closely and one or two
members of the party We're struck. Then
they pulled revolvers and fired in the
air This held the crowd at bay for
minute or two, but several took up the
cry that the cartridges We're only blank
and the crowd closed in once more. sew
eral of the mob producing guns them
selves. Then the battle commenced in
earnest and was fought on the run from
a. point halfway up the back slope OF
Butler Hill. to Il house on Butler street.
near the High school building. where
the five men took refuge
"All through the fight the five men
were particular to fire high and simply
used their revolvers to frighten the
crowd, but it was not so on the other
side. The mob was out for vengeance.
and did not care what happened. Stones
weighing Il pound or more were hurled
at the men and those that had revolvers
shot point blank at the little band of
workers struggling to get away with
their lives Luckily the bullets found
no human resting place, due probably
10 the fact that the aim was hurried
and taken while the mob was on the
run. The stone throwers had better
luck, and several of their missiles
struck the fleeing men.
"a mile of territory was easily COW
cred by the fight, the men finally taking
refuge in a house occupied by a man
named Miller. who, it is claimed, works
at the washery. The mob quickly sur
rounded the house and stones were
thrown at 1t until windows and doors
suffered. but the men managed to es-
cape from the mob by getting out
through the back yard Several women
and children, residents of Butler street,
Who We're attracted to the streets by
t4e unusual scenes had barrow, escapes
ff6m the stones that filled the air and
ISe eNtsrv sf~t hegmeb threatened to kill
several of the men living along there
be6ausT~t they We're accused of having
sSE6s - ssea ps, = af H. sths,tiss men.p.-
Mote the points In this occurrences:
be five men who had heen lawfully at
prk suppertihg themselves and their
milies gave no provocation to the
3owd. They We're going in peaceable
anner toward their homes moesting
Hbody. They. were asked to quit their.
Eprk to cut off their incomes when
txey had pox sreyances against their.
ahployersiS To- subject themselves and'|
ose dependent ppon. them to depri-
tion,. GtjTPly, 70 actual want, for no
od result to themselves or to the law
h4eakers who assailed them and. act
Ing Wiyhlt their legal and their moral
right; acting, I'VE say, on the prompting
duty higher than any other earthly |
obligation. the duty enjoined in the
ripfxtss 'fherein, 1t is said that "he
VhO doth" not provide for his own |
usehold hath denied the faith and is |
brse than aa iniiael," they refused. Il
With what result? Jeopardy of life,
reats of assassination. mad scene OF |
tpb .ytciousness and passion andTsthsl
roflaips sof Spectators, tisa 4SfK Sos
Zen s1Hds childrsns ~ fssHasssS n
NThis must stop. II cannot be palhsl
a4ed or tolerated. II the leaders OF the
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