The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-08
Strikers Charged by NOnunfon Miners
with Many Acts of Violence, In
~ cIuding Murder and Assault.
ANXIOUS NIGHT FOR A BRIDE
WHO WAS SEPARATED FROM HUS-
BAND AFTER THE WEDDING.
Gray So Impressed that He
Asked "What Kind of n COmmu-
nifty Is This, Anyway"

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. THE nonunion
men to-day continued TO occupy the at
tention of the coal strike commission in
presenting evidence of lawlessness in the
anthracite coal region during the strike.
The testimony included many acts Of vio-
lence, from murder down to assault and
larceny. Dynamite played leading part
in the alleged persecution Of nonunion men
and their relatives. Five witnesses testified
to their houses being more or less seriously
damaged by persons. some of whom were
known to be union men, placing the high
explosives on the property; other witnesses
told of a dam being blown up, one locomo-
tive damaged, steam pipes in different col
lieries broken and damaged by dynamite,
bridges and fences damaged by incendiary
fires and the attempted wrecking of trains.
One youth said he was stabbed, several OF
the witnesses were boycotted and several
others told of being beaten by crowds and
of their houses being stoned. Besides this
a young woman told the commission she
was dismissed as school teacher because
her brother chose to work during the strike;
a young man testified that he was attacked
as he was coming out of church after being
married. forcing him to seek refuge in a
coliery while his bride got home as best
she could. Another witness said he was
afraid to attend the funeral of his mother
who died while he was working behind a
colliery stockade. One witness told of hav-
ing been punished by a mob which forced
him to walk fifteen miles at the head of
a cheering crowd of strikers. Other testi-
mony was also presented to show that a
reign of terror existed in the territory af-
fected by the strike and that members Of
the union were largely responsible for Ii.
While most of the testimony given by
the witness was of the. same character as
that heretofore heard by the commission
the arbitrato showed interest in each of
the twenty-seven stories told on the stand
Many questions were asked the witnesses
by con- missioners. Counsel for the miners
attempted to break down some of the
stories, but they did not succeed in shak-
ing their testimony. Ii is the intention
of the attorneys for the nonunion men
TO occupy about two more days in present
ing this sort of evidence. Tomorrow they
expect to place on the stand Brig. Gen
J. p s. Goblin, of the Third Brigade, N
G. p and several of the commanders of
the regiments in the field during the strike
The most interesting story of the day
was that told by Thomas Washaiski of
'Hazleton a clerk for Pardee & Co., who
was married on the night of Sept. IS last
He was at work at the colliery and his
neighbors began 10 annoy him. On the
night of the wedding small crowd gath
cred at the Catholic Church and as the
bridal party entered the edifice Washaiski
and his bride were called ''scabs." Coming
out after the ceremony he was assaulted
by the waiting crowd. which had greatly
increased. The driver of the carriage was
not permitted TO take the couple home.
but the witness sought refuge in the
parochial residence. while the bride was
taken home in trolley car by friends
While in the parochial residence the crowd
remained in the vicinity. calling the BRIDE
groom vile names and yelling "scab" at
the rector of the church because he had
performed the ceremony. Later on the
witness said. he managed to get away from
the house. and spent the night In the yic;n-
ity. being afraid TO go to his home The
bride spent an anxious night and some
men threw stones at the house i'm which
she stayed. All listened to the story with
close attention. and Chairman Gray's only
remark was: What sort OF community
is this. anyway?
Charles Carl. OF Mahanoy City. loader
boss at the Tunnel Bridge colliery Of the
Reading company. told a pathetic story.
lie was compelled to remain within the