The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-03
The SITUATION GROWING SERIOUS.
An Open Encounter Between
Troops and Strikers.
An Appeal to Military Authorities TO Put
Town of Laasford Under Martial Law

An Appeal TO Military Authorities to Put
Town of Laasford Under Martial Law.
Philadelphia, Aug. 29.-Having eS-
hausted every other means for preserv-
ING the peace and in protecting the
non-union men from violence on their
way to and from the mines, Brig. Gen.
Goblin, in command of the troops now
in the coat fields, tonight issued an
order that the soldiers shall shoot any
persons detected in throwing stones or
other missiles, and that if any mob
resist the authority Of the troops that
they shall freely use their bayonets
and butts.
The Panther Creek valley has been
in almost continual turmoil this week
and the troops stationed there have
had difficult time IN protecting the
lives of workmen. Tonight the sit
uation in that valley has improved
considerably, and it is hoped by the
military authorities that the lawless-
ness and abusive language directed
toward the soldiers will now cease.
The other sections Of the coal regions
are comparatively quiet.
A mob gathered at the Dorrance col
liery near Wikesbarre, early in the
day. because it was rumored the col
liery was about to start work. Ihe
crowd. soon scattered, however, when
It was found that the rumor was ilcor-
rect.
The general strike situation remains
unchanged. There is some coal being
shipped, but the quantity is 50 small
compared with the normal Shipment
thatsit. has little or no effect on the
market. The fuel now coming to
market is principally washery and.
loose coal.
Tanaqua, Pa, Aug. 29.-In an en-
counter between troops and strikers at
Lansford today Capt. ". Il. Helm OF
Co. K. Twelfth regiment, was slightly
injured. 4 half dozen strikers were
bayonetted by the soldiers as a result
Of the fracas. Maj. Gearhart, in COM
mand of the troops here, states that he
will appeal to the military authorities
to put the town OF sLansford under
martial law.
From daybreak the troops we're &C
tive in quelling disturbances and pro-
tectiue non-union man while on their
way to work. AS has been the case
for the past few days, the troops
we're jeered wherever they went. The
officers repeatedly admonished the
crowds not to insult or molest the sol
diers, but their words had little effect.
At 5 O'Clock Companies Z and 3 were
placed in two trolley cars. One of the
cars was run in front of the car which
carried the non-union men to work and
the other in the rear. While passing
through Coaldale and. Lansford the
soldiers were hooted, But as no stop
was made the strikers did no make
any violent demonstration. At Sum
nit Hill the usual number OF men
ayailed themselves of the protection of
the soldiers and went to work. The
pickets of the strikers made efforts to
Stop them, but the warnings OF the
soldiers held them at bay. When the
workmen had been loaded On the car
the return trip through the valley
commenced. The word that more men
than usual were reporting for work
spread through the lower part of the
valley like wildire, and in a short
time the streets were almest blocked
with people. When the corner OF Cen
ter and East Bertsch streets was
reached the cars stopped to allow seve-
raj non union men to get Off. AS the
men stepped to the ground the mob
made rush for them. A half dozen
soldiers sprang off the car and with
levelled guns forced the strikers back
and made passageway for the nom
union men. When the soldiers re-
turned after escorting their charges to
a place of safety the moh commenced
to close in around the cars. The
strikers were in an ugly mood and
when ordered to disperse merely yell
ed louder and pressed closer. AS Capt.
Helm of Company K, was about to
jump from the car ne was seized
around the legs and thrown to the
ground. A half dozen priVates who
followed him were roughly handled.
One of the men had portion of his
shirt torn off and, according; to the en-
listed men and officers, number of
WHY &1oJ. StSeSAAoAo3
who was in command of the two COM
panies, ordered his men to disembark.
With dubbed guns and fixed bayo-
nets the soldiers forced the crowd
back. May of the strikers stood their
ground and would not move until the
soldiers jabbed them with their -bayo-
nets. Some of the strikers, fearing
that the soldiers would fire, rushed
into the opera house on the corner,
and for time wild scene of confu-
sion reigned. In about five minutes
the crowd had been pushed back to
the curb line In the melee several
strikers were knocked down while
others suffered slight bayonet wounds.
Capt. Helm was severely bruised by
his fall.
Wilkesbarre, Pa. Aug. 29.-The
Peoples Alliance of this city, which
has been endeavoring to bring about
Il