Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-07-22
a atri1ra ana 8 RIOT.


Our city was the theatre, yesterday, Of scenes
Of a somewhat unusual character. Early in the
morning some three or four.hundred men, mostly
Germans, who had beeula W ok on line oil
the La Crosse Railroad, for some weeks past cnme
into the city to demand pay Tor thelr LABOR. ~ ap
peared, from their statement, that the Contractor
Shultz, by whom they were employed, ha,l prom:
Used to pay them Saturday, butsiat do So and
reports being rife that be, had not always dealt
fairly by his hands, the whole gang quit work ana
came to "head-quaItersi=to wlt: the ONCE ol me
Company, 10 seek redress. They were talked to,
in the course of the morning, by alderman huebs-
chmahn and Others, explaining, that the Company
would fulfil allits engagements, and, SO lar as IL
could, secure to the LaboreTs their nays but they
must look primarily TO the Contractor. Argument
and senfreaty however, seemed to be ofsno avail.
They had earned their money by the sweat OF
their brow and theyswer bent upon getting III II
not out of the Contractor, then out OF the Com
pany. s,,si.,,
or several of the Aldermen, and some OF the Po-
lice went 10 the spot and talked with the persons
assembled, endeavoring to satisfy them that 10th
ing was to be gained by violence, and thathhe
Company would do all IN their power 70 secure
them AGAINST any fraud, If intended, on the part
of the Contractor. The morning passed over
without any actual outbreak, and possibly none
would have occurred, but for an accidental cir
cumstance. Some boys in the crowd forced an en-
trance into hogslIead OF sugar, ana one OF tue
had broken into and was stealing from the hogs
head he was arrested for theft. MisundeEs. andtng
the cause of his arrest, some ct his comrades I'LL.
dertook to rescue him from the officer, and two oil
them were arrested for that offence. Ihereupoh
the whole body, led by, man displaying tn
color flag burned with excited looks and action 10
the all with the ayowed termination OF rescn:
ing the prisoners. They were here met by Shelln
Page, who tod them, in plain terms anu qulet'
but determined manner, that they would he an
NI,n thaVj al
Ience, and would lie resisted withthe whole force
of the city and country.
The camor continuing and threats being. thrown
out of rush into the Jail, the al rm OF Dre was
gwen from the Court House Bel, and IN very
few minutes the Fir. Department OF the CITY. e.
quppel Tor duty, came upon the ground. Two
of The engnS got ready to play, while the memUeIS
eG the other companies were stationed S speclal
police in and around the Jail.
Mayor Walker, who had came upon the ground
soon after the first alarm, renewed his efforts to
dispense the crowd. The flag, conspicuous 3D.
iect was the rallying point with the rioters, anu
finding that they would not leave the spot, the
Mayor de ermined to remove that. de according
ly walked c, oily into tie midst oil the crowd anu
seized the banner. He was instantly asSall Wy
number of men arountlsit, and n general melee
at once commenced. Sticks, stones and fists were
freely used; the engies commenced playing OH
the mob, and the latter, in turn peted the Flremen
with brickbats. TheIeunon the Flemen ana 70
lice charged upon the mob aud drove them fairly
oil The gEound. Anumber of wounds-none, W.
believe, very seyere-were, given and received.
hut mnch less than might have been anticipated
from so sharp 'skrimmase.' After while, nc
further dis nrbance occurring, the Firemen and
P...zc we're relieved from duty; though they were
nolltied 10 hid Themselves in readiness, should
their services be needed during the night.
Towards nightfall the Mayor issued proclanpa-
lion in German, to the effect, MS we understand,
that the Company would pay off the laborets to,
day out Of the money coming to tin: Contrac. or
We are informed by the Managing Director of the
road, however, that this is mlsappre henson.-
The Company will pay Os sOon as they receive tile
Engineers estimate, which may require day OF
to. All the persons arrested during the day were
sci free last evening, and with large number Of
The men parallel the streets, with music, for al
hour or two, but committed no breach OF peace
lMiLlDaukie Sentinel.