A. No; more towards north.
Q. Would it be on the road toward the silk-works?
A. No, sir; it was down kind of katty-cornered from that; north-west.
Q. Did you go over to the store to see who it was?
A. No, sir; I did not. I knew better than that. Did not want to get my
head broke.
Q. Did you consider it dangerous to have gone there?
A. I would consider it, and I had a pair of revolvers with me, too.
Q. Pair of revolvers?
A. I had a pair.
Q. And you would not want to risk it?
A. No; I would not want to risk it at all.
Q. Did you know any of the men?
A. No, sir; I did not know a man--had no knowledge of any man that was
there.
Q. No knowledge?
A. No knowledge.
Q. Do you know whether those men came from the silk-works?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Was there a meeting at the silk-works that same morning?
A. I heard there was afterwards, but I did not hear nothing of that
until it was over. The first I heard of that was Langon and Dunledin
was shot at Scranton. We heard out there, there was four men shot. That
was all I know about it. The news was carried up there in the
afternoon.
Q. Did you know those two men, Langon and Dunledin?
A. I knew Dunledin when he was a boy, and I knew Langon because he
worked in our works.
Q. Last summer?
A. Yes. He worked there when he was killed.
Q. What kind of a man was this Langon?
A. I never saw anything wrong about him. He was assessor of our
township.
Q. Assessor of the township?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Had he been instrumental in instigating the strike?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. How was the other man--what kind of a character or reputation had
he?
A. I do not know anything about him from the time he was a young boy.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. How old a man was he?
A. Langon? I could not state.
Q. The other one.
A. He might have been, may be twenty--from twenty to twenty-five.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did Langon say anything to you about going to the silk-works?
A. Not a word.
Q. Did you know anything about the meeting before.
A. Not a word. Did not know until about three o'clock, in the
afternoon.
Q. Had there been any talk among the men where you work about striking?
A. Not that I ever heard. Our men were all at work.
Q. What company were you working for?
A. Messrs. Correy & Co.
Q. Had your wages been reduced any during the spring?
A. Not from the fifteen cent drop, or whatever time the drop was.
Q. When was that?
A. I could not tell exactly what month it was in.
Q. What year?
A. I guess it must have been 1856 or 1857.
Q. 1876, you mean?
A. 1876 or 1877.
Q. How much were you making per day at the time you had to quit work?
A. We had to work pretty hard long hours if we could make one dollar
and ninety cents a day as a miner.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. One dollar and ninety cents?
A. That was all we made that month.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you paid by the ton?
A. We were paid by the car.
Q. How much were you paid by the car?
A. Sixty-six cents. I think our vein is small--three foot thick and
about three or four inches----
Q. How many cars can you put out to-day?
A. Six are our day's work. We had too much work. We could not do it.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. For how many men?
A. Two.
Q. You don't know of any reduction in the price for mining than that of
last year?
A. Not from the fifteen cent drop.
Q. What was the grievance of the miners then?
A. Didn't seem to be any grievance at our place at all. I didn't hear
them say anything, only they couldn't get cars enough to load the coal.
Q. Was there any demand for coal?
A. The cars didn't come for taking away.
Q. It was not so much then the price that was paid per ton as it was as
to the number of cars furnished?
A. They had the same price, but they could not get as much as they
could do.
Q. It was the want of work?
A. It was the want of work.
Q. Not the amount paid?
A. The amount of work, that was what it was for.
Q. What was the cause of this want of cars?
A. I could not tell that. It seems like this: we did not get the cars
because the engineers and firemen stopped for wages. That was what I
understood it was for.
Q. What?
A. The firemen and the engineers struck. That was the reason we could
not get cars.
Q. For how long did this last, that you didn't have cars enough?
A. I could not say how long it was we could not get cars enough; and we
don't get enough yet.
Q. Was there any plan before that time that the engineers should refuse
to work and run the cars?
A. I did not hear anything before that.
Q. Was these grievances complained of?
A. No, sir; but there was not enough cars then.
Q. Have there been cars enough since?
A. In our place I only make six days a month now.
Q. What is the cause of the want of cars now?
A. Can't tell anything about it.
Q. Is it the want of demand for coal?
A. They say so. I don't know what it was.
Q. Was there a general understanding of the miners throughout this
region, before the strike took place, that there would be a strike?
A. I never heard anything about it.
Q. Was there a strike among the other miners for higher pay?
A. Not as I know of.
Q. How much damage was done to Mr. Felt's store?
A. I could not say.
Q. You don't know the value of the goods they took?
A. No, sir.
* * * * *
John Jones, _sworn_.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Greenwood.
Q. What is your business?
A. Stationary engineer.
Q. Were you at home in July last, or August the 1st?
A. I was at home on the day of August 1st.
Q. How far from Mr. Felt's store do you live?
A. About fifty feet, or seventy-five feet. Just opposite the
store--nearly opposite.
Q. Did you hear anybody breaking into the store during the night, and
if so, at what time?
A. I was not home that night. I was working.
Q. Where were you working?
A. At the Greenwood slope.
Q. Running an engine?
A. Running an engine.
Q. At what time did you come off?
A. Seven o'clock in the morning.
Q. You heard nothing of what took place at the store during the night?
A. No.
Q. Do you know who the parties were that were at the store?
A. No, sir; I do not.
Q. Do you know from where they came?
A. No, sir.
Q. Or what class of men they were?
A. No, sir.
Q. When did you learn of the store being broken open?
A. Learned of it when I came home in the morning--when I reached home.
Q. Who told you?
A. My wife.
Q. Did she hear any of the parties?
A. She did not say she heard any of the parties that were at the store.
She heard from the neighbors. The neighbors told her of it.
Q. Did you know anything about the meeting at the silk-works?
A. Not until the day they had the meeting.
Q. What time did you learn of that?
A. I learned of it after the shooting.
Q. Where were you when you heard of it?
A. Sitting on the store porch.
Q. At Greenwood?
A. At my home; yes, sir.
Q. For what company were you working at the time?
A. The Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Company.
Q. What wages were you getting, running the engine?
A. One dollar and eighty-five cents a day.
Q. Had there been any reduction made?
A. Not for six months previous to that, there had not been from that
time on. There had not been, not very lately.
Q. When was the last reduction?
A. I think it was in December.
Q. Of 1876?
A. Of 1876.
Q. How much was that reduction?
A. Fifteen cents.
Q. There had been none since?
A. None since that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Fifteen cents a day?
A. Fifteen cents on a dollar--fifteen per cent.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Were you working for the same company that John Mucklow was?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there any strike of the men that were working for that company?
A. No, sir; not that I know of. Would not call it a strike, anyhow.
Q. What do you call a strike?
A. I don't know what to call it. When men turn out for wages, for their
rights, that is what they term a strike--stick out for their rights.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Tell what they propose to do when they go out for their
rights--propose to simply quit?
A. Simply quit, and stand out until they get their rights.
Q. And prevent others from working, at the same time?
A. I don't know. I should not prevent any man, if I was striking. I
should not prevent any man from work.
Q. Is not that generally done?
A. It seems so.
Q. Is not that the rule?
A. I don't know whether that is the rule or not. I could not say.
Q. What has been the custom, generally, when they went out on a strike?
Would they permit anybody to work?
A. It has been a custom not to let them work.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the strikers?
A. No, sir; I was not.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You had charge of an engine?
A. Pumping engine and hoist.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you interfered with in your pumping?
A. No, sir.
Q. Not asked to quit pumping?
A. Not asked to quit pumping.
Q. Do you know of any other places where they were requested to quit
pumping?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you quit?
A. No, sir.
Q. Tended your engine?
A. Worked right along.
Q. Is there anything else you wish to state to this committee?
A. No, sir; nothing at all.
Q. We want to give a full hearing to all sides?
A. I am one of those kind of men that I don't go around much, and I
don't know much; therefore, I can't tell you much of anything.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You are taking care of No. 1?
A. I am taking care of No. 1.
* * * * *
W. W. Scranton, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you reside and your business, if you please?
A. I live here in Scranton. General manager of the Lackawanna Iron and
Coal Company.
Q. I wish you would give us a statement of what took place prior to the
1st of August, in the way of organization for protection, and what you
learned about the strike, and causes that induced it, &c., in brief?
A. It was Tuesday, July 24, I think, that our iron company men struck.
The strike started in the old mill. A few men run out and shouted, "We
have struck!" and blew the big whistle, and as the men came out to hear
what was the matter, they said, "We have struck--all turn out!" and
they all turned out. That was about noon time--between twelve and one
o'clock. Those that had gone home, and who knew nothing about it, came
back, and were told that the men had struck, and that they must not go
back. Whereupon the leaders of them marched the men in a body down to
our new mill, where we had some puddlers at work, and got them out
there, and from there down to the machine shop. I heard of it then, and
drove down and asked them what was the matter. I reproached them for
striking without saying anything to me or making any complaint.
Inquired what reasons they had, &c., and they said they struck because
they were not getting pay enough; and I asked them what they wanted,
and they said they wanted thirty-five per cent. advance. Of course I
pooh-poohed it; it was ridiculous--such an advance as that in such
times as these. Told them that was out of the question. Of course, we
could not afford it. I would be glad to pay them better wages if we
could; there was nothing to warrant it. They separated, and I went
back. Our shop hands still stayed in--the machine shop men, and foundry
men, and our furnace men. Of course we did not want to have our furnace
go out, if possible, and I went out and talked to these men in the
afternoon and evening both. They said that they were perfectly willing
to work--were satisfied with their pay, but that they were afraid, that
there had been so many threats made that they had not dare stay. They
would stay that night, but they must go out the next morning, because
their lives were not safe. They said people had been to their wives and
children, and they had been told that if their fathers, and brothers,
&c., would not stop they would be killed. The long and short of the
matter is, our furnace men were afraid. They said they were willing to
work, and were satisfied to work, but they did not dare. Of course,
judging from the temper of the times, I thought there might possibly be
trouble, and I at once proceeded to organize a body of men to protect
our property. I called in all our foremen, and a number of men I had
confidence in--about thirty--armed them with rifles, kept them in the
store that night, ready for anything that might happen. There was a
good deal of talk about fire, &c. The next morning the furnace men went
out. They said they could not stay. I went down and talked to them.
They said they were willing to stay, but were afraid. Our teamsters--I
did not think anybody would touch them--they were satisfied--and word
came up while I was at breakfast that they had been scared away, and
even our store teamster was notified that he would be shot it he went
out. I went down, and got him out, and got some others out. That day
the police sent us word, notifying us that without doubt our store was
to be sacked that night, and that they knew of two wagons or one wagon
which had been hired to carry off anything that might be taken out. Of
course I listened to it, and got ready for it. That same day--I think
it was that day or the next--the mayor sent word that the general of
the division here was afraid of his own men with guns, and wanted me to
take them and put them in our vaults. We took in about all the guns
there were around there--probably five hundred or six hundred, and had
them stored in our vaults, because these officers were afraid to trust
their people. There was a sort of general panic. The next day I got our
teamsters out. Our farm hands had been frightened away, but I talked
with them, and reasoned with them, and finally went along with them
myself. We took a few rifles along, and cheered them up, and they went
to work, and worked on. About Saturday word came round from all
quarters that our iron company men, with the exception, perhaps, of a
few--that there was no dissatisfaction--the feeling of fear was passing
away; they were willing to come back. They said they wanted to be sure
of protection--that was the first thing--they must be sure of
protection, and they had been threatened, and all that kind of thing. I
told them we would protect them from all that danger, so far as I
could. I told them that we would protect them--that the government was
bound to protect them, and if they wanted to work they could work, and
the government must protect them, and we would protect them--do what we
could. They asked me to put some such notice as that in the paper. I
told them I would do so. Previous to that, on Saturday night, it looked
as if the Pennsylvania coal companies might go to work. The head-house,
at No. 5, was burned. Of course that blocked all the transportation on
that side. The head-house was repaired, and on Monday I was satisfied
our men were willing to go to work--only a few that wanted to stay out.
I put a notice in the evening paper--the Star I think it was, and I
stated that anybody that was willing to go to work for us, we would
protect--the government was bound to protect them, and they should be
protected if the whole power of the United States came there; otherwise
law would amount to nothing, and I re-assured them the best way I
could. The next morning, Tuesday morning, they went to work--our
machinists and founders. Our farm hands had gone to work, and our
furnace men went to work. We had banked our furnaces; we thought we
could save them both, so our furnace men went to work again. We took
only enough for one furnace, so as to make sure of one; thought we
might have to let the other slide until we saved the first, and they
went to work, day turn and night turn both. There had been a great deal
of talk of trouble, and all that kind of thing, but of course you hear
all kinds of rumors at a time like that. I did not take any too much
stock in them. Still, we kept our forces in the store all the time. By
that time a number of citizens had come in--Colonel Hitchcock, Mr.
Ripple, and a number of other gentlemen--and we had signals arranged,
and all that kind of thing, in case of trouble, to come out
immediately. We had notified the mayor, in case of anything happening
to our property, that we should hold the city responsible for damages.
Wednesday morning I was down town on some business, and I heard of this
meeting at the silk-works. I did not think it would amount to very much
more, but while I was down town I heard on all sides that the men had
heard that the machine shops were being driven out. I hurried right
back to the office, and got there just as the men from the tops of our
furnaces were being driven out. I saw the men running. I saw a very
large crowd, with sticks and stones, and gesticulation, and those men
running and others chasing them, and I knew then it meant business. We
had not many men in the store then. Our foremen came in one after
another, and stated that the machine shops men there had been driven
away and beaten. They came in from the blast furnaces and stated the
same thing. Came from the engine-house and stated that it had been set
fire to in three places. And I might say, by the way, before this--the
very first night I got my foremen together--I took the precaution to
have them sworn in as special police, and while we were there my own
people came in--probably about thirty or so--and a number of citizens.
At that time the mob had got to the railroad shops, and a message came
from the mayor stating, for God's sake come down and help him. He was
in a sore pass. So 1 made these men a little speech, that we might as
well die now as any other time. Come down and do what we could for the
mayor. I told them I did not want any fooling. I did not want any man
who was not willing to be killed if it was necessary, and did not want
any man who was not willing to shoot to kill, and said if there was any
man who fired, I wanted him to shoot to kill, that we meant no
nonsense. There was only thirty or forty of us. There were three or
four thousand of the others, and we wanted no fooling. We wanted them
to obey orders to the last degree, and when they received orders to
fire, to fire to kill. Nothing else would stop the thing. The thing
must be squelched, and the only way to squelch it, when they fired they
must fire to kill. That was the only way to save the town. While we
were getting ready to go more messages came up, and stated that those
men were going from the railroad shops for Pine Grove breaker. I might
say that our miners have got an agreement with us. It has been so for
some years. They agree to work on, in case of a strike, and we agreed,
on our part, to give them, dating from the commencement of the strike,
any advance of wages which the railroad company might give their men
whenever they settled. If the railroad company gave them ten or fifteen
or any per cent. advance, we agreed to give our men the same advance,
dating from the start. Our Pine Brook men went in that morning.
Understand that our entire force, so far as we had workmen, with the
exception of two of our iron rolling men--and we had every reason to
believe they would be in the next morning--our miners were at work, and
were at work by virtue of agreement with us to work on in case of a
strike. I have one of the agreements now in my pocket--a new one,
similar to the old one. By that time, we started out. 1 went to the
head of them. I did not myself know anything about military matters,
beyond keeping the men in line, and that kind of thing, and I gave
charge of it to young Bartholomew, who knew something of that sort of
thing, and kept them in line and went down. I had seen some riots
before, and knew pretty well about how that sort of thing was. We got
down street, pretty near the corner of Washington avenue, and this
crowd were coming up Washington avenue, and closed in behind our men,
and I felt that the time was coming very close, and that it would be
necessary to act very quick. They closed in behind us, coming up on
each side of the avenue, leaving only the front clear. There were some
in front. Not many. They were hooting and yelling, and finally I saw a
movement of one or two, apparently leaders, looking at me as though
there were getting ready for a rush. I had no doubt of it, and I was
just waiting. I heard shouts: "Now, then, come along boys. They won't
fire. They have blank cartridges," or something of that sort. There
were sticks thrown, and just about as I was going to give the order to
fire, I heard a shot fired, and almost simultaneously with that, every
man stopped and fired.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where did the shot come from--this first shot you heard?
A. Seemed to be a pistol shot.
Q. From the crowd or mob?
A. Yes; and the crowd rushed up and kind of fell back, and the shooting
commenced. The shooting first was wild.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Before that shot was fired, were there any stones or missiles
thrown?
A. Many stones and sticks. I was at the head, and the line was a long
one--about forty, marching two by two.
Q. Were any stones or missiles thrown at the party to which you
belonged?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. At the rear of the line?
A. Yes; and on the side also. It looked to me as though they were going
to rush. I happened to see the riots in 1863, and I saw the same swing
of the crowd--the fellows behind push up those in front. When these
things were thrown, the firing commenced. They fell back once or
twice--little short rallies--and run, and we went back to the store.
The next day the troops came. I might say when we left the store, we
heard the men were going to Pine Brook, and that they were calculating
to drive out the men that were in there, and burn the breaker.
Q. Were those your mines?
A. Yes, our mines. And also that they were going to stop at Dixon's
works on the way.
Q. Were they also your mines?
A. No, sir; they were Dixon Manufacturing Company's works and machine
shops. I might say, also, previous to this--the Sunday before this
thing--our pump engineers, &c. had been visited, and it was said they
were afraid to work, and left us. Of course I put people there in whom
I had confidence, to run the pumps and keep them going.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Will you give us a statement of what you were paying your men at
that time?
A. We pay--most of our work is done by the ton. There is very little
day-work with us, except shop hands and furnace men. Our rolling-mill
men and steel-works men are working now under the same wages under
which they struck. Our rolling-mill heaters are making from ninety to
one hundred dollars a month. I can bring you the pay-rolls. I have got
them at the office. The most of our men in the mills worked by the ton
and by the roll--that is permanent men. All except the commoner class
of laborers are making now anywhere from forty-five to sixty and
seventy-five dollars--along there. The men in the steel-works are
making about--well I should think anywhere from forty-five to sixty
dollars--along there--it depends entirely on the product. We pay them
according to the ton, and if they do small work they get small pay.
Q. Pay in proportion to the amount of work done?
A. Yes, sir; so much a ton. We pay a heater ten cents a ton. If he
heats forty tons, he gets four dollars. Our mining wages are regulated
entirely by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. We pay whatever wages
they do. We tried to keep them working as full as possible.
Q. Can you give an estimate of what a man can make a day, should they
work in the mines all day?
A. I am not so conversant with the special details of the mines. I can
bring the pay-rolls, if you would like. I think that a miner--with our
miners in Briggs shaft, I should think the average now depends a good
deal on the men themselves--how smart they are--and I should think
anywhere from thirty-eight to forty, along to fifty-five and sixty
dollars a month. That is, a miner. Of course, a laborer don't make so
much.
Q. Laborers in the mines work by the day or by the ton?
A. I think they are paid by the car. I don't remember how that is. A
miner hires his own laborer, I believe.
Q. You haven't any particular charge of the details?
A. We pay it, that is all. I don't remember all this. Our Mr. Mattes
could tell you better than I can. Our mining wages are virtually out of
our hands. Whatever the D.L.W. pay, we pay, and the men, on their part,
agree to work through, in case of a strike, and we agree to pay in
advance, dating from the commencement of the strike, that the railroad
may settle with their men to pay.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Had there been any reduction prior to the 1st of August?
A. Our men, all excepting miners, had been reduced on the 1st of July.
The reduction was ten per cent., some not that much, some
more--averaging, probably, ten or twelve per cent., I suppose.
Q. Were there any men, under that reduction, that would make less than
a dollar a day?
A. Our laborers were making less than eighty cents a day. The number of
common laborers we have is very small. We don't have very many. I don't
know how many we have, exactly. Our work is by the ton, as far as
possible. Of course, it is better to have things by the ton.
Q. When was the reduction before the 1st of July?
A. I don't remember when we did last reduce. I could tell you this
evening. Perhaps Mr. Mattes could tell you.
Q. Something has been said about a letter being read at
the silk-factory--did you ever try to ascertain how that
originated?--purporting to give some statement that you had made?
A. I hear of the letter, of course, that was all. No truth in that
letter. The letter was forged. I don't know who wrote it. Perhaps I
might give a very good guess, and also, about other things. You have a
great deal of knowledge that you cannot give legal force to.
Q. You have never been able to ascertain who it was, so as to prove it,
who wrote the letter?
A. I was perfectly satisfied in my mind--no, I have never been able to
prove it, but the time will come, undoubtedly, that I shall, and a good
many other things, too.
Q. Did you find out what motive induced or actuated the man to send it?
A. It was, undoubtedly, a desire at the time--the men knew, and were
perfectly well aware that our men were, for the time being, just
terrorized. They knew, as well as I did, that if I could get our iron
company men to work, the thing would stop, therefore it was necessary
to drive them out to prolong the strike. For the same reason the
Pennsylvania Coal Company's head-house was burnt.
Q. How many men did your company employ?
A. I think we have got about eighteen hundred or two thousand. I think
there is about sixteen or seventeen hundred signatures on the pay-roll,
and a great many of them draw pay for their children--two or
three--sometimes. I suppose we have probably employed somewhere in the
neighborhood of seventeen or eighteen hundred.
Q. Boys employed?
A. To a very large extent, boys who are under eighteen or twenty give
their pay to their parents. Their parents draw it for them. My
impression is, there is a law by which a parent can take the child's
pay under age. I think they do draw it, though in many cases they do
not do it. Their parents are paid.
Q. That includes the miners?
A. Yes; we have three mines. One of our mines is flooded--filled
entirely.
Q. On account of the strike?
A. No; I flooded it myself, long ago, so as to run two mines, to give
as steady work as possible to those that did work.
By Mr. Means:
Q. I would like you tell what passed between you and the chairman of
the committee that waited upon you?
A. The men waited.
Q. First and foremost, do you know the chairman?
A. I really don't know who was chairman of that committee. The men can
tell you that better themselves. There were a number of spokesmen. Mr.
Duffy spoke, and I don't know but McNally did.
Q. Did you know the spokesmen yourself?
A. Yes; I knew the spokesmen.
Q. Who were they?
A. I think that John Evans was one. I am not sure; but McNally was
another. I think Duffy said something.
Q. State what passed between you and the chairman of that committee?
A. They came out after the strike--after they had got the furnacemen
off--came to the office to see me. I am not sure whether it was
Wednesday or Thursday. I had sent around word, and a good many that I
felt were not treating the company right to strike and stop their
works, without letting us know what ground of complaint they had, and I
sent word around there, so that a committee came, and they stated they
wanted more pay. They said thirty-five per cent.
Q. Thirty-five?
A. Thirty-five; yes, sir. Of course, no one in the iron business now
could do that. Such an advance as that was out of the question. I told
them that was out of the question, we couldn't pay them any more. It
was out of the question. We couldn't clear ourselves. I asked them
whether it was not better to take what they could get, and work steady
until times grew better, than to stop and get nothing. Well, they said,
the long and short of the matter was they wouldn't work unless they got
thirty-five per cent., and they went away.
Q. Did you say to those men--this committee--when the times got better
you were willing to advance their wages?
A. I believe I did say something of that kind in reply. If we could
afford it we would be glad to do so.
Q. Did they make any reply to that?
A. I don't remember that they did.
Q. They said they wouldn't work unless you did advance?
A. Yes, sir; but, at that same time, I was receiving information all
the time from many sources, that the most of them were perfectly
willing to work. All they wanted was protection, and that they would go
to work, which they did do on the following Tuesday.
Q. They did go to work on the following Tuesday?
A. All of our men went to work on the following Tuesday, except our
iron rolling men. We had no work for the steel mill.
Q. When that committee waited upon you, did they say to you, or did
they intimate to you, that they would force you into measures?
A. We had quite a long talk. I don't remember anything of that kind.
They said they wouldn't work until they got an advance; of course that
is equivalent to forcing a way.
Q. They didn't make any threats?
A. I don't remember of that?
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. In consequence of that strike, did you blow out your furnaces?
A. Lost two furnaces.
Q. What was the damage?
A. It cost us about ten thousand dollars. We made up an itemized list
of it soon afterwards. It amounted to about ten thousand dollars--a
trifle over. It was a direct damage--it took as much to blast out our
scaffold and re-line it, and there was some other incidental damage.
Q. Ten thousand dollars about covers the damage?
A. That is the strike damages--actual loss.
Q. To say nothing of incidental losses?
A. Yes; we paid that out afterwards to fix it.
Q. Was there any loss in the vicinity?
A. The Pennsylvania Company's head-house was burnt; their trellising
was burnt, not on the actual day of the riots--it was during that time.
Q. Can you give an estimate account of that?
A. Our Point Brook stable was burnt--that was after we started our
works again.
Q. Can you estimate the damage to the Pennsylvania Company?
A. No; other people could tell you better about that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was there any disposition manifested on the part of your men, to go
in to the furnaces and run them, if you would permit them?
A. I don't know of any such; no sir. Of course, we would only have been
glad to have them run. If they run them at all, they must run under our
protection.
Q. Was there any disposition, any offers made on the part of your men
to go in and work?
A. If we would protect them. Oh, yes; if we would protect them after
two or three days. The first day, they stated, they were afraid of men
striking outside. We labored with the furnace men by night, talking
with them, trying to get them to stay. They said they were afraid. The
following Tuesday, they got more or less over the fear, and they did go
back, if that is what you mean.
Q. Did your men say who made the threats against them--of who they were
afraid?
A. No; it was that some men would come to their houses and tell them so
and so--tell their wives so and so, some men either told their little
girls, and that kind of thing. We could get very little information
from them.
Q. The threats were not open and above board?
A. Yes; may have been open, but they didn't give their names to
us--were afraid we would act on them.
Q. In your opinion, were those men that made these threats in your
employ?
A. Yes, sir; some were. You see, Mr. McGowan cleaned out the Mollies in
Schuylkill. A great many of them who had not been apprehended have come
up here and they now lie partly between here and Pittston, and
Carbondale, and a good many in Oliphant and Carr's Patch; and the men
who had been at Minica, were very largely men who were prominent in the
riot. These Mollies are now re-organizing here more or less. We have
got accurate information. Our information nowadays is very accurate. We
know precisely where we stand.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You have stated the substance of the agreement?
A. I have stated the substance of it, that is, with our miners alone.
When we took our men back, we made an agreement with all our men, that
hereafter they should give us thirty days' notice or forfeit their pay
at the time of strike. That agreement was signed by every man who was
of any consequence at all. Of course, there is a number of small fry
that we don't care anything about.
Q. Signed by the men who carried on your works?
A. It is signed by three fourths of the men in our employ--miners,
laborers, driver boys, &c. Our orders are strict in the matter.
Q. Did they enter into this article of agreement with a perfect
understanding of what they were doing?
A. They received a printed copy. They agreed to give us thirty days'
notice. They all agreed to work on in case of a strike, in case of any
commotion elsewhere, they agreed to give us thirty days' notice. If
they struck after thirty days' notice, they forfeited all pay due them
at the time of the strike. That our miners, in case of a general
strike, they agreed to work on through it and we agreed to pay them
back pay when the railroad company pays.
Q. The railroad also engages in mining?
A. Yes; the D., L. and W., and the Delaware and Hudson are also mining.
We mine no coal except for our own purposes--for our mills and
steel-works--and we necessarily make a good deal of fine coal that is
not convenient to use ourselves, and we sell what little fine coal we
make that we don't want ourselves. We send nothing to New York.
Q. Did you notice any uneasiness among the men, or disposition to
strike, prior to the strike at Pittsburgh?
A. No, sir. Of course, the great depression of business, and all that
kind of thing contributed to make things very hard. There was a great
many men out of work--that made it somewhat hard. Of course, a
reduction of wages is a thing you never take until a necessity comes
on, and you cannot help yourself.
Q. Had there been any talk or organization among the men about a strike
prior to the strike at Pittsburgh?
A. Not that I know of, sir. It went like wild-fire everywhere, and took
these men like everybody else.
* * * * *
... Powell, re-called:
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Are you prepared to give the figures as to the pay for mining per
ton or per car?
A. You referred back, while I was on the stand before, to 1873. I have
some figures for the price of mining coal from 1871 to 1878. The
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company in '71, 2, 3, and 4,
the G vein would return per car, $1 17-1/2, the E vein, what they call
the Diamond vein----
Q. One dollar seventeen and a half cents per car?
A. That was in 1874.
Q. The E vein, how much?
A. Ninety-three and a half cents. Six cars constitute a full shift
between the miner and laborer.
Q. That makes what you would call a day's work?
A. A full shift; that is in the G vein. In the E vein, it is seven
cars. The laborer draws one third of the total mined, then what remains
after deducting expenses, on an average, amounts to about $1 10 at that
time.
Q. One dollar and ten cents for a day for the six or seven cars?
A. Expense. That is the wear and tear that has got to come out of the
miners. The miner at that wages, would get $3 50, and the laborer about
$2 35.
Q. The miner how much?
A. Three dollars and fifty cents. That is, taking now the highest rates
ever given. In January, 1875, I was getting ten per cent. reduction,
and G vein was then reduced to $1 06 per car.
Q. Just give us the reduction?
A. March 15, in 1876, the Diamond G vein per car, ninety-five and one
half.
Q. Was there reduction there?
A. Ten per cent.
Q. In addition to what you have stated?
A. Yes, sir; March 15, fifteen per cent. reduction.
Q. When was the ten per cent. reduction?
A. March, 1877.
Q. Now there is ten per cent. more?
A. Fifteen per cent.
Q. On July 1, was there any reduction?
A. June, 1875, ten per cent.; March 15, 1876, ten per cent.; January,
1876, ten per cent.; March 15, 1877, fifteen per cent.
Q. Was there any reduction after that?
A. No, sir; not for the miners. There is one thing, we have another
vein here which we call the G vein, top and bottom, that is seventy-two
cents per car.
Q. Has this reduction been general in all the mines, the same per
centage?
A. The same per centage.
Q. Is there anything else?
A. You refer to the number of days worked. I can give you that.
Q. Your own days?
A. Through the courtesy of the superintendent of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western I got the number of days from their books. The
number of days worked in 1876, one hundred and sixty-five and three
quarters. That was the breaker work in a year, making an average of $14
per month, that is the whole breaker work. You take the mines there,
and all they make is an average of $12 per month--of the miners. In
1877 it averaged about--the breaker work--about $16; that would give
the miners about $13 per month. In 1878 it lacks an average of $12,
which would give the miners nearly $10.
Q. How many days did you make in any month?
A. I took the whole average of the mines.
Q. Got that from what?
A. The books of the company.
Q. Of the company you are working for?
A. Yes, sir.
* * * * *
Isaac Felts, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State whether your store was broken open on the 1st day of August
last?
A. The 1st day of August I found it was broken open. They said it was
broken open in the morning.
Q. Done in the night or during the morning?
A. After midnight.
Q. How far from Scranton is it?
A. It is about three miles, or three and one half, I should judge.
Q. In which direction?
A. It is south from here--pretty nearly south.
Q. How far beyond the silk-factory?
A. It must be two and one half miles, probably.
Q. Is it near the church that stands out at Greenwood?
A. It is beyond the church; it is about half a mile or so beyond the
church.
Q. State what your damage was?
A. As near as I can judge, I think it is between $3,000 and $4,000.
Q. Goods that were carried off?
A. Goods carried off.
Q. What kind of goods?
A. All kinds of merchandise. Goods pretty much that belong to a country
store. We had to keep a little of most everything there.
Q. Was anything in the shape of ammunition or arms taken away?
A. No, sir; not that I know of. I had mining supplies. I had some
little powder there, and one thing or other that was not taken. There
was no ammunition that I knew of.
* * * * *
Joe Shoemaker, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Were do you live?
A. Over in the Eleventh ward, Sixth street.
Q. What is your business?
A. Blacksmith.
Q. Where were you on the 1st day of August last?
A. The 1st day of August I went to work in the morning at the
Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company's--down here at the flats.
Q. Go on and tell us what you did that day?
A. I worked there, and about between eleven and twelve o'clock--the
miners had a meeting at the silk-factory, and the men came down and
called us out. My woman was down there. "Joe," she says, "Come out, the
miners will kill you;" says I, "I guess they won't do that." I went out
and came up near the boiler-shop--and went out--I was the last man that
went out of that shop. I didn't want to go out, I was satisfied with
the wages Scranton offered me. I didn't want to go out, but they all
went out, and so I went out--I closed the door of the shop, and I went
out when everybody was done. I wanted to see what was going on, and I
seen them--they went in the boiler-shop. There was a man working in
there by the name of Hilton, and there was hollering inside, and I
didn't know what was the matter, and I saw a man jump out and some
fellow standing outside the door, he was jumping against the door. The
door fly open and knocked them fellows back, and they run right in.
They picked up stones and fired at them. They seen me, I had my sleeves
rolled up. They thought that is a working man, and they fired at me. I
got four stones, one on that shoulder, and one on that, and one right
here, [indicating.] I sat down. I could not move myself any more. I
hopped up, and when I got there he said, "Joe that blow I would not
have for fifty dollars." I didn't want to tell them I got hurt. The
engineer was getting out, he was half ways in the window and half ways
out when they got at him.
Q. Do you know any of those men that were hammering your engineer?
A. I was too far away. I was up at Robinson's brewery. I was too far
off. I didn't go near them any more. He run around the building, and
when he got to the foundry there was a pile of pig iron of about three
foot high, and he run down, and some people stopped there by the
foundry, and they picked up stones and fired at him. When he was behind
that pig iron, he was gone from my eyes. That was all I could see of
him. If it was not for the stopping work, I would have had about $120
in my pocket, where I didn't have a cent. I was willing to work on, but
they didn't let me.
Q. How long was you idle?
A. Three months idle. Had a family with three children, and was willing
to work, but I couldn't work.
Q. Because they would not let you?
A. No.
Q. How much did you get a day when they drove you out of the shop?
A. I had $1 53. My wages is $40 any how, and then the three months
makes me $120 lost. Whose fault is it? Not mine. I was willing to work.
It was not the company's fault either.
Q. The fault of strikers, was not it?
A. Yes; and then they hit me, and I had to lay two weeks in the bed,
and the society to where I belong had to pay me benefits.
Q. What society do you belong to?
A. To a Dutch society--to two of them. I belong now twenty years--to
one of them twenty-five years.
Q. What is the name of that society?
A. St. Joseph's Verein and Lackawanna Mutual Association.
Q. What is that society for?
A. For to pay benefits, same as Odd Fellows. Pay benefit if a man is
sick. If you die, the woman gets $50. If you are sick, you have $4 a
week. The society paid that at the time they hit me, and they had to
pay me for it because it was not my fault. They didn't want to do it,
but they had to do it. I said it was not my fault. I went to work for
my family, and I got hurt. It was not my fault, and they had to pay me,
so they did.
* * * * *
Charles F. Mattes, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State your residence and your business, if you please?
A. My residence is here in Scranton. I have general charge of the coal
mines, and real estate agent of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company.
In reference to this matter, I will state just here that I was not an
eye witness of those riots. When this suit was brought against the
parties who were engaged in the shooting, I was charged with the
gathering of evidence in the case on the part of the defendants, and it
brought me in communication with a great many persons who were
witnesses who were directly concerned, and I presume it is supposed for
that reason that I could give more information than, perhaps, any other
person in reference to it; but what I would have to say would not be
from observation, but from other parties.
Q. We don't care to have you describe the riot as it occurred here that
day. That has been described by so many gentlemen. I wish you would
give us what information you have as to the cause of the riots, and
what your information is as to what produced them, based upon
information that you collected in making these defenses?
A. In the first place, the strike originated here with the railroad
employés--firemen and brakemen ostensibly. Miners and mechanics,
generally, and workmen generally were working on quietly, and with no
demonstration of any sort, apparently reasonably well satisfied. There
had been, from time to time, reductions in the wages, which are always
accompanied, as every one knows, with more or less feeling of
dissatisfaction on the part of those whose pay is reduced; but this
strike here, it occurred to me, was a sympathetic movement in accord
with the strike of the firemen. By that strike all transportation
ceased. Of course the mines could not be carried on. The men were
thrown out of employment; they could not work if they desired to,
because there were no cars and no means of carrying away the product of
the mines. The consequence was, they would meet together, and these
matters were discussed. Agitators would go among them. The better class
of men were overruled, and the more violent agitators carried the day,
and it resulted in a strike and demand of an increase of twenty-five
per cent. in the rate of wages, at a time when everything was
depressed, and it was so preposterous. They were assured by a good many
that it was a foolish demand, and one they could not expect to have
acceded to, and must result in a prolongation of their idleness if they
insisted upon that demand. I don't know as I could add anything to what
has already been said here as to the cause. The strike on the railroad,
in my view, was the primary cause, and it threw the men idle, and as is
pretty nearly always the case, there was more or less trouble.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You think the strike at Pittsburgh was the cause of the strike at
Scranton?