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.