The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-20
TWO MOTHERS AND FOUR
CHILDREN ARE BURNED,
STRIKERS ARE IN ARMS
Serious Trouble in Mining Town
Growing Out of the Impor-
tation of Men.
ALLEGED INCENDIARISM
Two Italians Are Charged with
Burning the Women and
Little Ones.

SOMERSET, Pa, April 19-An outbreak
even more disastrous than the riot at Bos-
we'll last January has been hourly expected
at the town of Garrett, the scene OF the
mining operations of the Garrett Coal Com
pany. the Somerset Coal Company and
other lesser operations.
Trouble has been brewing there ever since
the inauguration OF the miners strike FIVE
months ago. A number of the striking
miners at Garrett own homes there, but
recently the Garrett Coal Company erect
ed a number of houses. and the bringing of
new men to occupy these houses and take
the places of the workers in the mines
has worked the latter up to high state
of excitement and resentment, and for the
last few days the town has been veritable
mine of indignation. The strikers have
been parading the streets openly armed,
and they have prevented the moving of
the household goods of incoming miners
from the railroad station TO the new COM
pany houses.
A horror that may or may not be con-
nected with the strike situation at Gar
rett was the burning to death of two wom-
Ell and four children in their home at that
place between the hours of and o'clock
this morning The victims were Mrs. Ros-
anna Meyers, her two daughters, Lucinda
and Anna aged thirty and eight years, re-
spectively, and her son, Richard, aged five
years The other two victims were young
children of Lucinda. The house was a one
and one-half story log building and the
women and children were sleeping in the
upper story The origin of the fire is un-
- with ha
troubles growing out of the miners strike
One story is that evidences of tfe fire
were discovered on the interior of the build
ing while ii was burning.
Meyers was miner, and until recently
worked for >the Somerset Coal Company.
Lately he has not been working; and 1t is
said he has been supported by the miners
union. The strikers lay the origin of the
fire TO a number of Italians who are work
ing for the Garrett Coal Company, but
what motive foreigners could have for such
a crime has not developed.
Strikers armed with Winchester rifles pa
raded the streets to-day. They say this
demonstration is to prevent the Italians
from leaving the community before the
. coronerS s inquiry has been completed. They
say that in doing this they are acting un-
der the instructions of the township con-
stable.
Sheriff Coleman this evening arrested two
Italians who were charged with setting
fire to the Meyers house. The only evidence
by Meyers in which he alleges that they
called at his house several days ago to
buy some butter and that when told that
Movers would not sell butter to scabs, they
left swearing vengeance. The idea that
the Italians committed this crime has taken
hold of the people of Garrett pretty gener-
ally and the feeling against them is run.
ming high. but there are those who look
upon the charge against the Italians
move on the part of the strikers to get rid
of the foreigners who have taken their
places in the mines. The sheriff placed the
Italians in the borough lookup. about which
he will keep a strong guard during the
night.
During last night many shots were fired
but no fatalities resulted Three months
ago the Garrett Coal Company. secured an
Injunction restraining the strikers and all
other persons from interfering with the
company employees. This injunction is still
i'm force and the present condition Of af
fairs is in open violation of it II was to
enforce the requirements of this injunction
that Sheriff Coleman went TO Garrett to-
day.