Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-11
MINERS TELL SAD STORY
Former Employees Of Mafkle 4 Go.
Testify at Tuesdays Session Of
Anthracite Strike Commission.
GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBE EVICTION
Say-Ihey--Mere 6uercharged
for Supplies. $50
CENTENARIAN AMONG THOSE EVICTED

Scranton. Pa, Dec 9.,-When the
Anthracite Strike Commission opened
its session today II. G. Reynolds, one
of the attorneys for the independent
operators, announced the death OF Dr.
J. n. Rice,-- an independent operator.
who was a party to the arbitration
scheme and was prominent in the pres
entnegotiations. Chairman Gray, for
the commission. expressed sorrow ut the
death. oi pr, Rice. In q few well chosen
words Judge Gray called attention to
the uncertainty Of life, and reminded.
all who are PARTIES 10 the controversy
that they may at any moment be called
to that high tribunal which gives exapt
! justice to all.
The first witness called was James
| McMonigle, miner formerly employed
| BY Marble l. Co. He said the breast
be was working in was so dangerous
| that he complained to the company
officials that he might be killed. He
was told IL he worked in any other
breast he would not be given any care.
| He went out on strike, and after the
suspension be was refused work and
evicted from his house.
q, u. Gallagheb. another Marble
| miner, testified that tho company
charges him 80 cents q gallon fol, oil
| Indg h5il5 III liaAlotuu, ioN nHSo
away, for IS cents, and 81 cents 9 gplie
for blasting paper that can be had for
10 cents.
! Chairman Gray asked for the market
price for powder. Some Of tho inde-.
pendent operators said 81. % q keg, and
the attorneys for tho miners said 80 to
95 osnts keg. The companies are sell
ing it to the miners at 81 30 q keg.
Andrew Hannik, Hungarian, told
how the Markles evicted him. lie was
followed by Henry Coll, another Markle
miner, who told how his family. in-
cluding his mother IN law, whc was 100
years oln, were sol opt on ihs fpad,,
with their household eqctss lis 2i'yr .
graphic description o. how be ya' M
jurea many tines in The mines. *. sbld
one Of his. logs Is ne- better, tl'aG a 3
wooden one he has only one eye. apd
6iS HANDS have been crushed, ribs
broken ana skull fractured. The COM
pany gave him nothing until after the
employees took a COLLECTION. ior him;
then he was given SO, after heing on
the injured list for two years. The
company took out Of the collection the
rent be owed. q s.
In answer to other questions, air.
/ Coll said that he was one OF tho 10
eyicted by Markle & 20 IAe only rsnt
he owed was Tor the months during the
ssrike. The company gave no reason for
, e-icting him
!, Then followed The most pathetic
: story yet told snt commission. The old
! rlineE deorepit from ll.any injuries,
: | t9lG under thG eSan ;nstion of how the
eviction was carried on. The vito was
. sick, and her IO0.y .years.old mother was
! blind and unable to walk. he day on
= which they were thrown OUT was
= rainy. lie took them a. best he couh
u to Hszleton, seven miles away, anc
placed them in cold, damp, empty
:. house. This was last month, when .tft
J atmosphere was quite cold. His wii'
: : become worse. Medical aid was kind,
n furnished free by q HHzletep doctor
= but It did not help her much, We
= were greatly worried because of oul
d having been turned out Of our house, !
I the witness said between sobs, 'anC
!. one night she died
y "She died - exclaimed Judge Gray
! who was pacing to and fro across tn
2 room, as he quickly turned when h'
y heard the mans last words. Z
. ''Yes, sir she died, and l buried he
yesterday"
!, All the commissioners and man.
q other persons in the courtroom wen
!, much affected by the old miners story
u The witness went on to say that hl
3 did not know whether the centenarial
y was alive today or not. ''5he was il
!, bad condition, owing to her daughter
= death, when left homo last night,
u said he.
No one cared to cross examine him
sr- and Judge Gray said: '.That is all
:, Mr.. Coll, and that's enough" "a.