Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday July 13, 1910
2805 Miners Killed in the United States During 1909
From The Labor Argus of July 7, 1910:
SLAUGHTER OF MINERS
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Nearly 3000 Wafted into Eternity in
the “Model” Mines in 1909
-Thousands Crippled.
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The Cherry Ill. Mine Disaster of November 13, 1909 killed 259 miners. —–
Washington, July 1-The statistics of coal mining casualties in the United States, compiled by the geological survey for the calendar year 1900, show an apparent falling off in fatalities during the year, but since the special bulletin on the subject states that no account is taken of the year’s greatest disaster, that, at Cherry, Ill., in November last, the facts are that 1909 was exceeded only by 1907 as one of heavy catastrophe years.
The report explains that the toll of the Cherry mine disaster is not counted in with the year’s figures because it will not be reported by the Illinois officials until the close of the fiscal year in June.
The government depends for its information in all but four states on the reports of the local officials, and although last year four more states-Georgia, Oregon, Texas and Virginia-were added to the figures through reports received from the operators, the returns are still far from complete, a situation which will be relieved, the report points out, when the newly established bureau of mines is completely organized.
Last year, leaving out the Cherry mine disaster, in which 393 miners and rescuers were burned to death or suffocated, there were 2,412 deaths from coal mine accidents, against 2,450 in 1908 and 3,125 in 1907, the most disastrous year in mining history in this country.
This disaster brings the total of fatalities in 1909 up to 2,805.
Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 7, 1910
New Castle, Pennsylvania – Socialist Rally Behind Free Press
From the International Socialist Review of July 1910:
The Free Press Fight at New Castle, Pa.
By FRED D. WARREN
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[Part II of II.]
While the jury was deliberating and the judge and his friends scheming to overthrow the right of free press, there was something of importance transpiring in another quarter of the trust-ridden town.
From the surrounding cities came Socialists and their friends by the thousand. Every incoming railroad train was crowded. A special of nine coaches was required to bring the delegation from Pittsburg. The inter-urban service was taxed to its utmost capacity by the Socialists from nearby cities. The visitors were met by the local committee on arrangements and the line of march was through the principal streets to County Head quarters, located in the very heart of the city. It was an inspiring revolutionary spectacle and one that New Castle will not soon forget. Comrade John W. Slayton, nominated for Governor the day before, was called for and from the window overlooking the street spoke for a few minutes. When Slayton’s tall form and kindly features appeared there arose a lusty cheer that resounded from hill to hill and caused smug New Castle to pause and inquire into the cause of this sudden outburst of enthusiasm.
In the afternoon, in Cascade Park, fully 15,000 persons had gathered to hear the speakers. The mounted police were on hand promptly and refused to allow the speaking to take place as arranged. The park was a private one, it was explained, owned by the street car company. Comrade Ries, of Ohio, who is always on the job, rented an apple orchard a few hundred yards distant from the park entrance. Perhaps one-third of the immense throng, (it being impossible in the confusion to get word to all) marched to the new location where the program was continued. The mounted police were on hand, but our rent receipt for the use of the orchard, forced them to respect our “property rights.” The meeting had dispersed before the blue laws of Pennsylvania against a Sunday political meeting, could be invoked.
Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday July 6, 1910
New Castle, Pennsylvania – Free Press on Trial for “Seditious Libel”
From the International Socialist Review of July 1910:
The Free Press Fight at New Castle, Pa.
By FRED D. WARREN
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[Part I of I.]
HE case against the comrades comprising the committee engaged in the publication of the New Castle Free Press, charged with “seditious libel,” was tried under what was known as the old English common law. This law against “seditious libel” was framed at a time when kings ruled by divine right, and in order to establish the guilt of the “pestiferous” McKeever, Hartman, McCarty and White, the prosecutor of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, cited a case that occurred during the reign of Charles II. A score of Irish peasants raised a rebellion, so the prosecutor read, against the English land lords. These Irish peasants were arrested, charged with “seditious libel” and sentenced to prison. That was nearly four hundred years ago, yet we find a fossilized county prosecutor referring to it today in an effort to convict these four comrades of ours. It would be laughable were it not for the serious consequences that are likely to follow this New Castle trial for “seditious libel.”
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HE case against the comrades comprising the committee engaged in the publication of the New Castle Free Press, charged with “seditious libel,” was tried under what was known as the old English common law. This law against “seditious libel” was framed at a time when kings ruled by divine right, and in order to establish the guilt of the “pestiferous” McKeever, Hartman, McCarty and White, the prosecutor of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, cited a case that occurred during the reign of Charles II. A score of Irish peasants raised a rebellion, so the prosecutor read, against the English land lords. These Irish peasants were arrested, charged with “seditious libel” and sentenced to prison. That was nearly four hundred years ago, yet we find a fossilized county prosecutor referring to it today in an effort to convict these four comrades of ours. It would be laughable were it not for the serious consequences that are likely to follow this New Castle trial for “seditious libel.”