The Birmingham Age-Herald, 1902-11-17

&hich the employes of the company de declined - clined declined to participate, the company In acknowledgement of their loyalty con contributed - tributed contributed *25,000 to the benefldal fund. "Since then," the statement continues, "most of them have Joined the union and felt bound to Join In the strike when or ordered - dered ordered last May. No complaint Was ad addressed - dressed addressed to this company; no grievance allegsd; and no request for higher wages Baade; but, without notice the men left the work In a body, against their own will and Judgment, because required to do so by the vote of the miners employed In other coal Helds. Would be Absurd. "The claim for a reduction of 20 per cent In the hours of labor without any reduction In earnings, for all employes paid by the hour, day or week, would be peculiarly absurd If forced against this company. In point of fact the breakers of the company are able only to run 9 hours a day, and not ten. The miners only work from five to seven hours a day and the real difficulty In the region Is that contract labor prices are too high, as the men get an amount sufficient for their wants by working less than three threequarters - quarters threequarters of a day. The men employed by the day work as a maximum only nine hours and as many of them consume from half an hour to an hour Iti going to and from their work to the foot of the shaft, they do not work even nine hours. As Illustrating the Influence of the ex excessive - cessive excessive rates paid for contract work. It may be said that during normal condi conditions, - tions, conditions, In April of this year, the men work working - ing working by contract earned only an average of *3.02 a day, but when It Tjecame prob probable - able probable that a strike would be ordered, the same men earned an average of *4.46 a day." The company asserts that payment by weight Is Impracticable at Its mine, as each mine constitutes a distinct problem and the conditions vary from month to month. The only method which has ever given satisfaction at the workings. It Is said. Is payment for cutting coal by the lineal yard. The rate of payment can be determined only In each particular caae between the superintendent and the miner. Production Reduced. "Some Influence, believed that of the union," the answer states, "has led the men to reduce the production, but not notwithstanding - withstanding notwithstanding this difficulty It remains trjie that the only way In which the wages can be satisfactorily measured. Is by contract for the work done which necessarily varies from mine to mine and sometimes between breasts upon the same gangway, and even upon the same breast, from day to day." The company emphatically protests against the miners' demand that there shall he an agreement with the United Mine Workers of America In this connec connection. - tion. connection. The answer says; "The conditions of mining In the Le Lehigh - high Lehigh and Schuylkill regions are quite dif different - ferent different from those which exist In the Wyoming and Chranton districts. While this company has no objection therefore to Its own employes organising among themselvus, It has always objected and does object even to an organisation which Includes other anthracite fields, working under different systems of compensation, as a result of which Its men are ordered upon strikes by reason of controversies In which they have no Interest. "It would be still more InexcuBeable that any outside authority should as assume - sume assume to Interfere In the discharge of an employe. Every free man nas the right to quit work when and as he chooses, and the employer must possess and be able to exercise the reciprocal right of dis discharge - charge discharge If he Is to maintain discipline.'*

Owns 14,000 Acres. "It owns and controls about 14,000 acres of coal lands In Carbon and Schuylkill counties, which are estimated to contain over 500,*100,000 tons of available unmlned coal. Its employes number about 6000 and Its capacity of production Is over 200,000, 200,000,000 - 000 200,000,000 tons a month. Its capital stock and funded debt amount to upwards of $32, $32,000,000. - 000,000. $32,000,000. All of ts capital stock and bonds were Issued for full value, but although Its more Important coal lands were pur purchased - chased purchased at a time when the country was a wilderness, and all Its lands have been acquired at moderate prices, the divi dividends - dends dividends upon Its capital stock to date only average 4.02 per cent. The profit on coal mined by the company during the ten years ending December 31, 1901, has aver averaged - aged averaged 11.09 cents per ton after charging off taxes on coal lands and depreciation, but not Including any charge for royalty, which represents the value of the coal In the ground. Nor were the rates of freight on the railroad exorbitant as is shown by the fact that the company operated Its own canal, and found It advantageous to eend the coal to market over the rail railroad - road railroad rather than by the canal." Referring to the claim of the miners that better wages are paid In the bitu bituminous - minous bituminous fields for substantially similar work, the answer states: "This company does not know what rate of wages Is paid In the bituminous coal fields thioughout the country, but there is nowhere In any field's substantially similar work' to that which Is done un under - der under contract In the mines of this com company. - pany. company. It Is a fact, however, that miners of ordinary skill and experience have al always - ways always been able to go from the mines of this company to any other mining region throughout the country end obtain em employment - ployment employment Miners' Earnings. "In 1901, for a dey of ten hours, con contract - tract contract miners earned en average of $3.1* per day, skilled labor $2.31, unskilled la laborers - borers laborers $1.83, boys $1 for work under underground. - ground. underground. The rates for outside labor average as follows: "Skilled labor $1.96. unskilled labor $1.28, boys 77 cents. The average annual warnings of adults were $475.26." Denial Is made of the claim of the miners that thelp earnings are Insuffi Insufficient - cient Insufficient to maintain the American standard of living, and concerning the employes of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation com company - pany company these figures are given: Out of 3063 families. 870 own lhelr own houses. Pianos will be found in 146 and house organs In 337. The company owns and rents to Its employes 671 houses at an average rental of $4.75 a month. The character of these houses Is fully up to the average In any part of the country occupied by any other class of workmen. It has been the policy of the company to eell surface rights to those of Its em employes - ployes employes who desired to put up their own houses, and for many years there has been a steady demand on this account. The town of Summit Hill has a popula population - tion population of about 3000 and almost the entire surface, with the dwellings, Is now owned by employes of the company. The families of the employes have am ample - ple ample school accommodations, with capable teachers, and over 3000 children are in at attendance, - tendance, attendance, while over 76 per cent of the whole fund expended In the region Is de derived - rived derived from taxes paid by this company on Its coal estate.

More Negroes Appointed. The appointment of two negroes to good federal positions will shortly be an announced - nounced announced by the President and the Illy whites will again be furnished some think thinking - ing thinking material. J. C. Crum Is slated for the Charleston, 8. C., collectorshlp and John 8. Durham of Pennsylvania is to be the assistant attorney for the government be before - fore before the Spanish claims commission. Pritchard Will Not Change. A close friend of Senator Pritchard of North Carolina is authority for the state statement - ment statement that the senator, regardless of the wlsheB of the President, does not Intend to retrace his stepB on the negro ques question, - tion, question, but will stand pat for the position occupied by the North Carolina and Ala Alabama - bama Alabama lily whites at their respective state conventions. It is the height of the sena senator's - tor's senator's ambition to obtain the circuit Judge Judgeship - ship Judgeship with which his name has been con connected, - nected, connected, but North Carolina republicans say he will not change his attitude In or order - der order to obtain It. BASEBALL war may end. Both Sides Have Made Proposition* to Board of Arbitrator*. Chicago, November 18. - Representatives of the American association and the Western League baseball clubs met here tonight to effect a settlement of the war that has existed for the past year be between - tween between the two organizations. The trou trouble - ble trouble was caused by both leagues placing teams In Milwaukee and Kansas City and today's meeting was called In an effort to reach an amicable adjustment of the controversy. Very little progress was made. Separate meetings were held by each league and two propositions were agreed to and submitted to a board of arbitration composed of members of the National Union of Baseball Leagues. This committee will meet here tomorrow to consider the proposition. Each side has submitted two proposi propositions. - tions. propositions. ENGLAND TO H~.i FEDERATION. Like the Scheme in Thl* Country and Will Adopt It. Cleveland, O., November 18. - The dele delegation - gation delegation of English working men visiting this country to study Industrial condi conditions - tions conditions In the United States spent the day in this city. Tonight a meeting was held at the Forest City house at which were present Sir Alfred Mosely, Senator Han Hanna, - na, Hanna, Congressman Burton, Harvey D. Goulder, president of the Cleveland cham chamber - ber chamber of commerce, and Mayor Johnson. There was an Informal discussion of la labor - bor labor topics. As a result of the meeting between Sen Senator - ator Senator Hanna and Sir Alfred Mosely the latter made the announcement that Eng England - land England will have a national civic federation sfter the plan of the American organiza organization - tion organization of that name. The purpose will be the same, to bring labor and capital Into more pleasing relations. ---

I PEOPLE WROUGHT UP IN SELMA OVER MYSTERIOUS OCCUR OCCURRENCE - RENCE OCCURRENCE ON ONE OF THE PROMI PROMINENT - NENT PROMINENT 8TREET CORNES. ,> Selma, November 16. - (Special.) - Selma Is wrought up to no little extent today todayover - over todayover a sensational episode that occured on the comer of Lauderdale and Selma streets Just at 6 o'clock yesterday after afternoon. - noon. afternoon. The affair is shrouded in mys mystery - tery mystery and the identity of the parties con concerned - cerned concerned is not known, only one or two per persons - sons persons having been in the vicinity a* the time and they not close enough to dis distinguish - tinguish distinguish the persons. The affair as described by one of the eye witnesses follows: "There was a mas with a woman of small statue walking down Selma street when a buggy in which were two women, drove up to the curb curbing. - ing. curbing. One of the women in the buggy got out, taking the whip from the socket as she did so. The other woman drove on. The woman with the whip reached the man and his companion at the corner of the stave coping around the Episcopal church lawn. Without any word that was heard by the eye witness, she began to lay the whip fiercely upon the head and shoulders of the man. The com companion - panion companion of the latter as soon as she took in the situation gathered her skirts about her and preclpltably fled down the street. The man and the woman with the whip walked off together and the supposition is that it* was husband and wife, the latter having become Jealous of the wo woman - man woman of petete statue whom she found with her lawful spouse. The affair is the sensation of the hour and has been the topic of conversation on the street corners and around the churches today. If anybody is aware of the Identity of the parties concerned they are keeping it very close. The affair will leak out, no doubt, In a few days, but until then the public will, no doubt, indulge in much speculation. A PECULIAR DEATH. Man 8hooU Himself and Falls Under C. of Ga. Train. Dawson, Ga., November 16. - Lavoysier Lamar, a merchant of this place, aged 27 and related to the Lamar family of Geor Georgia - gia Georgia committed suicide tonight by shoot shooting - ing shooting himself with a pistol on the track of the Central of Georgia railroad and allow allowing - ing allowing the train to run over his body. During the evening he had entered the Methodist church and bade the pastor good-bye, telling him that he hoped no one would be permitted to speak ill of him.

Gives Geography of Philippines and How to Pronounce Names. Washington, November 18. - The pro pronouncing - nouncing pronouncing Gazetter and Geographical dic dictionary - tionary dictionary of the Philippine islands, with maps, charts and Illustrations, which was prepared In the bureau of insular af affairs - fairs affairs of the war department, has Just been Issued and contains a wealth of In Information - formation Information concerning our Oriental pos possessions. - sessions. possessions. The Gazetter proper contains 264 pages. Including the Index, while the geographical dictionary occupies 668 pa fees exclusive of the mups, charts and Illus Illustrations. - trations. Illustrations. When Dewey's brilliant victory awoke Interest In the Philippines the obtainable literature in English or. the subject was meagre, much of tt was old and almost out of print, while the Spanish works were to be found In but few libraries, so that the work of obtaining complete and accurate Information on the Islands, their geographical resources, history, stc., has been a very difficult one. Requests al already - ready already received for the edition exceeds the limit ordered by congress to be printed. RICE E8TATE IS GROWING. Public Aroused Over New Turn in thg Famous Will Case. Austin. Tex., November 16. - informa 16. - information - tion 16. - information from Marble Falls, Burnett county. Tex.. Is to the effect that aside from the noted Patrick trial, probably no Item connected with the Immense estate of the late millionaire William M. Rice has created more public Interest than, the re recent - cent recent report of the official survey of the Rice League of land lying to the aouth of Marble Falls, and bordering on the Colorado river. This survey widens the supposed bounds of the league to an enormous extent, and takes In supposed holdings of others. It Is the conflict of claims now imminent that portends the most Interesting and Important phases of the matter. Dillon and Davltt 8paak. Baltimore. November 16. - John Dlllton and Mitchell Davltt, the Irish envoys de delivered - livered delivered addresses tonight at a meeting held In Ford's opera house, and presided aver by Police commissioner Morris Speeches were also made by Ex-Governor Whyte and Attorney General Rayner. The apera house was packed. Cardinal Gib Gibbons - bons Gibbons was among a large number of church dignitaries who attended. About 12000 cash contributions wars raised at the msstlng.

wreck. The only food aboard was two apples. The first apple was consumed on Tuesday and the second on Wednes Wednesday. - day. Wednesday. each being divided Into sixteen por portions. - tions. portions. From Sunday, the day of the wreck, until Thursday, when they were rescured, the survivors drifted sixty miles on the half submerged raft. Several at attempts - tempts attempts were made to land on the Three Kings islands, but without success. Three men died on Monday night from drinking salt water. All of the survivors suffered the tortures of thirst and four other men and the stewardess died of exhaustion be before - fore before they were picked up by the Penguin. They had a cruel disappointment on Tuesday night. A steamer was sighted In the diets'«e and frantic shouts wers raised by tl se on the raft to attract at attention. - tention. attention. T' steamer lowered a boat which par* within fifty yards of there, but the by, ,'s crew apparently did not see the raj, and returned to their ves vessel. - sel. vessel. When the Penguin was sighted only one of the survivors was able to stand and all "Were terribly emaciated. KILLED IN HOTEL ROOM. Guests Get .Into Altercation .About Snoring and One Is Dead. Somerset, Ky., November 16. - John Sloan, an old citizen of this county, was shot and killed by James Pratt of Whit Whitney - ney Whitney county at the Colyer hotel early this morning. 81oan retired In an Intoxicated condition In a room occupied by several other men. Pratt was assigned to the room about S o'clock. Sloan was snoring loudly and was awakened by Pratt and told to turn over. This exasperated the old man and he got out of bed and show showed - ed showed a disposition to fight. The other occu occupants - pants occupants of the room state that Sloan was approaching the bed occupied by Pratt with a knife in his hand, when the latter drew a revolver from under his pillow and, warning Sloan not to approach him with a knife, fired. Sloan staggered out of the room Into the hallway and fell dead. Pratt Is under arrest. Another OH Gusher. Welsh, La., November 16. - Well No. 4 came In as a gas and oil gusher this afternoon at 6 o'clock and Is so strong that It has been found impossible to cap It. It will be permitted to spout all night In the hope of saving the casing. The oil Is being sent 100 feet Into the air. ONE KILLED AND MANY MORE INJURED

I FREIGHT TRAIN AND AN ELEC-, TRIC CAR CAME TOGETHER AT: CROSSING IN CHICAGO AND DEATH FOLLOW8. Chicago, November 16. - One man was killed and a dozen men, women and chil children - dren children more or less seriously Injured In a collision tonight between a Western ave avenue - nue avenue electric car and a Chicago, Burling Burlington - ton Burlington and Quincy freight train at the Eighteenth street crossing. The motor and trailer, which made up the electric train, were crowded with passengers, and it seems a miracle that so many escaped Instant death. The dead: Hugh Curran, passenger on street car. The Injured: Joseph Dedyck, side In Injured - jured Injured and left leg badly crushed; Mrs. Mary Dedyck, both arms broken and body bruised; Joseph Dedyck, Jr., left shoulder dislocated and scalp wounds; Frank Dedyck, badly bruised and cut about the head and body; Mamie Dedyck, face lacerated and body bruised; E. Brown, back Injured, condition serious; Frank Gayle, motorman. bruised about head and body; Alexander Langford, conduc conductor - tor conductor of trailer, four ribs broken and se severely - verely severely cut and bruised about body; J. Eagan, conductor motor car, right leg broken. A mistake of the flagman at the cross crossing - ing crossing was responsible for the accident. The freight, which consisted of forty-two oars, with an engine at either end, broke In two as It neared Western avenue. The front part of the train passed the cross crossing, - ing, crossing, and the flagman, not noticing the remaining portion of the train coming at full speed half a block away, pulled up the gates and gave the signal that the crossing was clear. The electric train, which had been wait waiting - ing waiting for the train to pass, started to cross the tracks and was hit square In the middle by the last half of the freight train. Both of the street cars were over overturned - turned overturned In the ditch by the collision. Sev Several - eral Several of the passengers noticed the danger In time to Jump before the accident hap happened, - pened, happened, but the greater portion were Jammed In the doors of the cars, unable to get out. When the two trains came together the passengers were thrown In every direction. The flagmen and men In charge of the street car have been placed under arrest.,

among the most ignorant and supersti superstitious - tious superstitious of the Berber tribes. He at first con confined - fined confined himself to a few conjuring tricks, but, his success encouraged him to at attempt - tempt attempt bigger things. The pretender Is nicknamed "Bu-Hamare," meaning "Fa "Father - ther "Father of a She-Ass." becauae he never rode on anything but a small donkey. MOB HANGED HIM. Kentuckians Take Prisoners Life Who Had Just Been Sentenced. Elisabethtown, JPt., November 16. - Har. Ian Buckles, who was yesterday sen sentenced - tenced sentenced to life imprisonment for the mur murder - der murder of Robert L. Reid, was hanged by a mob shortly after i o'clock this morning. The mob consisted of from fifty to sev seventy-five - enty-five seventy-five men. some of whom are sup supposed - posed supposed to have come from Larue county. On account of their number they had little difficulty In getting Buckles out of Jail. He was taken to the courthouse yard and hanged to a tree, after which the mob dispersed. Reid was deputy marshal here at the time he was killed. CHAFFEE EN ROUTE HOME. Will Reach Chicago Today and Attend a Banquet. Omaha, Neb., November 16. - Gen. Adna R. Chaffee and staff, en route from the Philippines to New Ifork, where he will take command of the department of the east, passed through Omaha this even evening. - ing. evening. He will reach Chicago tomorrow, where he will be banquetted before going to Washington. Gene; "1 Chaffee spoke of the general condition in the islands which he said was good. He said the people were gradually learning to recognise the civil authorities and to grow content un under - der under ft, and that he anticipated but little further trouble. Vice Governor Wright, who Is one of the party, said; "Business in the Island is Increasing and general prosperity Is apparent In the Islands." He said that owing to the war, all the animals have been killed In certain sec sections - tions sections and that as a result the natives were unable to cultivate or harvest their crops, which resulted In suffering li^ those districts, but that the general tone of the people there wvts good. WOMAN FLAYS MAN WITH BDGGY WHIP