Understanding the Motives: T
he Strike
The Hocking Valley strike of 1884 affected the entire region. Hundreds of minors were out of work, and scabs were being brought in to do their jobs.
In order to protect to the non-union workers Pickerington Guards (hired mercenaries) were hired to guard the mines.
One fall evening to show how tough the guards were and to intimidate the striking miners, guards fired guns openly on the main street of New Straitsville.
Families were being evicted and had no food, men were of work for months, and now open intimidation was occurring on the streets, the miners of New Straitsville were fed up.
The Fire's Set
In September 1884 a group of men meet inside Robinson's Cave, a place where miners often gathered to discuss the strike, and decided if they couldn't work then no one could work.
The miners doused coal cars of wood in kerosene and other flammable material, lit them and pushed them into the mine. Fires were sent into six different mine entries, and a tipple was burnt to the ground.
The only eye witness accounts of the events held six unidentifiable men responsible, but there could have been more.
he StrikeThe Hocking Valley strike of 1884 affected the entire region. Hundreds of minors were out of work, and scabs were being brought in to do their jobs.
In order to protect to the non-union workers Pickerington Guards (hired mercenaries) were hired to guard the mines.
One fall evening to show how tough the guards were and to intimidate the striking miners, guards fired guns openly on the main street of New Straitsville.
Families were being evicted and had no food, men were of work for months, and now open intimidation was occurring on the streets, the miners of New Straitsville were fed up.
The Fire's Set
In September 1884 a group of men meet inside Robinson's Cave, a place where miners often gathered to discuss the strike, and decided if they couldn't work then no one could work.
The miners doused coal cars of wood in kerosene and other flammable material, lit them and pushed them into the mine. Fires were sent into six different mine entries, and a tipple was burnt to the ground.
The only eye witness accounts of the events held six unidentifiable men responsible, but there could have been more.
( Voice documentary by Voices of the Little Cities' Kevin Vaught. Performance from the 7th Annual Appalachian Spring Festival May 9, 2009)
The Aftermath
Once the fires were found, attempts to put them out were futile. In the 1930s the federal government once again attempted to extinguish the blaze with no success.
The fire has destroyed 100 of tons of coal, created sink holes, and leaked gas and steam from the ground.
Today the fire still burns beneath "Wayne National Forest."
Occasional sink holes can be found, with steam seeping up from the ground.
Fire Trivia
- The fire is often referred to as "the Devil's Oven"
- The New Straitsville fire was featured on the Ripley's Believe it or Not radio show, with a broadcast from the town.
- During the 1800's near by residents could make instant coffee with the boiling waters from their well.
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