Q. Were they up and down the street—I mean, for instance, facing that side—lengthwise?
A. Yes; that is about the position they stood.
Q. Lengthwise, down this street?
A. Yes; and then they turned right around, as near as I can recollect it. When I saw them facing, each man stood right behind the other, and they turned right around and faced.
Q. In what direction?
A. Towards Washington avenue, where the crowd was coming up.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Faced towards you?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. They fired pretty close to you?
A. Yes, sir. I did not know what was going on, for about a minute, until I heard one buzz pass my ear, and I thought it was time for me to get out. I ran back into Mr. Hunt's building after the fire was over, and they began to form a line across Washington—right on Washington avenue—began to form in line; then I came out.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. The position you describe is, that they formed across Washington avenue, facing towards the shop?
A. After the firing was done, they formed to go towards the company's store.
Q. When the firing was done, where were they formed?
A. Right about the center of the street, on the street car track, coming down this way.
Q. Did not reach Washington avenue?
A. Yes; it was past it.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You say there was a man shot within four or five feet of you. What was he doing?
A. I could not say what he was doing. I saw him fall.
Q. You did not see what he was doing, before the shot was fired?
A. No, sir; I turned round just as he was falling, and one buzzed alongside of me, and I got.
Q. Was there any demonstration made by the crowd at all, before this firing?
A. No, sir; not that I heard.
Q. Did not see any stones thrown?
A. No, sir; the majority of the crowd was up past me, when the shots began to fire. There was one man came up, and he was talking with me, and he says, "What is this coming down the street?" and I looked around, and saw what was called the vigilants.
Q. Were you in position to see the stones when they were thrown?
A. Yes; I think I would, if there were any thrown. I stood right on a level with Lackawanna avenue.
Q. Had the crowd got across Lackawanna avenue?
A. There were some; I could not say exactly whether they crossed to the other side of the street or not.
Q. How many men were killed there?
A. Three.
Q. Whereabouts were they standing when they were killed?
A. One of them stood right at Hunt's corner, where I was standing, and as to where the others were, I could not say where they were, but after the firing was over one of them lay right in front of Monie & Pugh's bakery, and the other one lay right across from Hunt's.
Q. On this side of the street?
A. No, sir; on the other side. One of them lay on the street and one lay on the sidewalk on Washington avenue.
Q. Were they both on the right hand side of the street going up from here to Lackawanna avenue?
A. One of them was, and the other one was just outside of the side-walk.
Q. On the left hand side as you go up?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. If the firing was done in the other direction how could this man be shot upon that? You say they were facing down Washington avenue or in that direction—facing to the right up Lackawanna avenue?
A. Yes, sir; when the shots began to fire.
Q. You do not know whether this other man on the left or rear was shot at the same time or not?
A. He was shot with that volley.
Q. Did you hear any command given to fire?
A. Yes; as near as I can recollect, there was some one gave a command to fire, but who it was, I could not say.
Q. Give us the exact words if you can?
A. They said, "fire."
Q. They were all facing in the one direction when that command was given?
A. The men that were back, I could not say which way they were facing. The front were facing towards Washington avenue.
Q. And in one line?
A. Yes; all but Mr. Bolser. He was behind the crowd. I do not know whether he got as far as the crowd when the shots were fired. He stood somewhere about two or three yards back of the crowd.
Q. Was the volley fired by the whole command?
A. There were three or four shots fired, then there was a couple of seconds between, and then there was, "crack, crack, crack," right along.
Q. Was there any firing after that?
A. No, sir; not that I know of.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You said, awhile ago, that you were a member of that committee that waited upon Mr. Scranton?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you chairman of the committee?
A. No, sir; I was secretary of that committee.
Q. How did Mr. Scranton treat you. Gentlemanly?
A. Yes; he did.
Q. Treated you gentlemanly and kindly?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Just merely stated that he could not advance that twenty-five per cent.
A. Said he could not afford to advance a cent the way they were getting paid for what they sold.
F. L. Hitchcock, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State your residence and business?
A. Residence Scranton; practicing law.
Q. Please give us a statement of the difficulty as it occurred in the city—as it came under your observation—in July last and the 1st day of August?
A. You want the transaction of the 1st of August?
Q. We would like to have the origin of it—as much as you can give us—the origin and causes that produced it?
A. You have had that all in detail in regard to the causes. I have nothing in addition to that. The only thing I can give you additional would be what I know of the organization of this posse and its work. While this strike was in progress and trouble became apprehended, the mayor called together an advisory committee, of which I was a member. This committee were devising ways and means for protection, and it was deemed best to organize this posse. I suggested, among other things—and we immediately proceeded to organize—this force comprising a good many of the old soldiers of the town, and got together a force of some one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty men, I think. We gathered together what arms we could find, and we commenced to drill. In the meantime we were sworn in as special policemen by the mayor, and we held ourselves in readiness constantly to protect the city and preserve the peace. Our head-quarters were established at the iron company's store, and for several evenings prior to the 1st of August we had been there—most of us—during the evening until twelve o'clock, and a large force all night, apprehending trouble. On the evening before the 1st of August we had resolved not to stay up there any longer, considering it unnecessary. I was sitting in my office, about ten o'clock, when the superintendent came down and told me he apprehended further trouble that night, and he wished us to get our posse together and go there that night. I immediately went up to Doud's store, where Captain Ripple said he would be, to communicate with him.
Q. Where is Doud's store?
A. Just above the corner of Washington avenue.
Q. State where the iron-works store is.
A. Still further up—at the corner—clear up. The iron company's store is at the corner of Jefferson avenue and Lackawanna. On my way up there, crossing Washington avenue, I noticed a number of persons looking down the avenue, and I stopped to see what they were looking at, and then for the first time saw this crowd approaching. I knew nothing of the meeting at the silk-works, and I was very apprehensive at the appearance of things. I went to the mayor's office and asked him if he could explain the meaning of that vast crowd coming towards the city. He said he did not know. He thought a moment, and said it was the meeting at the silk-works breaking up, and I said it does not look like breaking up; it is coming to town. "Very well," he says, "you get the posse together at the head-quarters, and await my orders." I immediately gathered together as many of the men as I could, and there we remained until we saw them driving the men out of the shops, clubbing and stoning people. They drove the men out of the furnaces, and they came out on to the track, frightened like a flock of sheep, fleeing for their lives. Mr. Scranton came up and said "What will we do?" I suggested we go down and protect them; we had a right to protect people in their work. "Very well," he said, "I would do that;" and he immediately communicated to Superintendent McKinney, and he said, the men had gone home, and were afraid to work; there was no use. I said our duty was to wait until we were called upon by the mayor. Very soon afterwards we received a summons that there was trouble below. We immediately formed in line and marched down the avenue two and two. We had, I suppose—we counted off before we started—thirty-eight men; but our force received some additions, so we must have had in the neighborhood of fifty.
Q. When you got to Washington avenue?
A. When we got to Lackawanna avenue, coming down. I was unable to find any one of the officers of the posse, when I notified the men, and acting First Sergeant Bartholomew was in command. He came to me and said I must act as second lieutenant. I was acting then as second lieutenant near the rear of the column. As we approached Washington avenue, we noticed there was a large crowd there, whooping and yelling. There was some stones thrown as we approached, and quite a number of those missiles came in behind us very thick. The crowd parted and let us through. We came down on the street car track. As we passed the avenue—the rear of the line passed the avenue—these missiles became thicker, and some pistol shots were fired, and a number of our guns, I noticed, were leveled. I turned around, and two or three of the men had their guns down to shoot. I yelled to them not to shoot, and they raised their guns again. This attack became much more furious, and we appeared to be in danger of being swallowed up, destroyed, and the whole line fired. I supposed three or four shots fired first, and then the whole line fired. A number of the guns—two of the guns, I think—were seized by the rioters and attempted to be wrested from the men before any firing took place—tried to be taken from the men. Several of the men were hit—several pistol shots were fired. This was all done before our men fired a gun. Then, I suppose, there were about fifty or sixty shots fired. Immediately the whole field was clear, and everything was stopped. We marched back to head-quarters, and after we marched back there, our force was gathered in until we had about two hundred men on duty—two hundred men altogether. We formed a line across the avenue, picketed the streets at the head-quarters, and remained in that position all day and all night. Three men were killed by the volleys. Two of the men fell near that corner on the right side, and one on the left.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. In the first place, where did the stones appear to come from and the pistol shots, before your men fired?
A. Came from the crowd. Came from both sides.
Q. From Washington street?
A. Yes, sir; and some from the other side also.
Q. Both sides of Lackawanna?
A. They were at the junction of Washington avenue and Lackawanna. These men came up Washington avenue, and they divided and let us through, so that there was a large force back of us on Washington avenue. As we came down we went right through them, and they attacked us on both sides.
Q. What position were the men in when the firing took place?
A. They were faced this way, in column of twos—facing this way, and they simply faced about and fired both ways in the crowd.
Q. Faced outwards, both ranks?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What position did you take next?
A. After the fire?
Q. Yes?
A. After the firing—after a few moments—we marched back to head-quarters, and formed a line right across Lackawanna avenue, at the company's store.
Q. Had you, at any time, formed across Lackawanna avenue during the time you were at Washington avenue?
A. No; we just remained along the line of the street car track.
Q. Parallel with Lackawanna?
A. Yes, sir. We were on our way down to the mayor's office, and the attack stopped us, and compelled us to fire.
Q. About how many pistol shots did you hear before your men fired?
A. There was a great deal of noise and disturbance, and I could not tell how—exactly how many. There was one or two reports heard. How many I could not tell. There was a great deal of stones thrown, and a very excited time.
Q. Was the mob very demonstrative?
A. Yes; fearfully so—most terrible sight I ever saw. They seemed to be perfectly infuriated. I never saw men more like devils in my life.
Q. Hear any expressions from any of them?
A. Oh, yes; all kinds of expressions. "Kill the sons of bitches," "Take their guns," and all that kind of thing.
Q. Did you see the mayor in the vicinity of the firing?
A. No, sir; I did not see the mayor until after the firing was over. Just as the firing ceased the mayor came to us on the pavement.
Q. The man that was killed on the south side of Lackawanna avenue, was he near the corner?
A. I think there was one right near the corner.
Q. Did you see him shot?
A. I recollect seeing the two men fall—yes, I saw them as they fell, drop on to the ground.
Q. Was he making any demonstration towards the posse?
A. I do not know as to any individual, nor I could not pick out any individual. A large man there swung a club and was very demonstrative. Whether he was shot or not, I do not know. The man I did not know at all personally.
Q. On what day was this posse organized?
A. That I am not able to give you—the exact date from memory. We have got a record.
Q. Was it before or after the Pittsburgh riots?
A. I am unable to say. I judge it was—perhaps it was a little after that—what was the date of that?
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. It commenced the 19th, but the destruction of property was on the 22d?
A. This was after that, I think. I think it was one of the reasons why we were supposed to take care of ourselves if we could. I think that was one of the reasons that actuated the advisory board. The idea was that we were isolated from all, and that we either had to take care of ourselves or take the chances of being stamped out.
Q. And this vigilance committee was organized for the purpose of protecting property?
A. Nothing else, sir. Preserving peace and protecting property, and for no special property. Protecting the public peace. I might say the reason why we had our head-quarters at the company's store, was simply because we were unable to get any other place. We were unable to get the Second National Bank and other halls—the board of directors refused us admission. Said that would bring the fury of the mob down upon them. Mr. Scranton came forward and said we could occupy their store. We offered to pay for these other places. We were some three days trying to get a place.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Could you see the men being driven out of the shops or any of the works from this store?
A. Yes. We could see them. I saw them before I got to the store. I saw them driving them out of the railroad shop and the furnaces before I went into the store.
Q. The mob following the men?
A. I saw men following them. Stones thrown at them. Following them with clubs, and the men fleeing for their lives. I saw them at all these places.
Q. The mob following these men. What was it composed of—boys?
A. I suppose boys sixteen to eighteen years old. Some of them were men. I noticed quite a number of those were young fellows—eighteen, twenty, to twenty-five years old.
Q. Was information made against you, as one of the posse, for murder?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. For manslaughter?
A. I think the indictment was murder.
Q. Were you arrested?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. By whom?
A. We went down and gave ourselves up. I was not one of those arrested by the constable.
Q. Not formally?
A. I went down before the court, and entered bail before the court—the whole of our posse—some fifty altogether.
Q. How many of your posse were tried?
A. The whole number, I think. Of those, there were some three or four that were proven not to have been present; that were arraigned as part of our posse.
Q. At the preliminary hearing were dismissed?
A. Yes, sir. Dismissed by the court.
Q. Had you a preliminary hearing before the court?
A. We gave bail, and on the trial a number of those persons were proven not to have been present. They were all tried. The judge directed a verdict of acquittal before it went to the jury.
Q. Then you had no preliminary hearing at all?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How many were indicted for murder?
A. Some fifty.
Q. Some for murder, and some for manslaughter?
A. I think they were all on the same indictment of murder—all in one indictment, sir.
Q. And all tried?
A. Yes; all tried. There were three cases, but we were all on them. There were three different indictments. One case was made a test case for them all, and the other two the verdict was taken without any evidence at all, following the first one.
Q. One case was made a test case?
A. There were indictments in each of the three cases of Mr. Langon, Lane, and Dunledin. I think the case that was tried was for the murder of Langon. That was the one that was actually contested.
Q. The case that was contested—was that submitted to a jury?
A. Oh, yes; with the exception of those parties who were proved not present.
Carlos W. McKinney, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you reside?
A. The corner of Adams avenue and Spruce street, Ninth ward.
Q. What is your business?
A. Superintendent blast furnace, Lackawanna Iron Company.
Q. On the 1st day of August, state where you were?
A. The morning of the first day of August, I went to the furnaces as usual. The furnaces had been idle for sometime before; that they had banked them up, and I got the men to go out and commence operations again. After working two or three days, on the 1st day of August there was a party assembled at the silk-works, while my men were at work at the furnaces. I was notified that there was a party down there, and there would probably be trouble. I went up about nine o'clock in the morning, at the top of the iron company's store, took a field glass and saw a large crowd at the silk-works. I saw the party start up Washington avenue from the silk-works, and I then went down near the steel-works, on an embankment, so that I could have a good view. I didn't know but that they were just going to make a parade through the streets, but when they arrived up as far as the iron company's machine shops—boiler shops—a large party of them left the main line, and passed off into the machine shops and drove the machine shop hands out. I saw them stoning them, and throwing clubs at them, from where I stood. After that a large number of them came up towards the blast furnaces. A small track led in down to the machine shops. I then went down to the blast furnaces, and made arrangements to cast. I told the men it looked like trouble, and I thought we better get out what iron there was in the furnace, and in case the men came upon us we would throw the blast out. I looked around, and saw the crowd coming up, right at the foot of the furnace, probably a thousand of them; we were just then about done casting. I saw the men could not stop long enough to stop the furnace, and told them to run, and I threw the blast off myself. I passed then, off to the engine-house, told the engineer to stop the engine and take the blast off, which he did. By this time the crowd had followed me, and I went up to the iron company's store, and met the general manager there, Mr. Scranton, and told him what had occurred at the furnace, and asked him what should be done. He said, we would wait and see. At that time nearly all the superintendents and foremen had come to the office, and reported that they had been stopped, and their men had been driven off. Then we had collected citizens and people working for the iron company, some forty-four men, that were up in the store. Mr. Scranton, after waiting awhile, said we had better fall in and go down and offer our services to the mayor, as we had already been appointed special policemen for the protection of iron property, and the property in general. And he headed the line—got them in column of two, and made the remark that we might as well die as any other time, and told them to follow. We marched out of the company's store, came down Lackawanna avenue to the corner of Washington here, and we met the crowd which had left the blast furnace, and passed to the shops of the D., L. and W. Quite a number were already on Lackawanna avenue, probably half a block up. We passed them, and they said nothing particular until we got past Washington avenue. I was on the rear end of the line with Bartry, and Mr. Scranton was at the head. After passing Washington avenue, the main body of the mob that came from below, came around rushing into Lackawanna avenue, and there was one man, I don't know who he was—they said his name was Langon—who came up to the line on the side where I was, and he had a stick about that long, [indicating,] and as I came by he shook his fist. I made no reply or anything. Then he turned to the crowd and says, "Fall in, boys, fall in, boys." They were rushing up. Then somebody hollered out, Take the guns away from them, they have blank cartridges. They were probably twenty-five feet from us, and Bartry and myself motioned them to stay back. At that time somebody fired a gun down the line, and when the first gun was fired a general fire commenced. After the crowd dispersed, we formed up in column of twos again, faced the other way, and marched back to the store.
Q. How many persons were killed?
A. There were three killed.
Q. How many wounded?
A. I don't know, sir; we have never been able to find out.
Q. Were any of the posse wounded?
A. Yes; I was wounded. A pistol ball in my knee, shot by a man who was on the corner, next to Jack Slagle.
Q. On the left hand side going up Lackawanna?
A. At the corner of Lackawanna and Washington. The first time these men shot, he hit my gun, and knocked a piece of the wood off. I have the gun yet. The next time he took me about four or five feet from the corner. I felt the ball strike by my knee. I felt down, and saw I was shot; felt the blood running down my leg, and right after that there was firing. Just at that time there was a man, probably about a head taller than the other man, who shot two men at the rear end of the column. I heard those balls come by, and I saw both shots.
Q. Were those shots fired before there was any firing?
A. Yes; they were firing before any shots were fired.
Q. Were you struck before any firing?
A. No, sir; I was struck after the general engagement commenced.
Q. Any stones thrown at the posse by the crowd?
A. Yes; there were stones thrown. I dodged one stone that struck a man by the name of John Stanton in the back.
Q. Was that before any firing?
A. That was before any firing.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. I understood you to say that the first pistol shot fired at you was before your posse fired?
A. I was not shot until after.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I understood you there was a shot that hit your gun?
A. My gun and myself was shot after the firing.
Q. You say that the two shots fired by the tall man was before any firing done by the posse?
A. Before any firing in the line.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. You don't know who that was that fired, do you?
A. No, sir.
Q. Ever know what became of him?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the men that were indicted for murder?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you arrested?
A. I was arrested.
Q. By the constable?
A. No, sir. I went to Wilkes-Barre, and gave myself up with the posse.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you receive any information that this crowd were about to drive your men out of these furnaces?
A. My men told me at the blast furnace that some men had told them they had better get out. My foreman, as well as the men who were at work there, told me. That is the reason I went up on to the store so as to get a good view of the crowd, and be in readiness.
Q. Were you up in the store when you saw the crowd coming up?
A. I was on top of the store.
Q. Could you see any demonstrations they made in the furnace and work-shops below?
A. After we commenced moving, I left that position, and passed down to the steel-mill, which is on a high embankment, I did not see what the crowd were going to do for certain. I supposed they were going to just have a parade. When I saw them make this demonstration at the lower shops, then I immediately went to the furnaces, and got out whatever iron there was in the furnaces, because I supposed that would be the next point of attack.
Q. You were close enough to those shops below the steel-works to see distinctly that the men were being driven out?
A. Yes. Saw them throwing stones at them. Saw the men who fired the boiler-house, and they threw stones at them at the same time. Saw two or three men running up the embankment on the opposite side they were stoning them.
Q. Did you see any of them hurt?
A. I could not tell whether the stones hit them or not.
Q. Do you know anything else that would be of interest to our committee, any information that you have not already stated?
A. These are just about the facts, so far as the riot is concerned.
At this point the committee adjourned to meet at four o'clock, this afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Scranton, March 30, 1878.
The committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at four, P.M. All members present except Mr. Dewees.
John Mucklow, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Down at Greenwood.
Q. How far from here?
A. They call it three miles.
Q. What is your business?
A. Working in the mines.
Q. Were you at home on the 1st day of August last.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Had the miners been at work up to that time?
A. I believe not, sir.
Q. What time did they quit work?
A. I could not tell exactly. They had not worked for a week or so—nearly a couple of weeks, for all I know.
Q. Were they on a strike?
A. Our men did not strike at all. Our men were all working, and stopped for want of cars.
Q. Stopped because there were no cars to carry the coal away?
A. Yes. Our men did not strike at all. Did not hear a word about striking among our men.
Q. Do you know where Isaac B. Felts lives?
A. I guess he lives over in Taylorville.
Q. Do you know where his store is?
A. Yes, sir; his store is right opposite my house.
Q. Opposite your house?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you know anything about its being broken into on the morning of the 1st of August—some time after midnight, or before daylight?
A. Broken open between twelve and one o'clock that night—that morning.
Q. Did you hear the disturbance?
A. Yes, sir; saw it, too.
Q. Were you up?
A. I was up laying on my porch.
Q. How many men were there that broke into the store?
A. I could not tell. There might have been some twenty; may be thirty, more or less. I could not say. It was moonlight.
Q. How did they get in. How did they break in. Give us a description?
A. I heard the first noise in the store. There was a crowd outside, and the first noise I heard in the store, and then they opened the front door to the store-room, and they went in there. There were some in the store before that, because they opened the door.
Q. Did they break in the door or unlock it?
A. The door was broke in—shoved in.
Q. Did you hear them when they first came there?
A. Yes; I was lying on the porch.
Q. What class of men were they?
A. I could not tell anything about that.
Q. Where did they come from?
A. I could not tell. They came up the road. That is, going down towards Pittston. They came up that way.
Q. Towards Scranton?
A. Came from towards Scranton. Towards Taylorville, the opposite side.
Q. What did they say?
A. Did not hear anything said, sir.
Q. Were they noisy?
A. No noise at all.
Q. Done quietly, was it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What damage did they do?
A. I could not state. I know they took goods away. I saw them carrying goods away. Could not tell how much or how little.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What kind of goods?
A. I saw them carry boxes away, blue boxes, and other things.
Q. Was it store goods, groceries, or was it iron?
A. Carried every sort away. I guess we found everything of every kind lying along through the woods and places afterwards.
Q. In what direction?
A. Right down towards the Lackawanna.
Q. In this direction, [indicating?]
A. No; more towards north.
Q. Would it be on the road toward the silk-works?
A. No, sir; it was down kind of katty-cornered from that; north-west.
Q. Did you go over to the store to see who it was?
A. No, sir; I did not. I knew better than that. Did not want to get my head broke.
Q. Did you consider it dangerous to have gone there?
A. I would consider it, and I had a pair of revolvers with me, too.
Q. Pair of revolvers?
A. I had a pair.
Q. And you would not want to risk it?
A. No; I would not want to risk it at all.
Q. Did you know any of the men?
A. No, sir; I did not know a man—had no knowledge of any man that was there.
Q. No knowledge?
A. No knowledge.
Q. Do you know whether those men came from the silk-works?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Was there a meeting at the silk-works that same morning?
A. I heard there was afterwards, but I did not hear nothing of that until it was over. The first I heard of that was Langon and Dunledin was shot at Scranton. We heard out there, there was four men shot. That was all I know about it. The news was carried up there in the afternoon.
Q. Did you know those two men, Langon and Dunledin?
A. I knew Dunledin when he was a boy, and I knew Langon because he worked in our works.
Q. Last summer?
A. Yes. He worked there when he was killed.
Q. What kind of a man was this Langon?
A. I never saw anything wrong about him. He was assessor of our township.
Q. Assessor of the township?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Had he been instrumental in instigating the strike?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. How was the other man—what kind of a character or reputation had he?
A. I do not know anything about him from the time he was a young boy.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. How old a man was he?
A. Langon? I could not state.
Q. The other one.
A. He might have been, may be twenty—from twenty to twenty-five.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did Langon say anything to you about going to the silk-works?
A. Not a word.
Q. Did you know anything about the meeting before.
A. Not a word. Did not know until about three o'clock, in the afternoon.
Q. Had there been any talk among the men where you work about striking?
A. Not that I ever heard. Our men were all at work.
Q. What company were you working for?
A. Messrs. Correy & Co.
Q. Had your wages been reduced any during the spring?
A. Not from the fifteen cent drop, or whatever time the drop was.
Q. When was that?
A. I could not tell exactly what month it was in.
Q. What year?
A. I guess it must have been 1856 or 1857.
Q. 1876, you mean?
A. 1876 or 1877.
Q. How much were you making per day at the time you had to quit work?
A. We had to work pretty hard long hours if we could make one dollar and ninety cents a day as a miner.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. One dollar and ninety cents?
A. That was all we made that month.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you paid by the ton?
A. We were paid by the car.
Q. How much were you paid by the car?
A. Sixty-six cents. I think our vein is small—three foot thick and about three or four inches——
Q. How many cars can you put out to-day?
A. Six are our day's work. We had too much work. We could not do it.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. For how many men?
A. Two.
Q. You don't know of any reduction in the price for mining than that of last year?
A. Not from the fifteen cent drop.
Q. What was the grievance of the miners then?
A. Didn't seem to be any grievance at our place at all. I didn't hear them say anything, only they couldn't get cars enough to load the coal.
Q. Was there any demand for coal?
A. The cars didn't come for taking away.
Q. It was not so much then the price that was paid per ton as it was as to the number of cars furnished?
A. They had the same price, but they could not get as much as they could do.
Q. It was the want of work?
A. It was the want of work.
Q. Not the amount paid?
A. The amount of work, that was what it was for.
Q. What was the cause of this want of cars?
A. I could not tell that. It seems like this: we did not get the cars because the engineers and firemen stopped for wages. That was what I understood it was for.
Q. What?
A. The firemen and the engineers struck. That was the reason we could not get cars.
Q. For how long did this last, that you didn't have cars enough?
A. I could not say how long it was we could not get cars enough; and we don't get enough yet.
Q. Was there any plan before that time that the engineers should refuse to work and run the cars?
A. I did not hear anything before that.
Q. Was these grievances complained of?
A. No, sir; but there was not enough cars then.
Q. Have there been cars enough since?
A. In our place I only make six days a month now.
Q. What is the cause of the want of cars now?
A. Can't tell anything about it.
Q. Is it the want of demand for coal?
A. They say so. I don't know what it was.
Q. Was there a general understanding of the miners throughout this region, before the strike took place, that there would be a strike?
A. I never heard anything about it.
Q. Was there a strike among the other miners for higher pay?
A. Not as I know of.
Q. How much damage was done to Mr. Felt's store?
A. I could not say.
Q. You don't know the value of the goods they took?
A. No, sir.
John Jones, sworn.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Greenwood.
Q. What is your business?
A. Stationary engineer.
Q. Were you at home in July last, or August the 1st?
A. I was at home on the day of August 1st.
Q. How far from Mr. Felt's store do you live?
A. About fifty feet, or seventy-five feet. Just opposite the store—nearly opposite.
Q. Did you hear anybody breaking into the store during the night, and if so, at what time?
A. I was not home that night. I was working.
Q. Where were you working?
A. At the Greenwood slope.
Q. Running an engine?
A. Running an engine.
Q. At what time did you come off?
A. Seven o'clock in the morning.
Q. You heard nothing of what took place at the store during the night?
A. No.
Q. Do you know who the parties were that were at the store?
A. No, sir; I do not.
Q. Do you know from where they came?
A. No, sir.
Q. Or what class of men they were?
A. No, sir.
Q. When did you learn of the store being broken open?
A. Learned of it when I came home in the morning—when I reached home.
Q. Who told you?
A. My wife.
Q. Did she hear any of the parties?
A. She did not say she heard any of the parties that were at the store. She heard from the neighbors. The neighbors told her of it.
Q. Did you know anything about the meeting at the silk-works?
A. Not until the day they had the meeting.
Q. What time did you learn of that?
A. I learned of it after the shooting.
Q. Where were you when you heard of it?
A. Sitting on the store porch.
Q. At Greenwood?
A. At my home; yes, sir.
Q. For what company were you working at the time?
A. The Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Company.
Q. What wages were you getting, running the engine?
A. One dollar and eighty-five cents a day.
Q. Had there been any reduction made?
A. Not for six months previous to that, there had not been from that time on. There had not been, not very lately.
Q. When was the last reduction?
A. I think it was in December.
Q. Of 1876?
A. Of 1876.
Q. How much was that reduction?
A. Fifteen cents.
Q. There had been none since?
A. None since that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Fifteen cents a day?
A. Fifteen cents on a dollar—fifteen per cent.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Were you working for the same company that John Mucklow was?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there any strike of the men that were working for that company?
A. No, sir; not that I know of. Would not call it a strike, anyhow.
Q. What do you call a strike?
A. I don't know what to call it. When men turn out for wages, for their rights, that is what they term a strike—stick out for their rights.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Tell what they propose to do when they go out for their rights—propose to simply quit?
A. Simply quit, and stand out until they get their rights.
Q. And prevent others from working, at the same time?
A. I don't know. I should not prevent any man, if I was striking. I should not prevent any man from work.
Q. Is not that generally done?
A. It seems so.
Q. Is not that the rule?
A. I don't know whether that is the rule or not. I could not say.
Q. What has been the custom, generally, when they went out on a strike? Would they permit anybody to work?
A. It has been a custom not to let them work.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the strikers?
A. No, sir; I was not.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You had charge of an engine?
A. Pumping engine and hoist.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you interfered with in your pumping?
A. No, sir.
Q. Not asked to quit pumping?
A. Not asked to quit pumping.
Q. Do you know of any other places where they were requested to quit pumping?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you quit?
A. No, sir.
Q. Tended your engine?
A. Worked right along.
Q. Is there anything else you wish to state to this committee?
A. No, sir; nothing at all.
Q. We want to give a full hearing to all sides?
A. I am one of those kind of men that I don't go around much, and I don't know much; therefore, I can't tell you much of anything.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You are taking care of No. 1?
A. I am taking care of No. 1.
W. W. Scranton, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you reside and your business, if you please?
A. I live here in Scranton. General manager of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company.
Q. I wish you would give us a statement of what took place prior to the 1st of August, in the way of organization for protection, and what you learned about the strike, and causes that induced it, &c., in brief?
A. It was Tuesday, July 24, I think, that our iron company men struck. The strike started in the old mill. A few men run out and shouted, "We have struck!" and blew the big whistle, and as the men came out to hear what was the matter, they said, "We have struck—all turn out!" and they all turned out. That was about noon time—between twelve and one o'clock. Those that had gone home, and who knew nothing about it, came back, and were told that the men had struck, and that they must not go back. Whereupon the leaders of them marched the men in a body down to our new mill, where we had some puddlers at work, and got them out there, and from there down to the machine shop. I heard of it then, and drove down and asked them what was the matter. I reproached them for striking without saying anything to me or making any complaint. Inquired what reasons they had, &c., and they said they struck because they were not getting pay enough; and I asked them what they wanted, and they said they wanted thirty-five per cent. advance. Of course I pooh-poohed it; it was ridiculous—such an advance as that in such times as these. Told them that was out of the question. Of course, we could not afford it. I would be glad to pay them better wages if we could; there was nothing to warrant it. They separated, and I went back. Our shop hands still stayed in—the machine shop men, and foundry men, and our furnace men. Of course we did not want to have our furnace go out, if possible, and I went out and talked to these men in the afternoon and evening both. They said that they were perfectly willing to work—were satisfied with their pay, but that they were afraid, that there had been so many threats made that they had not dare stay. They would stay that night, but they must go out the next morning, because their lives were not safe. They said people had been to their wives and children, and they had been told that if their fathers, and brothers, &c., would not stop they would be killed. The long and short of the matter is, our furnace men were afraid. They said they were willing to work, and were satisfied to work, but they did not dare. Of course, judging from the temper of the times, I thought there might possibly be trouble, and I at once proceeded to organize a body of men to protect our property. I called in all our foremen, and a number of men I had confidence in—about thirty—armed them with rifles, kept them in the store that night, ready for anything that might happen. There was a good deal of talk about fire, &c. The next morning the furnace men went out. They said they could not stay. I went down and talked to them. They said they were willing to stay, but were afraid. Our teamsters—I did not think anybody would touch them—they were satisfied—and word came up while I was at breakfast that they had been scared away, and even our store teamster was notified that he would be shot it he went out. I went down, and got him out, and got some others out. That day the police sent us word, notifying us that without doubt our store was to be sacked that night, and that they knew of two wagons or one wagon which had been hired to carry off anything that might be taken out. Of course I listened to it, and got ready for it. That same day—I think it was that day or the next—the mayor sent word that the general of the division here was afraid of his own men with guns, and wanted me to take them and put them in our vaults. We took in about all the guns there were around there—probably five hundred or six hundred, and had them stored in our vaults, because these officers were afraid to trust their people. There was a sort of general panic. The next day I got our teamsters out. Our farm hands had been frightened away, but I talked with them, and reasoned with them, and finally went along with them myself. We took a few rifles along, and cheered them up, and they went to work, and worked on. About Saturday word came round from all quarters that our iron company men, with the exception, perhaps, of a few—that there was no dissatisfaction—the feeling of fear was passing away; they were willing to come back. They said they wanted to be sure of protection—that was the first thing—they must be sure of protection, and they had been threatened, and all that kind of thing. I told them we would protect them from all that danger, so far as I could. I told them that we would protect them—that the government was bound to protect them, and if they wanted to work they could work, and the government must protect them, and we would protect them—do what we could. They asked me to put some such notice as that in the paper. I told them I would do so. Previous to that, on Saturday night, it looked as if the Pennsylvania coal companies might go to work. The head-house, at No. 5, was burned. Of course that blocked all the transportation on that side. The head-house was repaired, and on Monday I was satisfied our men were willing to go to work—only a few that wanted to stay out. I put a notice in the evening paper—the Star I think it was, and I stated that anybody that was willing to go to work for us, we would protect—the government was bound to protect them, and they should be protected if the whole power of the United States came there; otherwise law would amount to nothing, and I re-assured them the best way I could. The next morning, Tuesday morning, they went to work—our machinists and founders. Our farm hands had gone to work, and our furnace men went to work. We had banked our furnaces; we thought we could save them both, so our furnace men went to work again. We took only enough for one furnace, so as to make sure of one; thought we might have to let the other slide until we saved the first, and they went to work, day turn and night turn both. There had been a great deal of talk of trouble, and all that kind of thing, but of course you hear all kinds of rumors at a time like that. I did not take any too much stock in them. Still, we kept our forces in the store all the time. By that time a number of citizens had come in—Colonel Hitchcock, Mr. Ripple, and a number of other gentlemen—and we had signals arranged, and all that kind of thing, in case of trouble, to come out immediately. We had notified the mayor, in case of anything happening to our property, that we should hold the city responsible for damages. Wednesday morning I was down town on some business, and I heard of this meeting at the silk-works. I did not think it would amount to very much more, but while I was down town I heard on all sides that the men had heard that the machine shops were being driven out. I hurried right back to the office, and got there just as the men from the tops of our furnaces were being driven out. I saw the men running. I saw a very large crowd, with sticks and stones, and gesticulation, and those men running and others chasing them, and I knew then it meant business. We had not many men in the store then. Our foremen came in one after another, and stated that the machine shops men there had been driven away and beaten. They came in from the blast furnaces and stated the same thing. Came from the engine-house and stated that it had been set fire to in three places. And I might say, by the way, before this—the very first night I got my foremen together—I took the precaution to have them sworn in as special police, and while we were there my own people came in—probably about thirty or so—and a number of citizens. At that time the mob had got to the railroad shops, and a message came from the mayor stating, for God's sake come down and help him. He was in a sore pass. So 1 made these men a little speech, that we might as well die now as any other time. Come down and do what we could for the mayor. I told them I did not want any fooling. I did not want any man who was not willing to be killed if it was necessary, and did not want any man who was not willing to shoot to kill, and said if there was any man who fired, I wanted him to shoot to kill, that we meant no nonsense. There was only thirty or forty of us. There were three or four thousand of the others, and we wanted no fooling. We wanted them to obey orders to the last degree, and when they received orders to fire, to fire to kill. Nothing else would stop the thing. The thing must be squelched, and the only way to squelch it, when they fired they must fire to kill. That was the only way to save the town. While we were getting ready to go more messages came up, and stated that those men were going from the railroad shops for Pine Grove breaker. I might say that our miners have got an agreement with us. It has been so for some years. They agree to work on, in case of a strike, and we agreed, on our part, to give them, dating from the commencement of the strike, any advance of wages which the railroad company might give their men whenever they settled. If the railroad company gave them ten or fifteen or any per cent. advance, we agreed to give our men the same advance, dating from the start. Our Pine Brook men went in that morning. Understand that our entire force, so far as we had workmen, with the exception of two of our iron rolling men—and we had every reason to believe they would be in the next morning—our miners were at work, and were at work by virtue of agreement with us to work on in case of a strike. I have one of the agreements now in my pocket—a new one, similar to the old one. By that time, we started out. 1 went to the head of them. I did not myself know anything about military matters, beyond keeping the men in line, and that kind of thing, and I gave charge of it to young Bartholomew, who knew something of that sort of thing, and kept them in line and went down. I had seen some riots before, and knew pretty well about how that sort of thing was. We got down street, pretty near the corner of Washington avenue, and this crowd were coming up Washington avenue, and closed in behind our men, and I felt that the time was coming very close, and that it would be necessary to act very quick. They closed in behind us, coming up on each side of the avenue, leaving only the front clear. There were some in front. Not many. They were hooting and yelling, and finally I saw a movement of one or two, apparently leaders, looking at me as though there were getting ready for a rush. I had no doubt of it, and I was just waiting. I heard shouts: "Now, then, come along boys. They won't fire. They have blank cartridges," or something of that sort. There were sticks thrown, and just about as I was going to give the order to fire, I heard a shot fired, and almost simultaneously with that, every man stopped and fired.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where did the shot come from—this first shot you heard?
A. Seemed to be a pistol shot.
Q. From the crowd or mob?
A. Yes; and the crowd rushed up and kind of fell back, and the shooting commenced. The shooting first was wild.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Before that shot was fired, were there any stones or missiles thrown?
A. Many stones and sticks. I was at the head, and the line was a long one—about forty, marching two by two.
Q. Were any stones or missiles thrown at the party to which you belonged?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. At the rear of the line?
A. Yes; and on the side also. It looked to me as though they were going to rush. I happened to see the riots in 1863, and I saw the same swing of the crowd—the fellows behind push up those in front. When these things were thrown, the firing commenced. They fell back once or twice—little short rallies—and run, and we went back to the store. The next day the troops came. I might say when we left the store, we heard the men were going to Pine Brook, and that they were calculating to drive out the men that were in there, and burn the breaker.
Q. Were those your mines?
A. Yes, our mines. And also that they were going to stop at Dixon's works on the way.
Q. Were they also your mines?
A. No, sir; they were Dixon Manufacturing Company's works and machine shops. I might say, also, previous to this—the Sunday before this thing—our pump engineers, &c. had been visited, and it was said they were afraid to work, and left us. Of course I put people there in whom I had confidence, to run the pumps and keep them going.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Will you give us a statement of what you were paying your men at that time?
A. We pay—most of our work is done by the ton. There is very little day-work with us, except shop hands and furnace men. Our rolling-mill men and steel-works men are working now under the same wages under which they struck. Our rolling-mill heaters are making from ninety to one hundred dollars a month. I can bring you the pay-rolls. I have got them at the office. The most of our men in the mills worked by the ton and by the roll—that is permanent men. All except the commoner class of laborers are making now anywhere from forty-five to sixty and seventy-five dollars—along there. The men in the steel-works are making about—well I should think anywhere from forty-five to sixty dollars—along there—it depends entirely on the product. We pay them according to the ton, and if they do small work they get small pay.
Q. Pay in proportion to the amount of work done?
A. Yes, sir; so much a ton. We pay a heater ten cents a ton. If he heats forty tons, he gets four dollars. Our mining wages are regulated entirely by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. We pay whatever wages they do. We tried to keep them working as full as possible.
Q. Can you give an estimate of what a man can make a day, should they work in the mines all day?
A. I am not so conversant with the special details of the mines. I can bring the pay-rolls, if you would like. I think that a miner—with our miners in Briggs shaft, I should think the average now depends a good deal on the men themselves—how smart they are—and I should think anywhere from thirty-eight to forty, along to fifty-five and sixty dollars a month. That is, a miner. Of course, a laborer don't make so much.
Q. Laborers in the mines work by the day or by the ton?
A. I think they are paid by the car. I don't remember how that is. A miner hires his own laborer, I believe.
Q. You haven't any particular charge of the details?
A. We pay it, that is all. I don't remember all this. Our Mr. Mattes could tell you better than I can. Our mining wages are virtually out of our hands. Whatever the D.L.W. pay, we pay, and the men, on their part, agree to work through, in case of a strike, and we agree to pay in advance, dating from the commencement of the strike, that the railroad may settle with their men to pay.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Had there been any reduction prior to the 1st of August?
A. Our men, all excepting miners, had been reduced on the 1st of July. The reduction was ten per cent., some not that much, some more—averaging, probably, ten or twelve per cent., I suppose.
Q. Were there any men, under that reduction, that would make less than a dollar a day?
A. Our laborers were making less than eighty cents a day. The number of common laborers we have is very small. We don't have very many. I don't know how many we have, exactly. Our work is by the ton, as far as possible. Of course, it is better to have things by the ton.
Q. When was the reduction before the 1st of July?
A. I don't remember when we did last reduce. I could tell you this evening. Perhaps Mr. Mattes could tell you.
Q. Something has been said about a letter being read at the silk-factory—did you ever try to ascertain how that originated?—purporting to give some statement that you had made?
A. I hear of the letter, of course, that was all. No truth in that letter. The letter was forged. I don't know who wrote it. Perhaps I might give a very good guess, and also, about other things. You have a great deal of knowledge that you cannot give legal force to.
Q. You have never been able to ascertain who it was, so as to prove it, who wrote the letter?
A. I was perfectly satisfied in my mind—no, I have never been able to prove it, but the time will come, undoubtedly, that I shall, and a good many other things, too.
Q. Did you find out what motive induced or actuated the man to send it?
A. It was, undoubtedly, a desire at the time—the men knew, and were perfectly well aware that our men were, for the time being, just terrorized. They knew, as well as I did, that if I could get our iron company men to work, the thing would stop, therefore it was necessary to drive them out to prolong the strike. For the same reason the Pennsylvania Coal Company's head-house was burnt.
Q. How many men did your company employ?
A. I think we have got about eighteen hundred or two thousand. I think there is about sixteen or seventeen hundred signatures on the pay-roll, and a great many of them draw pay for their children—two or three—sometimes. I suppose we have probably employed somewhere in the neighborhood of seventeen or eighteen hundred.
Q. Boys employed?
A. To a very large extent, boys who are under eighteen or twenty give their pay to their parents. Their parents draw it for them. My impression is, there is a law by which a parent can take the child's pay under age. I think they do draw it, though in many cases they do not do it. Their parents are paid.
Q. That includes the miners?
A. Yes; we have three mines. One of our mines is flooded—filled entirely.
Q. On account of the strike?
A. No; I flooded it myself, long ago, so as to run two mines, to give as steady work as possible to those that did work.