The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-08-04
PENNSYL.
GUNMEN ATTACK
Mine STRIKERS
Arrest Organizer and
Assault Women
By POWERS HAPGOOD.
Federated Press)

(Ayella is the center of a rich coal
valley 80 miles out of Pittsburgh near
the West Virginia border.-Ed.)
AYELLA, Pa, August 3.-Miners
of Avella, as a last resort in protect
ing themselves and their families
against the violence of the coal and
iron police have petitioned the Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania and the Sher-
iff of Washington county to remove
"about IS disorderly ruffians COM
missioned as coal and iron police"
The thugs were imported into the
valley by the Pittsburgh Terminal
Coal Corp. and the Duquesne Coal
& Coke Co., and they are masquerade
ing falsely in the uniform of peace
officers" the miners tell Governor
Fisher and the sheriff.
Thugs Threaten Miners.
Several days ago a plum seed
dropped by girl who was eating
fruit on the high porch of a coopera-
tive store fell on the fender of a
passing automobile in which two coal
and iron police were riding. They
Immediately turned their car about,
drive back quarter of a mile to
where group Of striking miners
were peacefully playing cards under
tree, drew their revolvers, and
threatened to kill the miners. Later
one Of these company guards was
arrested and held over for court on
charge of disorderly conduct and
pointing firearms.
Assault Women and Girls.
This afternoon another scene Of
violence disturbed the peace of this
mining community. Some strike
breakers were being imported into
Pittsburgh Terminal mine, and three
women, three miners and District Or
ganizer Wolcott of the United Mine |
Workers were quietly telling them
there was a strike and asking them
not to go to work. Immediately a |
gang of coal and iron police tried to
break up the picket line, even though |
it was on a public highway. They
knocked down and severely bruised
Mrs. Mary Hritz who was carrying a |
little child. When her eldest daughter
stepped to the aid of her mother both
were arrested.
Arrest Union Organizer.
Other coal and iron police rushed
Organizer Wolcott onto company
property, and then arrested him, for
trespass. Wolcott, three women and
two young boys were driven in the
custody of four armed guards in two
automobiles to Washington, where
they were arraigned before Justice
Of Peace Carmichael. When l tried
to enter the office I was stopped by
Carmichael and the guards. The
prisoners were eventually bailed out
by the unions attorney and are wait
ting trial next week. The workers
petition has put these facts before
the governor and the sheriff.
Gas Bombs and Machine Guns.
The coal companies are becoming
desperate at the strikers success in
peacefully persuading imp or he d
strikebreakers not to work. A few
days ago the Duquesne Coal and Iron
Co. unloaded II strikebreakers from
special car and marched them to
barracks accompanied by 8 coal and
iron police, armed them with gas
bombs and machine guns Eight pic
kets, led by Organizer Wolcott and
Fred Siders, miners leader, informed
the men as they passed that there
was strike. Immediately 10 or II
of them came over to the strikers,
saying they had been told there was
no strike, and that there were union
conditions at the mine. They went
back to Pittsburgh in truck.
Siders, Wolcott and the others
were then arrested for trespass, even
though they had not left the public
road. The miners of Avella are
standing solidly on strike. eve will
die fighting" they say, "rather than
die starving to death in the mines"