Strikers Raid Farms
August 16, 1902
Summary
Coal strikers ravage farms in order to feed their families; threats that cavalry will be sent in for “for the purpose of stopping the raids” show the severity of the strikers’ impacts, now totalling $71,700,000.
Transcription
Are foraging in agricultural district of Catawissa Valley.
Farmers ask for protection
If troops are not sent to prevent raids they will appeal to the sheriff-- Soldiers feeding hungry women and children.
Shenandoah, Pa., Aug. 12-- Complaint was made to brigade headquarters yesterday that strikers are foraging in the rich agricultural district of the Catawissa Valley, which spreads its broad and fertile length along the other side of the mountains north of this city. The life of one farmer has been threatened because he attempted to protect his property, and the raids have reached such serious proportions that the farmers are preparing to take some concerted action to stop further depredations. The complaints reached headquarters yesterday afternoon, and it is not unlikely that the cavalry will be sent into the district for the purpose of stopping the raids. If the cavalry is sent there it is probable that a platoon of the troopers will be left in the valley to patrol the farms day and night. The farmers are drawing up a petition asking for protection, which will be sent to the sheriff in case General Gobin decides not to send the troops into the valley.
Lucien Munbeck, a farmer, reported that for some time past raids have been made on his place by parties of men. Early yesterday morning he caught a man tearing out whole stalks of corn. He ordered the man off the place, and as he was leaving he fired two shots at the farmer. The latter was armed, but did not shoot. A widow who owns a farm reported that several men came on her premises and started to dig out potatoes. She ordered them off the patch, but they paid no attention to her, and did not leave until they had taken all they needed. One farmer has several men patrolling his farm day and night. The foragers do not confine themselves to stealing crops, but also take away with them chickens and geese.
The soldiers in camp are daily feeding several hundred women and children. They come there, saying they are hungry, and as there is more than enough food in the camp to supply the wants of the men, the officers permit the soldiers to give something to the needy applicants. The number that came last week was small, but it is increasing every day. Some of the women and all of the children come to the camp in their bare feet. Many of them bring baskets to carry the food home. It is a common sight to see some of the women and children take scraps from the leavings of the soldiers. Colonel Hoffman, of the Eighth Regiment, was asked if all of these persons were foreigners, and be replied that a good many belonged to the English-speaking classes.
The officials of the Mine Workers' Union deny there is any actual want. They maintain that the local unions are well able at this time to take care of all cases of distress. The strike situation remains unchanged, and the region hereabouts is peaceful.
The estimated cost of the coal miners' strike to date is as follows: To operators, $30,500,000; to strikers' wages, $14,600,000; to other workers made idle, $3,000,000; to business men in region, $10,300,000; to business men outside, $6,000,000; maintaining deputies, $775,000; maintaining non-union men, $330,000; damage to mines, $6,000,000; wage loss of lace mill strike, $120,000; cost of troops in field, $75,000; total, $71,700,000.
Farmers ask for protection
If troops are not sent to prevent raids they will appeal to the sheriff-- Soldiers feeding hungry women and children.
Shenandoah, Pa., Aug. 12-- Complaint was made to brigade headquarters yesterday that strikers are foraging in the rich agricultural district of the Catawissa Valley, which spreads its broad and fertile length along the other side of the mountains north of this city. The life of one farmer has been threatened because he attempted to protect his property, and the raids have reached such serious proportions that the farmers are preparing to take some concerted action to stop further depredations. The complaints reached headquarters yesterday afternoon, and it is not unlikely that the cavalry will be sent into the district for the purpose of stopping the raids. If the cavalry is sent there it is probable that a platoon of the troopers will be left in the valley to patrol the farms day and night. The farmers are drawing up a petition asking for protection, which will be sent to the sheriff in case General Gobin decides not to send the troops into the valley.
Lucien Munbeck, a farmer, reported that for some time past raids have been made on his place by parties of men. Early yesterday morning he caught a man tearing out whole stalks of corn. He ordered the man off the place, and as he was leaving he fired two shots at the farmer. The latter was armed, but did not shoot. A widow who owns a farm reported that several men came on her premises and started to dig out potatoes. She ordered them off the patch, but they paid no attention to her, and did not leave until they had taken all they needed. One farmer has several men patrolling his farm day and night. The foragers do not confine themselves to stealing crops, but also take away with them chickens and geese.
The soldiers in camp are daily feeding several hundred women and children. They come there, saying they are hungry, and as there is more than enough food in the camp to supply the wants of the men, the officers permit the soldiers to give something to the needy applicants. The number that came last week was small, but it is increasing every day. Some of the women and all of the children come to the camp in their bare feet. Many of them bring baskets to carry the food home. It is a common sight to see some of the women and children take scraps from the leavings of the soldiers. Colonel Hoffman, of the Eighth Regiment, was asked if all of these persons were foreigners, and be replied that a good many belonged to the English-speaking classes.
The officials of the Mine Workers' Union deny there is any actual want. They maintain that the local unions are well able at this time to take care of all cases of distress. The strike situation remains unchanged, and the region hereabouts is peaceful.
The estimated cost of the coal miners' strike to date is as follows: To operators, $30,500,000; to strikers' wages, $14,600,000; to other workers made idle, $3,000,000; to business men in region, $10,300,000; to business men outside, $6,000,000; maintaining deputies, $775,000; maintaining non-union men, $330,000; damage to mines, $6,000,000; wage loss of lace mill strike, $120,000; cost of troops in field, $75,000; total, $71,700,000.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brooke Royer
Citation
“Strikers Raid Farms,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1076.