New-York tribune., 1906-04-01
FRENCH MINING RIOTS.
HUSSARS CHARGE MOB.
Many Troops and Strikers Injured
IN actions Near Lens.

Paris March 31-The miners strike through
out the coal region IN the North has again as
sumed serious proportions. There were many
riotous scenes last nisnt and to-day. Cavalry
repeatedly charged the strikers. injuring num-
Der of them. The troops also suffered severely.
Large reinforcements have been distributed at
the centres OF disorder.
The strikers. estimated at $4,000 and divided
into bands of from 500 to 1000 men, are parad-
ing the region and threatening workmen who
refuse to join them. Many of the bands carry
red flags. They have sought several times to
drive the cavalry into barbed wire entangle-
ments
The most serious ARRAY took place near Lens.
where mob besieged the house of Jules Carron.
who had refused to quit work On appearing in
his doorway Carron was pelted with stones. He
fired into the crowd wounding a striker named
Botel. who later died. The mob. which num-
bered two thousand strikers. then sought to
capture and lynch Carron. Two squadrons OF
hussars attempted to convey Carron to a place
of safety. and fierce battle between the strikers
and troops resulted, some OF the strikers seizing
the horses OF the cavalrynen. while others rained
stones and other missiles on the soldiers Carron
was removed to the Jail at Bethune. Many per-
sons on both sides were injured.
Another collision between fifteen hundred strik-
ers and a squadron of Dragons occurred at
Tfevin. The strikers sought to invade the mine
and rout out the men who were working there
but soldiers with fixed bsyonets refused to al
low them TO enter the pit The strikers charged
the troops and endesvored to take away their
rifles. The arrival of cavalry reinforcements
from Lens resulted in a desperate struggle. in
which the strikers were driven into a garden.
and. being surrounded there. they were finally
dispersed There were many minor ARRAYS in
the course of the day One of these took place
in the presence of the parliamentary committee
which is investigating the Courrieres disaster.
Deputy Basly. member of the committee and
chairman Of the Miners Federation. has tele-
graphed Premier Sarrien asking what the gov
ernment purposed doing in the way OF an en-
deavor to adjust the grievances of the strikers
The strikeis the result of long standing griev-
ances on the part of the miners. but the disas-
ter at Courrieres was the cause Of the outbreak
Meetings held by miners after the explosion de-
nounced the absence of safety devices in the
mines, and the movement gradually gained force
until general strike was declared. The griev
ances Of the miners include a demand for Il
per cent increase in wages. additional recogni
tion for their unions and pensions for long ser
vice
strike was started recently. but interest il
it had dwinded. With the explosion at Cour
Tieres and renewed agitation on the part of tht
miners, a referendum last Wednesday showed
large majority of the miners favored a continual
tion Of the strike This was the signal for ;
renewal of the disorders, which have becom
general The government is seeking to induo
the companies to compromise with the men