It would seem difficult to find where the real blame lies. The sheriff thought he was doing his duty, his posse but obeyed his orders, and the poor sacrificed miners had no idea what the sheriff was reading to them, nor any intention of offering violence.
The whole neighborhood became so excited over the affray that the Governor of Pennsylvania immediately ordered some of the state troops to Hazleton to prevent further trouble.
The sheriff and his posse are to be arrested and tried for killing the strikers.
The Mayor of Hazleton declares that the shooting of the miners cannot be excused; that if the rioters refused to go home after the Riot Act had been read to them, the sheriff should have ordered his deputies to fire over the heads of the mob; and then, if they still continued rebellious, it was time to think about punishing them.
The Riot Act states that persons lingering one hour after the act has been read shall be seized and arrested, and those who arrest them shall not be held liable for any injuries the rioters may receive; but this is only after an hour has elapsed. According to the accounts that have reached us, the sheriff ordered his men to fire immediately after the reading of the act.
The great coal strike is, however, at an end.
A fresh agreement has been offered, which both miners and owners have decided to accept.
By it the men go to work at sixty-five cents per ton until January, when a new scale of wages is to be used. This scale will be settled by arbitration between this and January.
The masters and men are to meet in joint conference, and both sides promise to abide by the decision of the arbitrators.
It is said that Mr. de Armitt will not pay the sixty-five-cent rate, but will only give fifty-four cents till the new rate goes into effect in January. The leaders have determined to continue the strike in his mines if this report proves to be true, but in the other collieries the miners will go to work.