Q. How many were there in your posse that were firing?
A. There was just fifty-one men with myself. As they came down the street they counted thirty-eight. I had the names of the whole posse, and from evidence I know—positive evidence—I know there was just fifty-one men.
Q. They were all present at that time?
A. Our whole posse was over a hundred.
Q. Was the signal given?
A. No, sir; I would not give it without the mayor's order. He was completely bewildered after this blow breaking his jaw. He was struck three or four other times, and just as soon as he could, got out of the crowd. I ran to give the signal, but I wanted my pistols first. I thought we were going to fight, and I wanted to be armed. Before I could get near the church to give the signal, the firing took place, and the whole thing was over. They ordered the men to fall in on Washington avenue, and they all fell right in without any excitement, just like old veterans, and we went straight to the company's store, and by the time we got to the company's store, a great many citizens were there to support us. I had no idea they were whipped. I supposed they would merely go around through the yard and attack us again. We went to the company's store to prepare to meet them.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Who was given command of this posse?
A. There was no officer in command. W. W. Scranton had brought them out. They had gone there and got their guns, and W. W. Scranton had as much command as any one. I had command as soon as I got with them.
Q. Were your men sworn in as special policemen?
A. These also had written authority from the mayor.
Q. You said that the intention of your posse was to protect the property of private citizens. Did you intend to leave the property of corporations at the mercy of the mob?
A. No, sir; that is, we intended to protect common property which would damage the city if it were destroyed. We did not want to be sworn in. We would be sworn in, but we wished to be placed in such a position that we would not be forced to go over to breakers or outlying property in any direction to protect it, but property here in the city, for instance, the company's store we would protect. We did not wish to be mixed in any such way that we would have to take sides as between strikers and the man that wanted to work. It was not our business, we were not serving for pay, we were only serving for our own protection.
Q. I understood that was the case, but the language might be construed otherwise?
A. We could not draw the line between private property and corporation property.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You better explain more fully the object of the organization?
A. The object of the organization—we understood the cry had been raised all through in all directions among—I can't say whether there were miners or laborers, but among the worthless set of men who were in one thing or another, and hardly ever did a stroke of honest work, that they were going to gut Lackawanna avenue, that was the cry, and we organized to prevent any such thing as that taking place. We wished distinctly, and had it understood as distinctly, that the quarrels of men with their employers were nothing to us. We did not wish to side with the companies or men.
Q. The question of wages between the men and the company?
A. That was not for us to decide.
Q. You organized for protection?
A. Merely for protection of the property of the city. We had up to the time of the riot the best wishes of a large portion of the laboring class.
Q. How was it after the riot?
A. Then came a question of order. Three men were killed—whether in killing these three men we were justifiable, and under the excitement, a great many would privately tell us they thought we were justifiable, at the same time to hear them talk in a crowd, you would think they were not.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You were tried, and the court sustained you?
A. Sustained us.
Q. How many were arrested of the posse and tried?
A. We were all tried—no we were not all tried. There were two indictments brought, one was for murder, and one was for manslaughter. Those they supposed had done the shooting were tried for murder and acquitted, and those that were under indictment for manslaughter—the whole thing was nolle prossed. The same evidence that failed to convict the men of murder would have to be used on the trial for manslaughter.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where were you tried?
A. Wilkes-Barre.
Q. Before what judge?
A. Harding. I was not tried; I was indicted for manslaughter only, because at the time the firing took place I had no weapons about me.
Q. All that were tried were acquitted?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Was the case ever submitted to a jury?
A. Yes; the murder case was submitted to a jury.
Q. Under the instruction of the court?
A. Yes. It was so plain a case, we had so many men hurt, and we could prove so many stones thrown and pistol shots fired at us. We had four men altogether, wounded—one man shot in the leg, one man a pistol ball took him right across the fingers—it made no wound to speak of, still the intention was to hit him, and that same ball struck a gun and left its mark in the wood, and on the iron. Another ball that was fired whistled by my head and broke a plate-glass window.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Did this all occur before your men fired?
A. The shooting of this pistol—the man who fired that pistol was killed. Two men were struck, and badly hurt with stones, and the men that threw these stones were killed. All this took place before a single shot was fired from our side.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were there any other stores broken into and robbed?
A. No, sir; not robbed. Our store was broken into, but it was by the mob, in their efforts to get away from the guns.
Q. After you were arrested, tell what took place in regard to your being arraigned before a magistrate.
A. We were not arrested; there were no arrests, virtually no arrests made. We voluntarily gave ourselves up, after this coroner's inquest had taken place, which was a coroner's inquest held by an alderman, an illegal inquest, as decided by Judge Harding. An inquest was held, and myself, as well as a number of others, were found guilty of murder, and warrants issued for the arrest.
Q. Were you charged with murder?
A. Found guilty by the coroner's inquest of murder, so far as a coroner's inquest could do that. Among the number found guilty, were men, who—or accused of it—were men who were not in the posse, and had no connection with it, and it was known to every one, who were blocks away from Lackawanna avenue. One of them was three blocks away from Lackawanna avenue, at the time the firing took place; another one was in his barn, one block away from Lackawanna avenue; and another one, I doubt whether he was in the city; another one was inside the store—of our store. Both the Messrs. Hunt who were found guilty—were brought in by the coroner's jury, charged with murder, had no connection in any way, shape or manner with the posse, and were not present at it, the elder Mr. Hunt, being inside of the store, and the younger one, being over two blocks away. Warrants were issued for the arrest of the elder Mr. Hunt, and some others, and Mr. Hunt was arrested. This was done at night. It was understood that we would be arrested at night, and taken in carriages to Wilkes-Barre, and not allowed a chance to consult counsel, and taken down through Taylorville, where a large number of this crowd had come from, and where two of this crowd that were killed lived, and then probably lynched. As soon as any notice was given of these arrests, word was carried immediately to General Huidekoper's head-quarters, who was then stationed at the company's store, to come along on the track, and scattered where they would do the most good. He immediately ordered a company down, and took the prisoners from the constable, holding himself personally responsible for their delivery to the proper authorities. That was done, because no one had any idea that the coroner's inquest was a legal affair, and that the lives of the men arrested were not worth that, if they were taken off at night, because any one of them could be arrested in the day time. Any one of us could be arrested at any hour of the day, if they had seen fit to do so, and it was merely an action of revenge on the part of the crowd. The next day, all that were in any danger of arrest, voluntarily went to Wilkes-Barre, and entered bail.
Q. How many were arrested by that constable?
A. Two.
Q. And they were taken from the custody of the constable by this company of Huidekoper's?
A. Yes, sir. Undoubtedly other arrests would have been made, but they did not care to go under his guns to do it. We put ourselves under his guns, and spent the night there.
Q. Had they warrants against all the posse?
A. They were not able to find out. We were not allowed any access to what they were doing. It was all secret.
Q. Coroner's jury?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Warrants issued by the coroner?
A. By an alderman, acting as coroner.
Q. And placed in the hands of this constable?
A. To arrest. The constable told me that he had a warrant for my arrest that night, but refused to serve it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you ascertain what force accompanied the constable to make these arrests?
A. No, sir. There was quite a crowd apparently hanging on, but the constable made the arrest alone. The idea was to hurry the men off quietly, without letting us know anything about it, and get them out of the reach of assistance.
Q. Who were the two men that were arrested?
A. T. T. Hunt and C. B. Chittenden.
Q. Were they part of your posse?
A. Hunt had nothing whatever to do with it.
Q. What was Hunt's business?
A. Hardware merchant.
Q. Was Chittenden a member of the posse?
A. He was a member of the posse.
Q. Did he participate in the conflict?
A. I am not certain whether he did or not.
Q. In endeavoring to suppress the riot?
A. I am not certain whether he was in the squad or not. I know he belonged to the general committee—the general posse. If he was not there, he probably would have been if he had had an opportunity.
Q. What class and character of men was that posse composed of?
A. The best men of the town. Merchants and lawyers, business men generally.
J. H. Powell, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I reside in Hyde Park, this city.
Q. What is your business?
A. At present I am not doing anything. My last business was editor of the Industrial Advocate.
Q. In July last what were you?
A. At that time my occupation was a miner.
Q. And in August?
A. At that time my occupation was a miner.
Q. In whose employ were you?
A. D. L. and W. Co.
Q. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. In what capacity were you employed?
A. Miner.
Q. As foreman, or as——
A. No, sir; miner.
Q. How far were you—was it from the city of Scranton where you worked in July?
A. We were not at work at the time. During that time they were on a strike.
Q. About the 20th of July—were you not at work at that time?
A. I presume not. I presume we were on a strike the 20th of July.
Q. Did all the miners——
A. I am not positive whether we commenced the strike——
Q. Did all the miners employed by the company strike?
A. It was a general strike. I presume it was a tidal wave that went through the country. The first commencement of the strike was the railroad men struck, and they blocked the mines to a stand still, and the miners at the meeting joined hands with the whole country.
Q. The miners struck?
A. They called a meeting, and decided to make a demand for higher wages.
Q. Had you stopped work before you called that meeting?
A. There was a meeting—a preliminary meeting—there was some of the mines idle for want of cars.
Q. Take the company that you were working for—the men that you were working with—did they strike, or were you stopped for want of work to do?
A. I could not state positive with regard to the whole mines. Part of the mines stopped for want of cars.
Q. I am asking whether yours stopped for want of cars?
A. At that time I was unable to attend to my work on account of sickness.
Q. Then you had not been at work for several weeks?
A. I was only working every other week. I could not work on account of sickness at the time.
Q. What day did they hold that meeting and agree to join hands with the railroad employés?
A. I am not positive of the date of that?
Q. Was it before or after the strike at Pittsburgh?
A. It was after the strike at Pittsburgh.
Q. Was anything done by the miners here about a strike before the strike at Pittsburgh?
A. No, sir.
Q. Had you held any meetings or contemplated a strike until after you heard of the strike at Pittsburgh?
A. No, sir; did not know of any meetings.
Q. Then that was the beginning of it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. The railroad employés struck first, I understand you to say?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did they send any word or have any interviews with the miners to persuade the miners to strike?
A. Not to my knowledge.
Q. The miners held a meeting and resolved to strike also. Is that the way of it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long after the railroad employés struck?
A. I presume, if my memory serves me, it was about a week after the railroad strike, so far as I remember. I did not take any notice of it.
Q. Did the miners have any organization, any societies among themselves?
A. I presume that they had an organization. They used to have organizations. What they termed the W.B.A.
Q. Had they any in last summer—in 1877?
A. I presume they had.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Do you know the existence?
A. I may as well say that I knew of the existence of the W.B.A.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Workingmen's Benevolent Association?
A. No; it was the old organization.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What was the new organization?
A. The new organization, I presume, the title is the Knights of Labor?
Q. What were the objects of the organization?
A. The only object of the organization is men combined together to elevate labor?
Q. Are you a member of the organization?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was it secret?
A. There were secrets in it.
Q. Was it confined entirely to miners?
A. No, sir.
Q. Other classes of laboring men—did it take any?
A. Took in mechanics, and all that earn their living by the sweat of their brow.
Q. Took in railroad employés?
A. Any class in.
Q. Can you give us the extent of that organization?
A. I could not, sir.
Q. Do you know whether it extends throughout the State, or whether it is confined to the coal region?
A. I do not believe it is confined. I do not know that it is confined to any place.
Q. How many lodges do you know of, or did you, at that time?
A. I could not tell you, sir. I am not posted in the organization.
Q. Was there a lodge here in Scranton?
A. There was.
Q. More than one lodge?
A. There were several lodges. I could not state how many.
Q. Do you know whether there were any lodges in the vicinity of here, around in the townships?
A. I presume there were lodges throughout the county.
Q. All through the county?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Are those lodges composed of different trades—different branches of the trades? They are all organized—that is, for instance, miners into one——
Mr. Lindsey: No; he has just said, they took in all classes of laboring men, miners, and mechanics.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. I understand that. I want to understand whether he means a lodge, composed of those men generally, or whether they are lodges of each trade, and these lodges compose the organization or delegates from them?
A. I presume that there are lodges of different trades.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Under the same title?
A. The same title.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Take the lodge to which you belonged. Were they composed entirely of miners?
A. No, sir.
Q. What other classes of men belonged?
A. Mechanics, carpenters, engineers, miners.
Q. Were there any railroad employés?
A. I do not know of any.
Q. In your lodge?
A. I do not know of any. There may be.
Q. Carpenters?
A. Carpenters.
Q. Blacksmiths?
A. Blacksmiths.
Q. Miners?
A. Miners.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What class of engineers?
A. Stationary engineers; not railroad.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. You only include those employed in collieries and about collieries in your organization?
A. All employed around collieries.
Q. Can you give us the extent of the organization in the city?
A. I could not.
Q. Do you know how many members it has throughout the State?
A. I could not say.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Approximate about?
A. I have no "about" about it.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Have you not heard an estimate of the number in this vicinity or this county?
A. No, sir; I have not see anything official, more than it is stated somewhere, from thirteen thousand to fifteen thousand.
Q. In this vicinity?
A. In this county. That was the estimate. I have nothing official about it.
Q. The object is for the elevation of labor?
A. The object is the elevation of labor by honorable means and legal means.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Is it beneficial?
A. No, sir; only so far as helping a brother when he is in necessity.
Q. That is what I mean?
A. Yes; beneficial.
Q. If a man is sick or out of work or in distress, then he is helped?
A. Out of employment. In distress.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. Is it not more for assistance in case of a strike in distress than in case of sickness?
A. This labor organization, it is on account of distress; for instance, a man out of labor and in distress—a family in need; it is a matter of charity.
Q. You do not understand me, or if you do, you do not take it right. If a man strikes, he is helped quicker than if he is taken sick; was he not?
A. I don't know of any proviso with regard to men that strike. If a man is thrown out of employment, or deprived of employment, and in distress, and wants help to go somewhere where he can get employment, the object is to help him along, in order to sustain his family.
Q. Do they ever assist the miners of a colliery that are on a strike?
A. There is no proviso for strikes. Their funds would not afford them to.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. If a man loses his employment from any cause, he receives assistance?
A. Not any amount. A man, for instance, is deprived of employment, and wants to go somewhere in search of employment—just help him a few dollars to get employment elsewhere.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Is it a part of the objects of the association to organize in strikes case they think it is best in order to get their wages raised? If they are dissatisfied with regard to wages, is it a part of the intent of the society to organize?
A. No, sir.
Q. Or to help them on to arrange the machinery for a strike, so that it will all come off together?
A. There is nothing connected with that organization, only to elevate labor by legal means.
Q. I suppose they would not call striking, quitting work, illegal means?
A. No; my view of the question, a man has just as much right to quit work, and that is legal.
Q. But that is a question, whether this is a part of the objects of the association. Whether in case the men felt that they have been aggrieved by the reduction of wages—whether the association acts as a unit in forwarding a strike, in assisting the men, to all quit work simultaneously?
A. Oh, no; nothing of the kind.
Q. Nothing of the kind in the by-laws and constitution?
A. No; I do not know of anything that I could draw such an inference from.
Q. Is this association in existence now?
A. Yes, it is.
By Mr. Englebert:
Q. Were you working in the mines in 1876?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What wages were you getting then—average—you being a practical man of intelligence, of course, you know about the average price of miners and laborers in 1876?
A. To be able to answer that question intelligently——
Q. As near as you can remember?
A. I ought to have prepared myself, by looking up the price of coal. I could not remember exactly what would be the price of a car in 1876. If I could remember that, I could find out about what it would be—the amount of money.
Q. What was the difference about in wages between 1875 and 1876, causing this dissatisfaction?
A. There was no difference.
Q. The same wages?
A. The price was the same in 1876 and 1877.
Q. Do you mean the pay for mining?
A. I do not remember of any reduction taking place.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was there any reduction in March, 1877, of ten per cent.?
A. I believe there was ten per cent. in March.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Did that take effect in the mines, or only in the machine shops?
A. There was one reduction that didn't take effect in the mines, but in the shops and among the mechanics.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. Not among the miners?
A. There was one reduction the mechanics had that didn't reach the miners.
Q. And are the wages of miners fixed by the price of coal at entirely the same scale?
A. They got so much a car. There is one grand mistake been made in the assessment of the car. It leaves the impression that the men get so much a ton instead of so much a car. When a man gets sixty-four cents a car, it is not sixty-four cents a ton, but sixty-four cents for two tons of clean coal.
Q. That would be thirty-one cents a ton?
A. Yes; for loading and mining and all the expenses in connection with it. The price of a car contained the price of mining coal, loading the coal, and all necessary expenses.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. Did not your mine wagons average more than two tons of clean coal?
A. I believe they average it so that a car carries about two and a half tons. There is half a ton allowed for breakage and culm, so it makes it about two tons of clean coal.
Q. Is that not a big average of loss?
A. It appears to me that it is, but it appears on the other side that it don't satisfy the corporation.
Q. About what I am speaking about is ordinary mining?
A. In my estimation, half a ton would be sufficient.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. How did this price range in 1877, as compared with 1873, at the time of the panic?
A. I could give you an estimate of what a miner would make in 1877 and 1876 as well.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Just state whether the wages were any lower in May, June, or July, of 1877, than they were in the same months of 1876? Make your own estimates to yourself.
A. I do not want to state anything but what I am positive of, and I cannot bring to memory with regard to the dates of this reduction.
Q. Had there been any reductions in 1877?
A. Up to that date I cannot remember whether there was a ten per cent. or not. There may be others that can remember these things.
Q. You cannot state whether there was any reduction in 1877 or not?
A. I am not positive. I am under the impression that there was a reduction; but I could not state positively—in the early part of 1877.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Will you please define the term strike?
A. The only definition I can give you is that it means suspension of work.
Q. You mean if just one man quits work, he is on a strike, or when there is a combination of men all quit at once?
A. Oh, no; a man may suspend work himself, but the term strike means a general suspension of work.
Q. Of all the men—then you call it a strike?
A. Yes; although the proper term is suspension.
Q. You know it is generally termed a strike?
A. So the railroad and everything of that kind call it a strike; but it is not termed a strike unless there is an arrangement or understanding that they all quit. A meeting is called, there is a delegation appointed to inform the officials of the corporations of the demand of the men, and that committee returns back and reports; and if that is accepted—sometimes it is decided by ballot—if they agree to suspend work until their demand is complied with—they go under the term strike.
Q. What is the object of the men, and what means would be resorted to, to prevent other men from working?
A. There is no provision to prevent anybody. I never knew of any proviso to prevent anybody from working.
Q. Then when there is any interference, it is unauthorized by your organization?
A. Oh, yes.
Q. When men go on a strike, and others will undertake to work in their stead, and they are interrupted by violence and threats of violence?
A. No organization could be accountable for that, and I wish to state here that the late strike was not under the auspices of that organization.
Q. That strike at that time was not under their auspices?
A. The strike was not inaugurated by the organization.
Q. Did the organization approve of it?
A. There was a meeting called. There was a mass meeting, and when that meeting—that meeting adjourned to meet at a mass meeting and take a vote of the committee, and in that second mass meeting they decided to suspend work and join hands.
Q. The second mass meeting was at the silk-works?
A. No, sir.
Q. Where was it?
A. Held in the Round woods.
Q. Where was the first one held?
A. "Fellows' Hall."
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did this organization—"Kights of Labor"—did they by any resolution or by-law discountenance any interference with men that wished to work?
A. There is no combination to resort to any violence whatever.
Q. Was there anything condemning anything by the men?
A. There was nothing under the organization. The constitution and by-laws is the one safe basis of any society, and from their constitution and by-laws there is nothing whatever but that it is a law-abiding organization.
Q. Do you know of any resolutions being passed by any of those lodges and by this association, condemning interference with men who wished to work?
A. I do not, neither do I know of any resolution that urged anything of that kind.
Q. Were you present at this meeting out here at the silk-works?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What resolutions were passed there?
A. I do not know but very little about the resolutions. I went there in company—at the time, I held the position of chairman of the county and central committee, and was secretary of the Hyde park executive committee, and we went there in company with others of that executive committee—over to the silk-works meeting, with the understanding that there were delegations there from all over the county.
Q. You are secretary of the executive committee of what?
A. Of the miners.
Q. Of those Knights of Labor?
A. Oh, no, sir; it was a committee appointed in this mass meeting of members and non-members. I went over there to that meeting, with the understanding that there were delegates to be there from all over the county. I do not know that our committee was notified officially of this meeting, only it was spoken all over the street, and I presume there was notice in the local press, that there was to be a meeting held. When I went there, there was a few thousand people there, and after a while the meeting was called to order by some gentleman, a stranger to me, and some gentleman, I forget his name, was elected chairman. He was also a stranger to me, and the meeting was orderly—there was a few disorderly men there, but the average of the meeting was an orderly meeting, with the exception of those few that may have been aggravated by seeing these men they termed blacklegs working in their places in the shops. I was told that the meeting was called by the Lackawanna Coal Company, to receive the report of some committee, but I never heard of any committee reporting. I did not take any part there, more so than going round, and when I would hear some one making remarks there, to try to quash him of all such remarks, until a letter was brought there by somebody and read—a letter purporting to be written, as I understood at the time, by W. W. Scranton, and in that letter, it was read there, that Scranton stated something, that the men should live on mush and milk, or something to that effect. I was so far off I could not hear the letter, and that drove these men around there to a rage.
Q. Did you understand that this letter had been written by Scranton?
A. I never thought that was the letter. That was my impression. The impression it left on me was that it was written by some men to accomplish their object—to inspire the men to violate the laws.
Q. Do you know of any resolutions passed at that meeting? Do you know the purport of those resolutions?
A. I do not know of any resolutions.
Q. When this meeting adjourned, what was the general understanding of what was to be done?
A. The meeting adjourned. There were a few that got up a cry to go and drive all the blacklegs out; and the meeting adjourned, and the men started and went up in the direction of the shops.
Q. What do you mean by the shops?
A. The manufactories, you know.
Q. Different manufactories?
A. Yes; and that is the last I saw of the meeting. I could see these men running. I saw these men running up the hill. I didn't follow them. I took the railroad up.
Q. You did not go up with the crowd to the shops?
A. No; I didn't see anything.
Q. How large a crowd ran in that direction, about?
A. I think, maybe, those that went up there might have been three or four thousand people there in the meeting, more or less. I could not make an estimate. There was a large crowd.
Q. What class of men were those that talked about driving the blacklegs out of the shops and mills? Were they men from these shops, formerly?
A. They were strangers to me. I was not much acquainted with this city.
Q. Did the miners join in with that crowd?
A. It was not a meeting of miners; it was a public meeting. You could not say it was miners or mechanics.
Q. You could not tell whether there was any miners joined that crowd or not?
A. Oh, no.
Q. A mass meeting of all classes of laboring men?
A. A general meeting.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Was there any liquor there, or anything to inflame—any drinking going on?
A. Oh, no; not to my knowledge.
Q. You didn't see anything of that kind?
A. Didn't see any man there under the influence of drink.
Q. Do I understand you to say you are a member of the executive committee of miners?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you go there in your official capacity?
A. No, sir; we just met, and agreed to go there together.
Q. To hear some report?
A. Yes, sir; we went over there as a matter of curiosity, being a member of the executive committee of the Hyde Park miners.
Q. What did you expect this report from?
A. We were informed there would be delegates from different places?
Q. They were to make a report?
A. Yes; to know the general situation of the men all over the different parts of the county.
Q. What were they to report about?
A. With regard to what was the condition of the standing of men in different places. That is what we expected they would report.
Q. The condition in what respect?
A. In regard to what was the condition of the lines that were striking, or any sign of a break, or anything of that kind.
Q. That is, whether they were all standing solid in the strike?
A. Yes; exactly.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did your committee intend to make a report at that meeting, also?
A. No, sir; but we could have made a report in behalf of the Hyde Park men, the men that we represented in committee. If there was any difficulty, we could see that the men at our side were all solid. That is the general phrase of a report, if the men are all solid—all solid.
Q. All stand united?
A. That meant united.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What wages did you get the last month that you worked?
A. I presume that the men——
Q. I just asked you the question, how much did you get the last month that you worked? How much did you make?
A. The last month?
Q. Yes?
A. We generally work there——
Q. I ain't asking you that?
A. I could not tell you how much I made in the last month.
Q. How much could you make a day?
A. In the Diamond vein a man could make about $1 89 a day, figuring down the price of a car, and allowing for expenses, and the price for labor, loading the coal.
J. F. McNally, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Sixth ward, city of Scranton.
Q. What is your business? What was it in July last?
A. Boiler tender for the iron and coal company.
Q. Where is that located—the works of the company?
A. Down this side of Shanty hill a little ways.
Q. Were you at work on the 1st day of August?
A. No, sir.
Q. Go on and state why you were not, and give us the facts connected with the strike here, and all that you are acquainted with?
A. On the 8th day of July, I think it was, there was a reduction—it didn't say how much.
Q. A reduction of wages?
A. A notice put up to that effect.
Q. By that company?
A. Yes, sir. We didn't like it very well, and we appointed a committee to wait on Mr. Platt—he was outside foreman there—and see what the reduction was, and the committee went to Mr. Platt, and he was to go to Mr. Scranton. The answer was, that when we got paid we would find out what the reduction was. Mr. Platt stated that Mr. Scranton told him he didn't know it was any of his business to go there—something to that effect. So we worked along, and on the 20th they struck. I was on the night turn, and I worked Monday night, and Tuesday afternoon they struck.
Q. On the 20th of July?
A. Yes; about twelve o'clock. They stated here it was a puddlers'——
Q. It was either the 17th or the 24th—which was it now? Do you think Tuesday, 24th?
A. I could not say positively which it was. I know it was summer. The latter part of the month, or getting that way.
Q. Go on, then.
A. I was on the night turn, and I just got up about two o'clock, and I came over that afternoon a little early, and had a little work to do, and when I was going out mother said to me, "Where are you going? Going to work?" She said she heard they had struck. There was a meeting that night up on the hill. I left the dinner-pail in the house, and went up to the meeting, to see what was going on there. When I got there, Mr. Scranton came about the same time, and he asked what was the matter, and they told him. He said he could not do anything, and he drove away, and that is all there was about it until the 1st of August there was a meeting called to be held at the silk-works. So we went there to hear what it was. We understood it was a report from the miners and other different trades, in regard to what they were going to do, whether they were going to stay out or resume work, or what. After the meeting was called to order, before any committee had a chance to report, or anything of the kind, this letter was produced, and read there.
Q. That was at the silk-works?
A. Yes.
Q. State how the letter read. What the subject of it was. The subject matter, as near as you can remember.
A. The substance of the letter was, Mr. Scranton said he would have the men working if, I think, it was thirty-five cents a day and living on mush and molasses, or he would bury himself in a culm-dump. That was the statement of the letter.
Q. How was the letter signed?
A. Workingmen.
Q. These workingmen stated in the letter that that was what Mr. Scranton had said?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did the letter state when and where Mr. Scranton had made that declaration?
A. No, sir; not to my recollection.
Q. What did the letter advise the meeting to do?
A. It didn't state. That was about the substance of the letter.
Q. Who read the letter?
A. I could not tell you what his name is. I wouldn't know him if I would see him.
Q. Did you come up, then, with the crowd that came up to the shop?
A. No, sir. After the meeting adjourned, part of us came up the railroad towards the L.S. crossing, and I stood there conversing about fifteen or twenty minutes. The crowd had gone towards Lackawanna avenue. After they had dispersed from there, I thought I would walk to town, and I went up, and when I got up to the top of the hill the crowd and I walked through the crowd, and I met the mayor coming down. He seemed to be quite excited. He was going to McKinney's office. I met him a little this side of there. I passed on to Lackawanna avenue, and stood there.
Q. Your recollection of it is the same as that given by Mr. Brown this morning as to what occurred there on Lackawanna avenue?
A. No, sir.
Q. Go on and state, then, how it was?
A. I walked first towards Lackawanna avenue and then I walked back again to Washington avenue and stood down there. The mayor came up, supported by two men, one on each side of him, and the crowd following up. A party says, What is this coming down the avenue? I stood up and I saw it was vigilantes, as they call them, coming down with rifles. They had just about passed about the time the crowd came there. The crowd filed in right behind them. Mr. Boltry stepped back and told them to keep back. With that they turned around again, and with that the first I heard was "crack," "crack," "crack" of the vigilants. They fired right into them.
Q. Was the crowd throwing stones?
A. I had not seen any.
Q. Did you hear any pistol shot from the crowd?
A. No, sir; not there, nor anywhere in that section.
Q. Whereabouts was the crowd when the vigilantes fired?
A. They were right on Washington avenue, from Lackawanna avenue.
Q. Going which direction?
A. They seemed to be facing down Lackawanna avenue.
Q. In this direction?
A. Yes.
Q. When the firing took place?
A. Yes; they were right abreast there.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How large a crowd was that?
A. I should judge from five to six hundred.
Q. What wages were you getting at the time of the strike?
A. One dollar and twelve cents.
Q. As boiler tender?
A. Yes; I looked after boilers there.
Q. Was that what your wages were about the time of the reduction or before?
A. After the reduction.
Q. How was it before the reduction?
A. Before the reduction it was one dollar and a half.
Q. When was the first reduction?
A. I think it was in March.
Q. How much was it after the reduction in March?
A. One dollar and twenty-five cents.
Q. Then after the last reduction it was one dollar and twelve cents?
A. One dollar and twelve and a half cents.
Q. What were engineers getting in the works where you were at that time?
A. One dollar and a half they were getting before the last reduction. One dollar and thirty-five cents, then, after the last reduction. There is one of the engineers here, who can state that.
Q. What were the men, generally, getting? What wages in the shops?
A. Laboring men were getting eighty cents a day.
Q. What kind of work were they doing?
A. All kinds of work round there—that is, laborers.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You mean repairing men—truckmen?
A. Truckmen, such as that.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Get eighty cents a day after the first reduction?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How much were they getting before the last reduction?
A. I think it was either ninety cents or one dollar, or one dollar and five cents.
Q. How much were they getting before the reduction in March?
A. I could not say what they were getting. Puddlers were getting three dollars a ton.
Q. Three dollars a ton before the reduction?
A. Before the reduction.
Q. How much were they getting before the reduction?
A. Two dollars and seventy cents I think it was, and that had to be divided between two.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. They had a helper?
A. At this time two puddlermen were in together.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How much would they puddle per day, on an average?
A. A ton was about all they were allowed to puddle. Twenty-two hundred, about that—twenty-two hundred I think was allowed for a ton.
Q. What then did they make per day, on an average?
A. Between one dollar and thirty-five cents and one dollar and fifty cents.
Q. Was this reduction of wages that was made in July general?
A. Yes; it was a general reduction—stated so.
Q. Among all the men?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did it apply to you?
A. The notice read that it would be a general reduction.
Q. Did the reduction apply to officers of the company—book-keepers and so forth?
A. That is something I could not state.
Q. Is a ton a day all that two men can puddle?
A. Yes—about that.
Q. Don't they puddle more than that some days?
A. They may perhaps—two hundred over that.
Q. Two hundred over? They are paid for all they make over, are they not?
A. That is something I cannot state. They are only allowed a ton.
Q. Did other companies here reduce their wages also?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. At the same time?
A. Well, somewhere around there. This company was the first that struck here.
Q. In the meetings that you attended among the men who struck, was there anything said about interfering with those parties of men who were willing to work?
A. No, sir; they were committees appointed to go and wait on them, and ask them civilly whether they could work. There was no violence of any kind.
Q. Committees appointed to visit them, and ask them to quit work?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Until they got the wages they want?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did they fix upon any definite price per day that you would demand?
A. Yes; we asked them twenty-five per cent.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Twenty-five per cent. advance?
A. Yes; there was a committee appointed between boiler tenders and engineers of the company, to wait on the former and demand it.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you on that committee?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Well, now do you know——
A. I was on after. We could not get no one over there after we met altogether. There was a committee appointed to wait on Mr. Scranton, and I was on that committee to ask Mr. Scranton.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What reason did Mr. Scranton give?
A. He said he could not do it. He was not getting price enough for his iron, and could not afford to give it. He said these were just as big a price as any other company. There was one witness stated here to-day, in regard to after the coroner's inquest was held, that they were to take them in carriages to Wilkes-Barre after the arrest. There was no such proposition made.
Q. Were you at the coroner's inquest?
A. Yes, I was there—a witness there. They were to make these arrests and put them in the lockup here, and take them to Wilkes-Barre. They were not to take them by night.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How do you know?
A. Because I was there all the time.
Q. Have any conversation with the officers?
A. No, sir; it was somewhere about eight o'clock in the evening, or seven o'clock, when the verdict was given, and all the evidence was taken. Then the arrest was to be made immediately after that. He stated then, that there was an indictment in Wilkes-Barre, one for murder and one for manslaughter. There was not. There was only one indictment fetched against them. It was for manslaughter.
Q. Against whom?
A. Against the vigilants.
Q. Do you know how much the miners made per day during May, June, and July, 1877?
A. The miners stated to me that they could make on an average about one dollar and fifty cents a day.
Q. During May, June, and July?
A. Yes, sir; they were not working on full time. Some days they would make half of that. They were paid by the car, and they would not get the cars.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What was your object in coming up Lackawanna avenue at that time? You say you came up and stood on the corner?
A. I most generally come up every day two or three times.
Q. You had no particular mission to go up there?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Expect to see any fun?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Did you expect there was anything going on?
A. No, sir; never dreamed of anything.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you know there was a crowd of men driving the men out of the works.
A. No, sir; had not seen any.
Q. Did not know anything about that at all?
A. Did not see that at all. The men came out peaceably. I did not see any men around.
Q. Did you see the crowd going up to the works?
A. The place was on the road coming up.
Q. You were at the meeting at the silk-works, and came up?
A. No, sir; I took the railroad.
Q. Did the railroad lead you by the shops?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you about the shops when the men were driving the workmen out—when the crowd was?
A. Yes. I just came there about the time the workmen were coming out. I did not see them driven out.
Q. Did you go inside the shops?
A. No, sir.
Q. You were along there just as the workmen were coming out?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was the crowd chasing any of them?
A. Not that I saw.
Q. The workmen came out peaceably and quiet? There seemed to be no trouble?
A. There did not seem to be any trouble.
Q. At what shops?
A. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western.
Q. At the lower shops?
A. At the first shops as you go down the hill.
Q. Did you see any men coming out of the lower works immediately in the vicinity of where the stables are?
A. No, sir; I did not. I met them after the crowd had passed.
Q. Passed them?
A. Yes; and I asked them what the difficulty was. They told me the men came there and ordered them out, so they went out. They stood all around the streets there.
Q. Have you any knowledge of some men being clubbed and beaten and injured?
A. No, sir. Did not see any clubbed, injured, or beaten in any way, shape, or manner.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Do you not know that such things did take place—that some were beaten and driven out violently?
A. It was talked so. I never heard a man say he was hit.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did you see the mayor hit?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see the mayor bleeding as if he had been struck?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you see that crowd that came out of the shops with clubs in their hands?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Did you see any men——
A. When the mayor got there I passed right on Lackawanna avenue.
Q. Did you see anybody in this crowd that came up Washington avenue with clubs?
A. I saw some boys had sticks—or laths, rather.
Q. What do you mean by boys?
A. Boys from twelve to fourteen.
Q. You did not see any attack made on the mayor at all?
A. No, sir; I did not. Not to my knowledge.
Q. Did you see Father Dunn?
A. I think I did see the mayor struck. I would not be positive though. I think I saw the mayor struck. I would not be positive.
Q. Who struck him? A boy?
A. No, sir. I think it was a man.
Q. What did he strike him with?
A. I could not see what he struck him with. I was quite a distance away. I was up on Washington avenue.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. At what point was it you saw the mayor struck?
A. Right below the culvert.
Q. The causeway under the railroad?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What did the crowd say when they came up Washington avenue? Did you hear any expressions from the crowd what they were going to do?
A. When I passed by I heard them ask who it was that was going towards McKinney's office. They said it was the mayor. Those were the only words I heard spoken.
Q. You say you came up Washington avenue, and sat down?
A. I sat down on the corner of Hunt's store, on Washington avenue.
Q. When the crowd came up—after the vigilants came up the street—did the crowd say what they were going to do?
A. No, sir; they walked right along up the streets.
Q. What did those boys say?
A. The boys were ahead of the men. I did not pay much attention to what was going on. I saw the crowd pass up.
Q. Was there much noise?
A. No, sir.
Q. Walking quietly, were they?
A. Yes; they were walking at a fair gait.
Q. Now, was there not some kind of a row when the mayor was struck; were they walking quietly then?
A. They were standing—the majority of the crowd were standing down around the shops at that time.
Q. Where did this man come from that struck the mayor—that you think struck the mayor?
A. I could not say where he came from.
Q. Did he not come out of the crowd?
A. That is something I could not say, either.
Q. You must, certainly, if you got an impression on your mind that you saw him struck—you must certainly know where the man came from—you say it was a man?
A. I think the first I saw of the man, was right in front of the mayor. Where he came from, I could not say anything of the kind.
Q. Was the crowd about the mayor trying to protect him?
A. Yes; some of them were.
Q. You did not see anything of this crowd that came out with clubs—out of the shops?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. You say you heard somebody asking who it was?
A. Yes, sir; that passed through the crowd.
Q. Where did the reply, "the mayor," come from?
A. From the crowd. About the center of the crowd.
Q. Did you not hear some expression from these men that came out of the shops?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Such as, "go for him," or "kill him," or something of that kind. Did you hear any expression of that kind in the crowd?
A. No, sir; I did not stand there at all. I passed right through.
Q. After the crowd got to Lackawanna avenue, where did you go?
A. I stood right there.
Q. On the corner?
A. Yes; about a couple of yards back. I stood about four or five feet away from where one of the men was struck.
Q. Where were the vigilant placed?
A. The last one stood about the corner of Mr. Hunt's store.
Q. Were they drawn up in line across the street?
A. No, sir; they were in twos, going down the street.
Q. Not this way?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did they halt or march off down the street?
A. They halted right there.
Q. And faced about and faced the crowd?
A. They turned towards—facing the crowd; yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. When the firing took place, were they facing?
A. Facing towards the crowd.
Q. Facing down this way?
A. No, sir; facing that way.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were they drawn across the street in a line, or how were they placed?
A. As near as I can recollect it, they turned, and faced around. Suppose they were going down this way, [illustrating,] and they faced that way. [Illustrating.]
Q. Were they faced in a straight line across this avenue?
A. Not that I saw.