Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-17
Fire Bosses in Lackawanna
Region Refuse to Return
10 Work.
PLACES CAN'T BE FILLED
Requires Much Experience to Do This
Work-Without Fire Bosses Pump
Runners Cannot Operate Pumps
Trouble Is Feared in West Virginia.

Scranton. Pa, June 16.-Nearly 100
fire bosses in the mines of the Lack
awanna region refused to make the
usual inspections today in compliance
with orders from the strikers head
quarters asking them to quit, and thus
assist the strikers to win their fight.
This is claimed to be more than one
half of the force of these workmen in
this region and the result cannot be
otherwise than disastrous to mining
property, for with the accumulation of
gas the pump runners cannot keep at
work. Those fire bosses who did not
quit today confidentally expected to
do so tomorrow. The companies will
find it impossible to fill the places of
these men, as it requires much expe-
rience to become expert in the work
Trouble Feared.
Bramwell, w. Va, June 16.-Sever-
al hundred more strikers returned to
work this morning in the Flat Top
and Tug River coal fields, probably
one-half the number who struck one
week ago having now returned to
work. The remainder now out are
becoming desperate. This morning
100 strikers, heavily armed, left Sim
mons and started on a march to Poca-
hontas. They allege they will stop all
work there.
Many Bosses STAY.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 16.-As far
as can be learned the effort of the
strikers to bring out the fire bosses
and other bosses today is not as great
a success as was expected by the
union.
Shooting ARRAY.
There was a general shooting affray
near William, colliery of the Lehigh
Valley Coal company at Duryea, at
midnight in which no one was hurt.
There are conflicting reports as to
the nature of the trouble.
Shot From Ambush.
Hazelton, Pa, June 16.-Men lying
in ambush shot and severely wounded
Charles Robinson, a coal and iron po
the Delaware & Hudson Coal compa-
ny yesterday He is now in the Lack
awanna hospital with rifle ball in
his right lung.
Mob Attacks House.
Pottsville, Pa, June 16.-Four as
saults with firearms We're made by a
mob on the house of Louis Lorenz, a
mine foreman, who since the strike
has been filling the position of a
pumpman at the South Good Spring
colliery.
Has Cost $3o,ooo,ooo.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 16.-The
strike of the miners in the anthracite
coal regions of Pennsylvania has now
been in progress five weeks, at a cost
of almost $o0,000000 in cash. The fig
ures are likely soon to reach an aver
age of 81 100000 a day.
Consider Soft Coal Situation.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June ia meet
ing of district leaders of the biGumin,
Gus coal regions to be held here this
week, is arousing much speculation
1t is expected it will end in call for
national convention at which the
question of calling out all the soft
coal workers in the country will be
considered.
The delegation of Illinois miners
officials who are coming to see Presi
dent Mitchell will not arrive until the
middle of the week. Much interest is
attached to their visit, as it is expect
ed they will bring information regard
ing the advisability of calling out the
men in that field.
President Mitchell will not speak Of
the coming conference except to say
it is merely for the settlement of loca
matters, but it is believed to have 8
far more important significance.
Indiana Against Strike.
Indianapolis, June ia census Of
the bituminous miners of this state
taken quietly by the operators, shows
it is said that rs per cent oppose &
sympathetic strike.
LIGHTNING KILLS.