The Forrest City times., 1902-12-12
THE MARK[E CO. METHODS.
Testimony of Miners of the Markle
Co. Before the Anthracite
Strike Commission.
THE MINERS PLUCKED AT EVERY TURN.
GNorbtfant Prices Charged Them
for oil, Blasting Paper and Pow
der-A Miner. Injured In the COM
P"nss Employ, Heart1essIy
Evictcd With His Family

Scranton, Pa, Dee. i0.-When the
strike commission opened it's session,
Tuesday, II. c. Reynolds, one of the
attorneys for the independent opera
tors. announced the death of DR.. j.
~ Rice, an independent operator, who
was party to the arbitration scheme
and was prominent in the present me-
gotiations
Chairman Gray, for the commission,
expressed sorrow at the death of DR..
Rice.
In few well-chosen words Judge
tray called attention to the cneer-
talnty of life, and reminded all who
are parties to the controversy that
they may at any moment be called to
that high tribunal, which gives exact
justice to all.
The first witness called was James
McBonigle, miner formerly en-
ployed by the Markle company. He
SAID the breast he was working in was
so dangerous that he complained to
the company officials that he might be
Killed. He was told that if he worked
any other breast he would not be
given any ears. He went out on strike.
and after the suspension he was re-
fused work and evicted from his
home.
b. ID. Gallagher, another Markle
miner, testified that the company
charges him 35 cents a gallon for oil
that sells in Hebelton, few miles
away, for Is cents, and 81 cents
quire for blasting paper that can be
had for Is cents
Chairman Gray asked what the ont
side market price for powder was.
Some of the independent operators
said $1.25 a keg, but attorneys for
the miners said 80 to 95 cents keg.
The companies are selling il to the
miners at $3.50 a keg.
Andrew Hapnik, Hungarian. told
how the Markles evicted him. He was
followed by Henry Coll, another Mar
kle miner, who told how his family.
including his mother-in-law. who was
100 years old. were set out on the
road with their household goods. He
gave graphic description of how he
was injured many times in the mines.
He said one of his legs was no better
than wooden one; he had only one
eye, his hands had been crushed, ribs
broken and skull fractured. The
company gave him nothing until after
the employees took up collection for
him, then he was given $50 after be-
ing on the injured list for two years.
The company took out of the col
lection the rent he owed.
In answer to other questions he
said that he was one of the 13 evicted
by the Aarkle company. The only
rent he owed was for the months dur
ing the strike.
The company gave no reason for
evicting him.
Then followed the most pathetic
story yet told the commission. The
old miner, decrepit from many in iu-
ries. told under examination of how
the eviction was carried on. The wife
was sick and her 100-year-old mother
was blind and enable to walk. The
day on which they were thrown out
was rainy. He took them. the best
he could, TO Hazleton, seven miles
away, and placed them in cold
damp, empty house. This was last
month, when the atmosphere on the
Hazleton mountain was quite cold
His wife became worse. "Medical aid
was kindly furnished because of our
having been turned out of the house,
and one night, he said between sobs,
she died"
"She died?" said Judge Gray, who
was pacing to as>l fro across the room
as he quickly turned when he heard
the mans last words.
"Yes, sir, she died, and buried her
yesterday"
All the commissioners and many Of
those in the courtroom were much af-
fected by the miners story. The wit
ness went on to say that he did not
know whether the centenarian was
alive at the present moment or not.
She was in bad condition owing to
her daughters death, when he left
the house Monday night.
No one cared 20 cross-examine. and
Judge Gray said
nat is Ill, Mr.. OOll, and that's
enough"
After closing the Markle case, the
representatives Of the miners called
witnesses who had formerly been en-
ployed in the mines OF several com
panies to show that a black list exists,
ard that some OF the companies had
broken the agreement which ended
the strike and resulted in the appoint
ment of the arbitration commission.
II is the intention of the lawyers for
the miners to take up the conditions
of the collieries of the Lehigh Valley
Co. and others in the Hazleton region.