The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-02
OF MOMENTOUS IMPORT
SETTLEMENT OF THE
STRIKE AT BILBAO, SPAIN.
Denial of Right to Form a Union May
Cause Future TrOuble-Phases of
the Great Struggle.

BILBAO, Nov. 1.-Never in the history of
Bilbao has there been a strike of such
momentous consequences to the iron work.
ers of Spain as that which terminated to-
day. The miners will no longer be com
provided by the mining companies and they
will no longer be forced to purchase food
from the company stores, which has often
been declared unfit to eat; instead of being
paid by the month they will hereafter be
however, the right to organize a union, and
it is believed that this will lead to trouble
in the future.
According to statements made by the
miners to the representative Of the Associ-
ated Press and confirmed by their counsel,
they have had, heretofore, to live under
deplorable conditions. In the mines outside
of Bilbao, the men were herded into
crowded and sQualid barracks. The food
sold them at the company's stores was some
times bad; but, as they were paid by the
month, it was almost impossible for them
to purchase elsewhere. The miners were
attracted by the propaganda of Socialists
and Anarchists and they determined to
strike unless their demands for better living
conditions were granted. These the opera
tors refused and the strike was inaugu-
rated with 5000 men, but all the trades in
Bilbao joined the movement In sympathy.
There was not a sufficiency of bread In
Bilbao and the miners who poured into
the town entered stores and demanded food.
On Wednesday of last week Field Marshal
Hernandez saw that strong measures were
necessary and he ordered the soldiers to
dispense the strikers. Some of the strikers
poured petroleum on the church of the
Jesuits in Bilbao and then applied the
torch. The troops extinguished the fire and
little damage was done. Reinforced by cav
airy, the troops succeeded in driving the
strikers over the San Antonio bridge. The
strikers, however, erected barricades at the
center of the bridge and in front of q juno
ton of two streets. These barricades were
composed of pieces of iron work from the
bridge, overturned carts and barrels filled
with stones. The miners behind the first
barricade were armed with picks and
shovels and a few revolvers.
The cavalry charged across the bridge,
but was unable to pass the barricade there.
Troops We're then sent to the right and
the left of the bridge to flank the miners
and a second charge was made. The bridge
barricade was held for some moments, but
the men there were soon forced to fall back
to the second barricade. This the soldiers
also rendered untenable, and the miners re-
treated up the streets. carrying with them
some of their wounded. among whom were
some women. 1t Is said officially that four
persons were killed and twenty-one
wounded during the fighting. but more per-
sons were wounded than is given out Of
fcially.
When driven from the city, the miners
endeaveored to blow up the reservoir and
the electric light plant with dynamite. The
troops were too quick for them, however,
and gained possession of the dynamite be-
fore the strikers could carry out their de-
sign. BY this time there were 10000 cavalry
and infantry In the city rs we'll as three
guns.
The arrival OF Lieutenant General Zap
Pine, OF the Basque
province, was followed by conferences
which resulted in a settlement. Had no
agreement been reached il Is believed that
even moro serious conditions would have
ensued. After the miners were driven out OF
the city they pillaged nearby farm houses
and held the countryside in CONSERVATION
The strike was in no sense against the
government.