=Copyright, 1897, THE GREAT ROUND WORLD Publishing Company.=
* * * * *
The latest news from India is of a most encouraging nature.
It is supposed that the announcement made by the British Government that
they mean to send a strong force to punish the rebellious tribes has had
a good effect.
The Afridis are reported to have held a council of war, and have decided
to return to their homes and gather in their harvests. The head men of
the tribe are said to be responsible for this decision, because they
made a strong stand against the continuation of the war.
It is probable that the reason of their return to their homes is not
altogether because of their harvests, but that other tribes which had
agreed to join in the uprising have become alarmed at the action of the
British, and, fearful lest they too may come in for punishment, have
refused to take any part in the border war.
Haddah Mullah, the mad priest who is accused of having incited the
tribes to rebel in the first instance, has also given in. It is said
that he has dispersed his followers of the Swati tribe, and that they
have returned to their homes.
The Mullah had been gathering forces together for an attack on Peshawar,
a strong British fort. To make his attempt successful he needed more men
than he had under his command; he therefore ordered a tribe called the
Mohmands to join him, and marched toward Peshawar, expecting to meet
them on the way.
When he and his followers arrived at the meeting-place, he found to his
dismay that instead of the host of warriors he had expected, there was
only a messenger from the chief of the Mohmands, who told him in very
plain terms that they would have nothing to do with either the revolt or
the attack on Peshawar.
On hearing this it is said that the Mullah was so discouraged that he
refused to lead the Swatis anymore, and ordered his followers to go back
to their homes.
If this report be indeed true, the worst of the rebellion is undoubtedly
over, for the Haddah Mullah was the most dangerous enemy the British had
to fear in the frontier war. By preying upon the superstitions of the
tribe he had obtained such an influence over them that they regarded him
as a prophet and obeyed his slightest word.
To make them fight bravely he distributed rice that had been colored
pink among his followers on the eve of a battle, and assured them that
all who carried it would pass through the fiercest battle without a
wound or scratch.
On one occasion when the rice had been handed round from man to man it
was found after the fight was over that the Mullah's hand was very badly
cut. His followers began to murmur, and wonder how the giver of this
charmed rice could himself be wounded in battle. The Mullah was,
however, smart enough to invent a story about having seized a bayonet
and purposely cut himself. His simple followers believed him, and
continued to use the wonderful rice.
The withdrawal of this crafty priest from active opposition will be a
great assistance to the British cause, which has also been greatly
strengthened during the last few days by the friendly attitude of the
Ameer of Afghanistan.
We told you how the British suspected that this ruler had helped to stir
up the rebellion: at one time it was decided to send him another letter,
calling him sharply to account for his double dealing.
Before any such action could be taken, news was brought that the Ameer
had caused the arrest of forty important tribesmen, who were supposed to
have assisted the mad Mullah in rousing the people against the British.
This action has had such an excellent effect on the tribes that many
people suppose Great Britain's frontier war is over.
The English have still a great deal to do on the borders of Afghanistan.
For the sake of their future power in India they dare not let the
natives think they can rebel against England without being severely
punished. Whether the revolt is really over or not, a force will have to
be sent against the rebellious tribes to teach them proper respect for
British power.
* * * * *
General Woodford has arrived safely in Spain, and is to be presented to
the Queen Regent in a few days.
He has, in the mean while, met the Duke of Tetuan, and has been very
pleasantly received.
A great sensation has, however, been caused in Havana by the publication
of a letter from General Azcarraga, the present Spanish Prime Minister.
In this letter the minister says that the Spanish Government will not
listen to any demands from the United States, that no one in Spain
thinks our country has any right to interfere in the Cuban question, and
that rather than submit to American dictation, Spain is prepared to
declare war.
In the letter it is also said that if it becomes necessary to declare
war, Spain is confident that she will have the support of the nations of
Europe. It is argued that if we succeed in freeing Cuba we will be
certain to try and get Canada and Jamaica away from England, and the
French possessions from their mother country.
The General asserts that if the United States succeeds in freeing Cuba,
European rule in the New World will soon cease to exist.
Finally, he says that if General Woodford's mission is after all merely
to claim damages from Spain, he will be listened to with the utmost
politeness, and then informed that Spain also has her claims against
America. But if General Woodford persists in entering on the subject of
the Cuban war, he will be told that Spain does not admit the right of
the United States to interfere in her private affairs, and the
ambassador will be politely but firmly requested to mind his own
business.
Every one is most anxious to learn just what General Woodford's mission
is, and how Spain will receive it.
In the mean while many people are wondering why Spain has suddenly
become so averse to parting with her colonies. Many times in the last
century she has ceded and sold them, and it seems strange that she
should be unwilling to let Cuba purchase her freedom when it is the
easiest way out of the present difficulty.
At one time Spain had vast possessions in the New World. Louisiana,
Florida, Mexico, the Central American States, Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Argentine
Republic were all under the rule of Spain.
One by one these countries have thrown off the Spanish yoke; Cuba is
only following in their footsteps, and yet while the mother country has
been content to receive valuable considerations for her other provinces,
she declares that to surrender Cuba would be to forfeit her honor.
Affairs in Madrid are approaching a crisis. It is rumored that within
two weeks General Azcarraga will cease to be Prime Minister, and that
Señor Sagasta will be called to take command of the affairs of State.
Sagasta, as we have told you, has very broad views about Cuba, and
wishes for nothing so much as peace with the unhappy little island.
The affairs of the election in Cuba are progressing quietly.
The election should have taken place on September 1st, but the bad
roads made travelling so difficult that some of the most important
members of the Assembly were unable to get to the meeting, and so the
business of electing a President has had to be postponed for a few days.
The Cubans say that the first work of the new administration must be to
establish a government for _peace_. Up to the present time their
thoughts have all been directed toward preserving the army in the field,
and making it possible to continue the war.
The rebellion has now such a strong hold in the eastern part of the
island that it is necessary to provide laws for the welfare of those who
are living under the flag of free Cuba, which, as we have told you
before, now floats over Santiago de Cuba.
The Government has already established factories and workshops to
furnish supplies for the army, and about five thousand persons are
employed in them.
There are tanneries where the skins of beasts are made into leather;
shoe, saddle, harness, gunpowder, and dynamite factories, and workshops
for repairing arms and reloading gun-cartridges.
A newspaper man who says he has been through these establishments states
that while they are somewhat old-fashioned in their methods, owing to
the impossibility of obtaining the newest machinery, the work they turn
out is excellent.
The Cuban Government is also providing for the education of its
subjects. Free schools are being established wherever it is safe to do
so, and every effort is being made to render the people who acknowledge
the rule of the young republic happy and law-abiding.
One of the candidates for the Presidency is Gen. Bartolome Maso, who
holds the office of Vice-President under the present administration.
Señor Maso is a dear friend and close companion of President Cisneros;
so warm is this friendship, indeed, that Cisneros has offered to
withdraw from the candidacy in favor of Maso, and Maso has refused to
let him do so, declaring that he can serve the republic just as well
whether he is President or private citizen.
Maso is one of the soldiers who fought in the revolt ten years ago. He
was one of the first to take up arms against Spain on the present
occasion. You must not confound him with Maceo, the murdered general.
This man is Bartolome Maso, the dead general was Antonio Maceo.
Señor Maso is often lovingly referred to by the Cubans as the father of
the revolution.
Consul-General Lee has returned from Cuba. He has been ill for some
months, and has obtained a few weeks' leave of absence in which to
regain his strength. There are reports that he is not to return to Cuba,
but that another Consul-General is to be appointed in his place. These
rumors are not generally credited.
From the Philippine Islands the news comes that the natives intend to
prolong the war until Spain's money is exhausted, and then force her to
agree to their demands.
The main fighting in this insurrection has taken place on the island of
Luzon. This island has been visited by a terrible disaster. One of its
volcanic mountains has suddenly burst into activity, and thrown out
streams of lava in such volume that they have travelled over twenty
miles of country until they reached the sea.
It is said that several villages have been destroyed by the lava flow,
and about five hundred persons killed.
* * * * *
There is once more a prospect of a settlement of the Greek question.
After the rejection of Lord Salisbury's plan, about which we told you
last week, it seemed as if matters would again be brought to a
standstill. England refused to consent to any plan that did not include
the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Thessaly, and Germany would not
listen to any arrangement that did not include the full control of the
Greek Treasury.
The Russian Minister, fearing another long delay, appealed to England,
and demanded that she should agree to Germany's plan, or propose some
other that would be agreeable to all the parties concerned.
Lord Salisbury therefore made a new proposal to this effect. The Powers
should take control of the revenues set aside by Greece for the payment
of the war debt to Turkey, and that yet another sum should be handed
over to the Powers to secure the payment of her other debts.
The proposal also stated that when Greece had put the funds into the
hands of the Powers, Turkey was immediately to recall her troops from
Thessaly.
The ambassadors all agreed to accept this plan, which, in truth, gave
both Germany and England the points they desired. After the foreign
Ministers had decided to accept it, it was shown informally to Tewfik
Pasha.
This official also appeared satisfied with the arrangements, and gave
the ambassadors to understand that when it was formally presented to him
he would be able to accept it in the name of the Sultan.
It is therefore expected that the details of the peace treaty will be
settled in a very few days.
Greece, the country most interested in this settlement, is the party
least satisfied with the arrangement.
It is felt in Athens that the terms of the peace are very hard ones. The
frontier question has been so settled that Greece is powerless to defend
herself against the Turks if they should declare war on her again. The
mountain passes and the important places in the mountain ranges will be
in the hands of the Turks, and Greece will lie at the foot of the hills,
a ready prey to any army that may descend on her from the heights.
In addition to this, she has to pay a heavy war indemnity, and to do so
must turn over the control of her revenue to foreigners.
It will take many years before Greece can recover from this blow.
The blockade of Crete is to be brought to an end, or "raised" as it is
called.
The Cretans having accepted the Home Rule offered them by the Powers,
there is no longer any need for the allied fleets to remain there, and
therefore the war-ships are to leave the island.
It is difficult to see what good they have accomplished. When Djevad
Pasha arrived at the island, giving himself all the airs of a new
Turkish governor, the Cretans accepted Home Rule in the belief that the
Powers would protect them from the Turks.
Not being wily diplomatists, they did not insert any clause about the
withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island, and therefore the Powers
do not feel bound to demand this of Turkey, and are taking away the only
protection the Cretans had, and are leaving them just as much at the
mercy of the Turks as they were before Greece tried to go to their
rescue.
It seems a shabby piece of business on the part of the Powers, and one
they will have hard work to justify even to themselves.
The admirals have, it is true, requested Djevad Pasha to order all the
Turks in the island disarmed with the exception of the Turkish soldiers.
If he refuses they threaten to ask for his recall, but this is a very
poor conclusion after all the fuss that has been made, and the trouble
the interference of the Powers has caused.
* * * * *
There is good news from the Soudan.
After the British had taken the town of Abu Hamed, about which we told
you a short while since, they continued to advance up the Nile toward
the next important town that lay in their route to Khartoum.
This town was Berber.
It was expected that the Mahdists would make a fierce resistance at this
place, and the British troops were prepared for severe fighting.
What was their surprise on reaching Berber to find that the Mahdists
had fled before them, and were encamped at the city of Matammeh, where
they intended to make a stand against the invading army.
Berber had been left in the hands of a few Soudanese who were friendly
to the English, and willingly permitted them to take possession of the
town.
This city is only about two hundred miles from Khartoum, and no place of
importance now lies in the way of the British advance on Khartoum, the
Mahdist stronghold.
* * * * *
A very interesting movement is on foot to secure the return of the Jews
to Palestine.
We are all familiar with the beautiful story of Moses, and how he led
the Jewish people out of their captivity in Egypt into the promised land
of Palestine.
We can follow out the history of the kingdom of Israel through its years
of prosperity under David and Solomon; we can read how the Jews again
became a conquered people, and fell under the rule of the Assyrians, the
Babylonians, the Persians, and how under the leadership of Maccabeus
they once more became a nation, only to fall into the hands of the
Romans.
History tells us how they revolted again and again under the Roman rule,
and how at last, in the year 135 A.D., Jerusalem was taken by the Roman
Emperor, and the Jews, driven from their country, ceased to be a nation,
and were scattered over the face of the earth.
From the year 135 Palestine remained in the hands of the Romans, and
when they became converted to Christianity this land was regarded by
them with great veneration. Bethlehem of Judea, where Jesus Christ was
born, is in Palestine, and Jerusalem, where He suffered death on the
cross, was the capital of Judea.
In the sixth century Palestine fell into the hands of the Mohammedans,
and it was to rescue the Holy City from the hands of unbelievers that
the Christians of Europe first undertook those long and terrible wars
which are known in history as the Crusades.
The Christians finally conquered Jerusalem, and established a Christian
kingdom there which lasted for eighty years, when the celebrated
Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, reconquered the Holy City.
Since that time Palestine has been in the hands of the Mohammedans, and
in the year 1517 it was finally added to the Turkish Empire.
The present idea of the Jewish people is to purchase Palestine from the
Sultan of Turkey and re-settle the Hebrews there.
A Hebrew Congress has just been held in Basle, Switzerland, for the
purpose of discussing this matter.
On the second day of the Congress a resolution was offered that a home
be created in Palestine for the Jewish people, and that the consent and
assistance of the Powers be asked to the plan.
The resolution was instantly adopted, amid the greatest excitement and
enthusiasm.
Little more business was done that day. The people present were so
excited with the hope of becoming a nation once more that they could
not bring their minds to consider any less important subject.
The next day, however, the Congress settled itself to a business-like
consideration of the plan. It was resolved to treat with the Sultan of
Turkey for the purchase of Palestine, and a committee was formed to
collect funds for that object, it being considered desirable to raise
fifty million dollars as speedily as possible.
The idea of recolonizing Palestine is not a new one. In 1840 the
generous Sir Moses Montefiore endeavored to start the scheme. Since his
day several other attempts have been made.
In 1878 some Jews in Jerusalem founded the first colony there, and
through the assistance of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, and of a Jewish
society in Paris, there are already five thousand Hebrews settled in
Palestine. They have a tract of land about six square miles in extent,
and have it in excellent cultivation, producing among other things an
excellent vintage of Bordeaux, which is a high grade of claret.
The present plan originated with Dr. Theodor Herzl of Vienna. He is a
literary man whose work is well known in Austria, and he is considered
well fitted to be the leader of this great movement.
Dr. Herzl says that he does not think there will be much difficulty in
making terms with the Sultan.
He visited Constantinople last year, and had two long conversations with
the Grand Vizier on the subject. While this minister did not answer Yes
or No to his project, Dr. Herzl says that he can but feel that the
Sultan was favorably impressed by it, as he sent him a decoration.
A "decoration" is a badge or emblem, such as a cross, star, flower, or
the like, which is bestowed by a sovereign as a special mark of favor or
in recognition of some great service. Medals received for bravery on the
field of battle are decorations.
Some of these decorations, or orders, as they are also called, are
extremely beautiful in workmanship and design. Each country has its own
special orders, a certain few of which are only bestowed on royalty, or
persons of very high rank.
Decorations are intended to be worn on the left breast. To attach them
to the clothing they are threaded on a ribbon which varies in color and
design for every order. In Europe, medals and orders are only worn on
full-dress occasions, but for ordinary use the proud owners of these
marks of distinction will wear a small strip of ribbon belonging to the
order.
These favors are not, as a rule, lightly bestowed, and the possessors of
the important European orders are rightfully proud of them.
The decorating of Dr. Herzl may have been nothing more than amiability
on the part of the Sultan, but it certainly showed that his Majesty was
not displeased with the doctor's mission.
The leaders of this new movement are not, however, pinning all their
faith on the Sultan.
If it becomes impossible to secure Palestine they will treat for a tract
of land in some healthy part of South America.
The land once secured, it is the intention to send a number of the
poorer Jews out to it.
These men are to be drawn from the laboring classes, and it is to be
their work to lay out streets, build bridges and railroads, etc., and
generally prepare the way for those who are to follow.
It is not intended to make any class distinctions of rich or poor, or to
send out a class of rich persons to profit by the work done for them by
their less fortunate brothers. The leaders of the movement will lay out
extensive works in the various kinds of building that we have mentioned,
and it is expected that the business these works will create will
attract settlers to the new country, who will start up foundries and
factories. It is the intention to furnish the colony with all the latest
improvements and inventions, and it is but reasonable to suppose that
the new land will soon become an important centre of industry.
The promoters of the scheme look for great assistance from England, and
have approached Lord Salisbury in the hope of gaining his friendship.
Europe would of course have a great deal to say about the establishment
of an enlightened and progressive race on the borders of the Red Sea,
and the new nation could not be established without the consent of the
Powers.
* * * * *
Russia is about building a new canal, which, when finished, will be one
of the greatest works ever undertaken.
It is to connect the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea, and is to be one
thousand miles in length.
It is to start from Riga on the Baltic, and run to Kherson at the mouth
of the Dneiper River, where that river empties itself into the Black
Sea.
The advantages of this canal will be very great.
At the present time a vessel voyaging from the Baltic to the Black Sea
has to go all round Europe before it reaches its destination. Take your
map and follow out the course a ship must take. It must skirt Denmark
and pass into the North Sea, then go through the Straits of Dover, down
the coast of France, across the Bay of Biscay, and down the coast of
Portugal until the Straits of Gibraltar are reached. Here the vessel
must pass into the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, and follow it along
through the Grecian Archipelago, through the Dardanelles into the Sea of
Marmora, and passing through the Bosporus, it at last finds itself in
the Black Sea.
The time required to make such a long voyage is a great loss to
merchants, and the vessel has to pass through so many narrow straits and
past so many strategic points that the voyage could hardly be undertaken
if Russia were at war with any foreign nation.
The canal is to be 213 feet wide at the surface, 115 feet at the base,
and to have a depth of 27 feet.
It should, therefore, be a very fine canal.
Germany and the United States are both very pleased about this great
work, for both nations see in it an opportunity to sell their iron and
steel manufactures.
The Czar of Russia has issued an order that there is to be no more
exiling to Siberia except for certain very serious crimes.
Instead, large prisons are to be built in Central Russia for the
political criminals. The change is to go into effect in one year's time,
when it is supposed that the new prisons will be in readiness.
It seems almost too good to be true that the terrors of Siberian exile
are to be abolished. To most of the unfortunate prisoners who were
interviewed by Mr. George Kennan when he visited the Siberian convict
settlements, even the horrors of the exile were as nothing compared to
the awful journey on foot across the desolate steppes of Russia.
All this will soon be at an end, and the nearness of the prisons to
civilization will perhaps remove some of the abuses and ill-treatment of
the prisoners now practised in the far-away Siberian prisons.
If the young Czar Nicholas continues his kindly and humane methods of
government it is likely that he will soon need very few political
prisons.
He has shown much kindness and clemency to his people since he came to
the throne, and there is little doubt that his subjects will soon learn
to love him and trust him in return.
* * * * *
The relations between the Transvaal and England are again being brought
prominently before the world.
Early in the spring, when it was rumored that Germany was taking too
friendly an interest in the affairs of the Transvaal, Mr. Chamberlain,
the Colonial Secretary of England, sent a very stormy letter to the
Boers, saying that England insisted that the Transvaal should not make
any foreign alliances without her consent, and that the treaty between
the Transvaal and Great Britain, which is known as the "London Treaty,"
must be very closely observed.
To this the Boer Government replied that it would be glad to arbitrate
that point as well as the amount of the payment to be made for the
Jameson raid; and the various other points on which the two governments
were at issue.
Soon after this Dr. Leyds, President Krüger's confidential agent,
arrived in England, and had a conference with Mr. Chamberlain. They
appeared to come to satisfactory understanding, and there was every
prospect of a peaceful settlement to the dispute.
Some weeks after this conversation with Dr. Leyds, Mr. Chamberlain was
asked by the House of Commons whether he had consented to arbitrate with
the Transvaal.
Mr. Chamberlain answered that some points would certainly be submitted
to arbitration, but the question, of the Transvaal's right to allow a
foreign country to befriend her could not be so treated, because it was
expressly stated in the London convention that England had sovereign
rights in the Transvaal, and could therefore insist on her wishes being
carried out.
When the news of Mr. Chamberlain's speech reached Pretoria, the capital
of the Transvaal, there was great indignation among the Boers. The
matter was debated by the Volksraad or Parliament, and several members
declared that Great Britain must be shown that she no longer had any
sovereign rights in the Transvaal.
Meetings were held denouncing Mr. Chamberlain's remarks, and finally
President Krüger delivered a speech before the Volksraad which caused
considerable excitement, as its meaning was an open defiance of
England.
In this speech President Krüger stated that the Boers were perfectly
willing to abide by the London convention, but he stated emphatically
that the convention did not contain a word about the sovereign rights of
England, and since it had been made, all such rights had ceased to
exist.
The London convention was made in 1884.
In 1881, after the British forces had been beaten by the Boers, a treaty
was made by which peace was restored, and the Transvaal recognized as a
semi-independent republic, under the sovereignty of England.
In this treaty it was understood that the Boers would have freedom of
government as far as their home affairs went, but that no friendships or
alliances could be made with foreign powers. The British Government
reserved for itself the right of managing the foreign affairs of the
Transvaal.
This was in 1881.
In 1884 a new agreement was entered into which expressly stated that
England no longer wanted these rights, and that the Transvaal was free
to govern the country without interference, and to manage its own
foreign affairs as it pleased. One right only did England demand, and
that was that the Transvaal should not make any treaty with a foreign
country without the approval of the Queen.
It stated that the Transvaal Government must send her Majesty a copy of
any treaty it desired to make, and that if England notified the Boers
within six months that the proposed treaty interfered with her rights in
South Africa, it must be abandoned. Nothing was said in this agreement
which prevented the Transvaal from having friendly dealings with
foreign powers.
Mr. Chamberlain seems to have become confused about the contents of the
London convention of 1884, and to have got it mixed with the treaty of
1881. The brave old President of the Transvaal has, however, determined
to refresh his memory.
In his speech before the Volksraad he stated grimly that the Boers would
oppose to the last any attempt on the part of England to enforce her
fancied rights, and having declared himself emphatically for war, he
concluded with one of his quaint, pious remarks. He said the Boers
wished to preserve peaceful and friendly relations with the whole world,
because wherever love dwelt the blessing of God was sure to follow.
President Krüger's defiance was regarded by the British Government as
mere speech-making. The Government refused to believe that the old man
wished his words to be taken seriously, and so passed the whole affair
over as unworthy of notice.
Mr. Chamberlain has been instructed to enforce Great Britain's sovereign
rights in the Transvaal, and notwithstanding the fact that several of
the London newspapers are calling attention to the treaty of 1884, he is
determined to insist on these rights.
It was rumored some time ago that as soon as the Greek troubles were out
of the way, Germany, France, and Russia would take up the Transvaal
question.
This may perhaps be the reason why the Boer President so bravely defies
the British Government, and if Mr. Chamberlain tries to force the
Transvaal to submit, he may find that he has to reckon with these three
powerful countries as well as the handful of Dutchmen in the South
African Republic.
* * * * *
A terrible tragedy has occurred in Pennsylvania at a place called
Hazleton, about twenty-five miles from Wilkesbarre.
Some miners were shot and killed by order of the sheriff of the county.
These miners were out on strike, their strike, however, not being in any
way connected with the great coal strike of which we have told you in
previous numbers.
These men were dissatisfied because an extra two-hours' work was forced
upon them every day without extra pay.
Some mules which had formerly been stationed in another colliery were
changed over to the one at which these men were employed, and the care
of these animals occupied the drivers an extra hour morning and night,
which the miners resented. They therefore struck work.
Two of the drivers did not wish to join in the strike, and the
superintendent, seeing this, did his best to persuade all the men to go
to work. Upon this the strikers became angry, and bitter words and hard
feeling resulted.
Thinking themselves badly used, the men resolved to try and make the
strike general in the neighborhood, and began marching from colliery to
colliery, urging the men at work to lay down their picks and join them.
The strikers have been very orderly, and have made no disturbance of any
kind, but as they were principally foreigners who are ignorant of our
laws and customs, it was thought best to have men on hand ready to check
them if they attempted any lawless act. The sheriff of Luzerne County,
in which Hazleton is situated, was therefore notified to be on the
alert, and in his turn sent word to his deputies to be ready for action.
The sheriff of a county is a very important officer. It is his duty to
see that law and order are preserved within the limits of his county,
that the penalties ordered by the judges are carried out, and to
suppress all riots and uprisings in his district.
To assist him in this work he has the right to call on as many citizens
as he needs for the business in hand. These men he binds by an oath to
aid him in the discharge of his duty and to help him to preserve the
peace. They compose what is known as the sheriff's posse, and are a body
of men who accompany him and help him to do his duty.
Sheriff Martin, of Luzerne County, called out about ninety deputies for
his posse, and had them in the vicinity of Hazleton for over a week
before the shooting occurred.
On the day of the tragedy a body of the strikers had determined to march
to Lattimer, a village not very far away from Hazleton. They desired to
persuade the miners there to join their ranks, and started out about two
hundred and fifty strong, marching in a peaceable and orderly manner
along the road. None of them were armed, and none showed the slightest
desire for violence or riot.
They had arrived within a few hundred yards of their destination when
their road was blocked by the sheriff and his posse.
Advancing toward them, the sheriff ordered them to go back to their
homes, telling them that they were creating a disturbance and were
acting in defiance of the law.
Most of the strikers were foreigners, and, failing to understand what
the sheriff said, the foremost men crowded round him, trying to prove to
him that they were only parading, and had a perfect right to march
through the streets if they only remained peaceful and orderly.
Unfortunately the sheriff could not make out what they meant, and
supposed they were defying him.
He therefore proceeded to read them the Riot Act.
This is an act which in the name of the commonwealth orders the persons
assembled to disperse and go to their homes.
If the rioters fail to obey they are liable to imprisonment and
punishment according to the laws of the State, and the sheriff or person
authorized to read the Riot Act is bound to arrest all persons who
linger around after the act has been read to them.
When a riot has assumed such a serious character that armed men have had
to be called out to subdue it, the Riot Act is generally read, and then
the soldiers or sheriff's deputies charge the mob, being careful not to
fire on them or wound them unless necessary in self-defence or in
performance of their duty.
In this instance the sheriff utterly misunderstood the rioters, and as
they crowded around him, trying to make out what it was that he was
reading to them, he lost his self-control, and imagining the men were
defying and threatening him, ordered his posse to fire.
It was a frightful affair. Ninety well-armed men firing into a crowd of
defenceless laborers. Twenty-three strikers were killed, thirty-six
seriously wounded, and about forty more injured.
As you may suppose, our whole country is mourning over this catastrophe.
It would seem difficult to find where the real blame lies. The sheriff
thought he was doing his duty, his posse but obeyed his orders, and the
poor sacrificed miners had no idea what the sheriff was reading to them,
nor any intention of offering violence.
The whole neighborhood became so excited over the affray that the
Governor of Pennsylvania immediately ordered some of the state troops to
Hazleton to prevent further trouble.
The sheriff and his posse are to be arrested and tried for killing the
strikers.
The Mayor of Hazleton declares that the shooting of the miners cannot be
excused; that if the rioters refused to go home after the Riot Act had
been read to them, the sheriff should have ordered his deputies to fire
over the heads of the mob; and then, if they still continued rebellious,
it was time to think about punishing them.
The Riot Act states that persons lingering one hour after the act has
been read shall be seized and arrested, and those who arrest them shall
not be held liable for any injuries the rioters may receive; but this is
only after an hour has elapsed. According to the accounts that have
reached us, the sheriff ordered his men to fire immediately after the
reading of the act.
The great coal strike is, however, at an end.
A fresh agreement has been offered, which both miners and owners have
decided to accept.
By it the men go to work at sixty-five cents per ton until January, when
a new scale of wages is to be used. This scale will be settled by
arbitration between this and January.
The masters and men are to meet in joint conference, and both sides
promise to abide by the decision of the arbitrators.
It is said that Mr. de Armitt will not pay the sixty-five-cent rate, but
will only give fifty-four cents till the new rate goes into effect in
January. The leaders have determined to continue the strike in his mines
if this report proves to be true, but in the other collieries the miners
will go to work.