Violence in Coal Strike
August 2, 1902
Summary
“A threatening crowd” of over 1,000 “hooting and hollering” strikers quit work and stone many non-union workers.
Transcription
Crowds assembled at collieries and stoned non-union men.
Mitchell to address "locals"
Labor leader denies report that strikers will receive no more relief for two weeks, and says contributions will be received right along.
Wilkesbarre, Pa., July 30-- President Mitchell will start this week to fill some engagement he has to deliver addresses before United Mine Workers' assemblies in different parts of the anthracite region. Ever since Mr. Mitchell made his headquarters in Wilkesbarre he has been besieged by committees from various "locals," who wanted him to name a date on which he could deliver address. It is said he will visit the Schuylkill region first and deliver addresses at Shenandoah and Mahanoy City. Mr. Mitchell says there is no truth in the report that he stated to a committee of merchants who waited on him that there would be no more money to distribute among the strikers until August 26. He claims contributions will be received right along from miners' organizations and other labor unions.
A crowd of 1,500 men and boys prevented the resumption of work at the Wanke washer at Duryea yesterday morning. A number of men came down from Scranton to work at the washery. They were at once surrounded by a threatening crowd. Sheriff Jacobs sent four deputies to the scene, but when they arrived the mob had dispersed. The men who had been hired to work at the washer were badly frightened, and when the train for Scranton came along they jumped aboard without much ado. A volley of stones followed them. The operator of the washery says he will not make another attempt to resume operations.
Will ask for troops.
Shamokin, July 30.-- One thousand men, women and children assembled at the Mineral Company's Cameron colliery last evening and hooted and cursed non-union men as they quit work. A delegation of boys stoned several bosses as they entered town. Chief Burgess Thomas and the police charged the crowd and put them to night. The coal company officials say they will ask for troops if there is a continuance of the attempts to annoy the workmen.
Non-Union men stoned.
Mount Carmel, Pa., July 30-- Two crowds of strikers numbering fully three thousand men, women and children, collected at all the Reading and Union Company operations between here and Shamokin last evening and hurled stones and sticks at the non-union men. Six of the latter were captured by the mob near Richards colliery and were badly pummeled. On promising to remain away from the colliery until the strike ends they were liberated. Several scores of non-union men remained at a couple of the mines at night afraid to face the strikers who are picketed along roads leading into towns.
Mitchell to address "locals"
Labor leader denies report that strikers will receive no more relief for two weeks, and says contributions will be received right along.
Wilkesbarre, Pa., July 30-- President Mitchell will start this week to fill some engagement he has to deliver addresses before United Mine Workers' assemblies in different parts of the anthracite region. Ever since Mr. Mitchell made his headquarters in Wilkesbarre he has been besieged by committees from various "locals," who wanted him to name a date on which he could deliver address. It is said he will visit the Schuylkill region first and deliver addresses at Shenandoah and Mahanoy City. Mr. Mitchell says there is no truth in the report that he stated to a committee of merchants who waited on him that there would be no more money to distribute among the strikers until August 26. He claims contributions will be received right along from miners' organizations and other labor unions.
A crowd of 1,500 men and boys prevented the resumption of work at the Wanke washer at Duryea yesterday morning. A number of men came down from Scranton to work at the washery. They were at once surrounded by a threatening crowd. Sheriff Jacobs sent four deputies to the scene, but when they arrived the mob had dispersed. The men who had been hired to work at the washer were badly frightened, and when the train for Scranton came along they jumped aboard without much ado. A volley of stones followed them. The operator of the washery says he will not make another attempt to resume operations.
Will ask for troops.
Shamokin, July 30.-- One thousand men, women and children assembled at the Mineral Company's Cameron colliery last evening and hooted and cursed non-union men as they quit work. A delegation of boys stoned several bosses as they entered town. Chief Burgess Thomas and the police charged the crowd and put them to night. The coal company officials say they will ask for troops if there is a continuance of the attempts to annoy the workmen.
Non-Union men stoned.
Mount Carmel, Pa., July 30-- Two crowds of strikers numbering fully three thousand men, women and children, collected at all the Reading and Union Company operations between here and Shamokin last evening and hurled stones and sticks at the non-union men. Six of the latter were captured by the mob near Richards colliery and were badly pummeled. On promising to remain away from the colliery until the strike ends they were liberated. Several scores of non-union men remained at a couple of the mines at night afraid to face the strikers who are picketed along roads leading into towns.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brooke Royer
Citation
“Violence in Coal Strike,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1073.