Another "Rebellion" in Yankee land.
The
Yankees, says the
Charleston Marcry, are troubled with another ‘ "rebellion,"’ and their military forces have been summoned to put it down.
It is a new and other ‘"rebellion"’ than that in the
South, and is, by way of distinction, called ‘"The Coal Miners Rebellion."’ It was precipitated by an outbreak among the coal miners of the
Schuylkill region in
Pennsylvania, and is only the beginning of the many ‘"rebellions"’ that must soon take place among the poor and laboring classes of the
North from the effects of the war. Poverty and destitution are sorely pinching the artisans and laborers of the
North, and what we read here from the New York
Herald is but a picture of the hundred ‘"strikes"’ and ‘ "ricts"’ that this war must bring about between the poor and rich of the
North.
The correspondent writes of the outbreak on the
Schuylkill:
I have just returned from the scene of hostilities in
Schuylkill county, having accompanied the military force thither.
Since my return upwards of two hundred additional troops have been ordered to
Minersville, and also a battery of howitzers, making in all about four hundred soldiers, fully supplied with sixty charges each, and food for an indefinite period.
Four other companies in the
United States service, connected with
Colonel Wm. H. Yenton's regiment of militia, are under arms and awaiting orders to move.
It is possible that the fears of the county authorities and of the mine owners have magnified this difficulty, but it is evident that the mutineers are numerous, determined, and well armed, and only need the will to make a long and vigorous defence.
It arises from the tyranny of mining capitalists, as regards both the amount of wages paid to the operatives and the manner in which such wages are doled out.
Probably an equal amount of wretchedness is remarked of no other class but the coal miners of this State.
The average amount of wages paid to miners is about five dollars per week, and this most generally, is not paid in cash, but in ‘"orders"’ upon storekeepers in the employment of the mining companies.--The operatives in this way not only receive paltry pay, but they are swindled by the capitalists, and compelled to take merchandize at the capitalists' own rate; so that they barely obtain the necessaries of life.
This year was made an era for a ‘"strike"’ upon a grand scale, and, taking advantage of the absence of all military organizations from the county, the operatives proceeded to ensure their demands by force.
They seized the collieries of the
Forest Improvement Company, (now controlled by New York capitalists,) interdicted all employees from working, under threat of death, and, by putting out the fires at the collieries, stopped the pumps that cleared the mines of water, whereby they were soon flooded.
The sheriff of
Schuylkill county found that he could make no arrests, and that he could not summon a posse of citizens to assist him, the sympathies of the mass being with the ‘ "strikers."’ The latter grew defiant, held meetings at
Forestville, Hecklsville,
Thomaston, and other points, and made preparations to organize a general strike throughout the whole coal region.
The few that insisted upon working at the old rates were roughly had died, the contractors and agents of the mine owners were threatened with loss of life and property if they maintained opposition, and the sheriff was too weak either in spirit or in force to assert the law and arrest the ringleaders.
The latter had organized the strike cunningly and executed it unflinchingly.
Colliers of one mine enforced the strike upon an other, so that no employee appeared where he could be recognized.
In this way the officers are yet baffled as to the whereabouts of the ringleaders.
About fifteen hundred men were numbered in the primary offensive measures, and their numbers are increasing.--The locality where hostilities commenced is noted for the turbulence of its denizens, murders and riots being frequent occurrences there, and ignorance and drunkenness being characteristic of the populace.
Their high-handed proceedings left the law no option but force, and the
Governor called upon
General Paterson (of
Harper's Ferry fame) to deputize certain men to quell the riot.
They stealthily moved out towards
Forestville, the infected district, with loaded muskets and set bayonets, and this morning had mounted guard over all the colliers, to the great astonishment of the mutineers.
The latter are fleets, and threaten to retake the mines.
I rode among them at dawn to-day, and they seemed unanimous as to their grievances, asserting that they meant to abolish the ‘ "order"’ system, and to secure equal and definite rates for their services, so that they would be out of the reach of want.
The sheriff, meantime, has ordered the troops to stand fast, and the reinforcements that went on to-day indicate fears of rupture.
If difficulties occur they will be of a serious character, as the miners are embittered by the presence of soldiers, and they are all armed with their favorite mountain rifles.
Many of them were in the three months service, and have the elements of military discipline among them.
They are nearly all
Irish.
The Forest Improvement Company is working mainly upon Government orders, and if the sums demanded are paid, the capitalists say that they cannot fulfill the contracts, which name a certain amount of money per ton.--The damage to the mines has been considerable.
