The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-08-14
STRIKERS RAID FARMS
Are Foraging In Agricultural District
Of Catawissa Valley.
FARMERS ASK FOR PROTECTION

u Troops Are Not Sent to Prevent
Raids They viii Appeal to the
sheriff-soIdiers Feeding hungry
Women and Children.
Shenandoah. Pa, Aug. 12.-Com.
plant was made to brigade headquar.
ters yesterday that strikers are for.
aging in the rich agricultural district
of the Catawissa Valley. which
spreads its broad and fertile length
along the other side of the mountains
north Of this city. The life Of one
farmer has been threatened because
he attempted to protect his property.
and the raids have reached such seri.
GUS proportions that the farmers are
preparing to take some concerted &C.
tion to stop further depredations.
The complaints reached headquarters
yesterday afternoon, and 1t is not un.
likely that cavalry will be sent into
ping the raids. II the cavalry is sent
there 1t is probable that a platoon Of
the troopers will be left In the valley
to patrol the farms day and night.
The farmers are drawing up a peti.
tion asking for protection. which will
be sent to the sheriff In case General
Goblin decides not to send the troops
into the valley.
nniar MunhacG formar rouOrfoA
that for some time past raids have
been made on his place by parties OF
men. Early yesterday morning he
caught man tearing out whole stalks
OF corn. He ordered the man of the
place, and as he was leaving he fired
two shots at the farmer. The latter
was armed. but did not shoot. A
widow who owns a farm reported that
and started to dig out potatoes. She
ordered them of the patch, but they
paid no attention to her, and did not
leave until they had taken all they
patrolling his farm day and night.
The foragers do not conflne them
selves to stealing crops, but also take
away with them chickens and geese.
The soldiers in camp are daily feed
ing several hundred women and chill.
dren. They come there, saying they
are hungry, and as there Is more than
enough food in the camp to supply
hn q, ~f kn oA
permit the soldiers to give something
to the needy applicants. The num-
ber that came last week was small,
but 1t is increasing every day. Some
Of the women and all Of the children
come to the camp in their bare feet
Many Of them bring baskets to carry
the food home. It Is a common sight
to see some of the women and chill
dren take scraps from the leayings OF
the soldiers. Colonel Hoffman, OF the
Eighth Regiment, was asked II all Of
these persons were foreigners, and
he replied that a good many belonged
to the English-speaking classes.
The officials of the Mine Workers
Union deny there is any actual want.
They maintain that the local unions
are well able at this time to take care
Of all cases Of distress. The strike
situation remains unchanged, and the
region hereabouts is peaceful.
The estimated cost Of the coal min
ers' strike to date Is as follows: To
operators. s3O,5OO.OOO; to strikers
wages. 314,6OO,OOO; to other workers
made idle, $3,OOO,OOO; to business
men in region. $1O,3OO.OOO: to bust.
ness men outside. $6.0OO,OO0; main.
tanning deputies. $775.0OO; maintain.
ing non.union men. $780, 900; damage
to mines. $6,OO0,OOO; wage loss Of lace
mill strike. s12O,OOo; cost of troops In
field. $4,000; total. $71,700,000.
LIVELY BATTLE At THRooP
Deputies and Strikers Exchange Shots,
| But Hit No One.