They came from Ireland to get away from a life of misery and suffering.
Most of them landed in New York and Philadelphia, and then they made their
way west. The Irish who migrated to the mining areas of Pennsylvania in the
middle of the 19th century, were survivors of An Gorta Mor, (The Great Hunger)
of the late 1840s in Ireland. They were a disliked group in most parts of
their new world. They were discriminated against because of their religion
and their nationality. It was no different for the Irish in Tamaqua, Girardville,
Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe), Shamokin, Summit Hill, Audenreid, Pennsylvania,
than it was in Ireland. The laborers were Irish and Catholic. The landowners
and mine owners were English and Protestant. The old conditions prevailed,
only 3,000 miles away from the original sites.
The problems encountered by the Irish in the 1870s, in Pennsylvania began
as far back as 1862. One of the problems they experienced was the draft issue
of the Civil War period. They were not unique in Pennsylvania, as riots broke
out in many cities throughout the United States during that period of turmoil.
President Lincoln's call for thousands of additional troops was met with
resistance because of the discrimination practices applied to the draft.
The draft was a lob sided affair. If you had money, you could buy your way
out of Army service. The Irish in the coal mines of Pennsylvania were not
exactly flush with money. Therefore, their services could be secured, where
a person of wealth could pay his way out. The poor man's attitude was viewed
by many as seditious to the Union. However, thousands of Irish emigrants
from many States, including Pennsylvania, served with distinction in regiments
on many battlefields during the war, (92 Irish born men won the Medal of
Honor during the conflict). It was Franklin Gowen, some thirteen years later,
who blamed the riots in the Pennsylvania coal region on a secret Irish organization,
known as the Molly Maguires.
In addition to Franklin Gowen, Asa Packer and Charles Parrish controlled
the mining interests in the region. Because of their mine and railroad holdings,
they combined their interests with other power people in New York and became
part of a price-fixing cartel, the first of its kind in American history.
Gowen's ambition went beyond being a major player in the coal mining business.
He wanted to become a major power in the politics of the state as well. However,
there were two hurdles he had to overcome, the Workers Benevolent Association
(WBA) and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH).
The stage was set for confrontation. Gowen, with the backing of Packer and
Parrish began a campaign that would associate labor unrest and violence with
a secret Irish organization called the Molly Maguires, and to link the Molly
Maguires with the AOH, and the AOH with the WBA. Their goal was to eliminate
both groups.
The "Molly Maguires" became a convenient target of opportunity for Gowen.
He placed the title on his enemies and with the assistance of the press,
informants, the Pinkertons and in some instances the Catholic clergy, he
was able to enhance the belief, that he was the victim.
The Gowen Gang, in order to eliminate their adversaries, the WBA and the
AOH, utilized their own police force, The Coal and Iron Police. The latter
police unit was a private enforcement group, owned and financed by the mine
owners. Not having any faith in conventional police methods, Gowen engaged
the services of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The last icon, necessary
to complete this band of rogues was the informer. The Pinkerton Agency accomplished
that task, and very successfully.
The greatest damnation to any Irish cause, regardless of location, has always
been the informer. Pennsylvania in 1870s, was no different. The mission of
this unsavory lot was to eliminate the WBA and the AOH. They went about their
task by having many Irishmen who were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernian,
arrested by their private police force. The arrests were based on information
obtained by the Pinkertons through informants and spies. Over a period of
twenty eight months, twenty Irishmen went to the gallows. They were arrested
by a private police force. Convicted by a hand-picked jury, no Irish catholic
sat on the jury, and prosecuted by a hand-picked prosecutor. The sheriff
who was tasked with the incarceration and who prepared the place of execution
had an opportunity to stay some of the hangings, however, he intentionally
ignored the paper, and based on descriptive accounts, took much pleasure
in his assignments.
Part of this tragedy has to lie on the shoulders of the catholic clergy of
the day. The Archbishop of Philadelphia, James Frederic Wood, a converted
Episcopalian, was an acquaintance of Franklin Gowen. It has been documented
that Gowen made many charitable contributions to the Archbishop. Draw your
own conclusions. However, two priests, Father McDermott and Father Gately
gave spiritual comfort to the men and their families before they were executed.
Were they guilty? Was there enough cause or reason to arrest? Did the accused
receive due process? Why did the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allow this
private police force to act as a bona fide law enforcement agency? Those,
and many other pertinent questions surround this travesty of American history.
An admission and an exoneration by the Governor of Pennsylvania for all the
men executed during those trouble times, were enacted in 1976. The Governor
stated, " the men were not extended the right of due process of law that
was every Americans right."