Tag: Allegheny Valley Trades Council

Hellraisers Journal: Memorial Planned to Honor Labor Martyrs, Organizer Fannie Sellins and Miner Joseph Starzeleski

Janet RayeFannie Sellins
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Quote M. Robbins, for Fannie Sellins, Wkrs Wld p4, Nov 28, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday August 29, 1920
United Mine Workers to Honor Fannie Sellins and Joe Starzeleski 

From The Pittsburgh Post of August 26, 1920:

Memorial Planned
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Organized Labor to Honor
Mrs. Sellins and Strezleski.

Fannie Sellins in Jail, crpd, Hgtn WV Lbr Str p1, May 22, 1914

Organized labor in the Allegheny valley is planning to observe the first anniversary of the deaths of Mrs. Fannie Sellins, organizer for the United Mine Workers of America, and John Strezloski, a miner, which occurred August 26, 1919, during a battle between strikers and deputies at the mine of the Allegheny Coal Company in West Natrona, by the dedication of a granite monument in New Kensington, Monday, September 6, it was announced yesterday by J. H. Munn of Tarentum, president of the Allegheny Valley Trades Council.

The dedication of the memorial will be preceded by a parade in which more than 8,000 workers from various Western Pennsylvania towns are expected to march. The monument, which cost more than $2,500, was bought by members of the United Mine Workers of America throughout the United States.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Union Organizer Fannie Sellins and Miner Joseph Starzeleski Murdered Near Brackenridge

Janet RayeFannie Sellins
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Quote Anne Feeney, Fannie Sellins Song, antiwarsongs org———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday August 28, 1919
West Natrona, Pennsylvania – Fannie Sellins & Joe Starzeleski Murdered

From the Pittsburgh Gazette Times of August 27, 1919:

Note: We caution our readers to remember that the enemies of organized labor, through the kept press, are often the first to tell the story of labor disturbances. Already, the day after the murders of Mrs. Sellins and Joe Starzeleski, we find the kept press charging that the two died in a “mine riot.” Other accounts, from the strikers side, indicate that there was no riot until Deputized Coal and Iron Gunthugs attacked Miner Starzeleski. When Fannie attempted to save him, she was beaten and shot. We will continue to report on this story that the truth may be told of the deaths of these two labor martyrs.

WNF Fannie Sellins, Joe Starzeleski Aug 26, Ptt Gz Tx p1, Aug 27, 1919

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Two persons, one of them Mrs. Fannie Sellins, organizer for the United Mine Workers of America, secretary of the Allegheny Valley Trades Council and a woman labor worker of national repute, were shot to death and five others wounded in a strike riot at the entrance of the Allegheny Coal and Coke Company near Brackenridge late yesterday.

THE DEAD

Mrs Sellins, aged 49, of New Kensington: shot in the head and instantly killed.
Joseph Strzelecki [Starzeleski], aged 58, of West Natrona, a miner: shot in the head and instantly killed.

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