Outrages and Riots in the Coal Districts of Pennsylvania.
PRIVATE advices from the Pennsylvania coal regions tell of numerous outrages which are being committed by miners in Schuylkill county. The ruffians, who are mainly Irish, are known throughout the region as the “Molly Maguires.” They are banded together in a secret organization for the purpose of controlling the mines, and resort to murder and robbery. The people of the county are greatly excited, and hitherto have been unable to bring offenders to punishment, as the juries in the County Court have been picked by men connected with the desperate gang. Appeal has been made to Gov. Geary for an order to remove the accused for trial to another county, and the Governor has promised to use all the power at his command in bringing the guilty to justice. It is almost impossible to get information in regard to the desperadoes, and the local newspapers are afraid to publish what facts are known concerning them. On Friday afternoon last, Mr. Littlehales, a Superintendent of one of the mines, was shot through the heart on the road between Thomastown and Mackeysburgh, while returning from Pottsville, where he had been to procure money to pay off the hands under his charge. The murderers, however, got nothing but a few dollars and the Superintendent’s watch, as he had not been able to get the funds from Pottsville, which were to be sent on the following day. No clue to the murderers has been obtained. Threats have been made against Superintendents of other mines, who live momentarily in fear of violence. Notices have been posted by the ruffians, of which the following is a specimen: “MARCH 1, 1867.
“Take notice from this time if you want to live, for I think your time will be very short, so you must look out for all you get, and any man on the colliery until the 20 cents is put on,” [Diagram of a coffin and pistol.]
Four Superintendents have been personally warned to leave, under penalty of death for non-compliance. Several murders have been committed already, numerous houses have been robbed, and the miners generally have stopped work. The movement excites very great uneasiness among the coal operators, who are taking active measures to secure the arrest of the ringleaders and put a stop to the disturbance, which threatens to be of the most serious character. Gov. Geary has been applied to offer a reward of $5,000 for the arrest of the leading men.—N. Y. Times, Mar. 22.