The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-27

| RAILROAD DIFFIcULTIEs-We have had several
brief telegr announcements of the difficulties
| among the laborers on the Buffalo, Brantford and
| Goderich Railway, Canada West, relative to ar
rearages of wages said to be due them. From
statement in Buffalo paper, 1t appears that many
of these claims were of long standing, and this de
privaon of their proceeds has been, and is still,
source of much distress among the families of the
laborers. Accordingly, 10 pursuance of threats
previously made, the laborers on Thursday of last
week proceeded to open the switches near the cas-.
tern terminus of the road, and to strike them down;
and refusing to desst matters remained in this con
dition for two or three days. On Saturday, three
magistrates went up by special train, and warned
the aborers of the consequences of their riotous
proceed ings; but SO far rsm listening the rioters
began 10 tear up the track and throw the wood
from the tender; upon which the engineer put on
steam and backed the engine to Fort Erie. leaving
the magistrates behind. The President of the road
Mr.. Wadsworth, then collected a force of 25 men
In Buffalo, armed with revovers and took them to
the Fort, where they were Joined by few Cana.
dams and all proceeded to the scene of riot Here
the Canadians present were sworn in by the ua,is.
trates as a special police, and arrangements were
made to begin the work of relaying the track Pre-.
vious to doing so, however, the President made a
long speech, telling them that arrangements were
made for paying them part of their wages at once
and the balance in short time, to which the rioters
replied that they would die upon the ground before
they would leave it withoutta money" The Pre-
sident now ordered his party TO commence drawing
the spikes and replacing the switches but scarcely
had they commenced doing so, when a general at
tack was made the part of the aborers, who were
armed with spades, pick-axe handles, clubs and In
three or four instances, fire arms
The magistrates and their party immediately put
themselves on the defensive, making arrests and
beating off their assaants The laborers fought with
great determination, there being between 80 and 40
engaged, the other party having nearly the same
number. Close fighting lasted but few minutes
when the asssapts began to fee. pursued by tn cir
anita gonists. During the melee Is laborers
rested tied and placed in the with guard
them and one man named Simon Weimple, of the
MAGISTRATES party was mortaiy wounded In the fol-
lowing manner. An Irishmsn struck him across the
head with & spade handle, staggering bim, but he
shortly recovered and seized hn,, dragging him,
sisted by police officer, towards the The man
in the scufe bent forward, and unperceived. drew
pistol from his pocket and shot Weinple throug the
lett side near the lower part of the abdomen
Weiupe cried out II am dead man. Keep him
he has shot me-" The lrishman released himselfand
fed the officer pursuing. and within short distance
was secured and placed prisoner in the cars Two
or three reports of fire arms were heard, but
told not one was from the magistrates' force.
Their principal weapons were clubs, which they
used pretty freely. but a dangerous proxmate pre-
sentaion of revolver to the face Of their opponents
as the usual last resort, and fully answered the pur
pose OF bringing them into submission Bloody heads
and faces and sundry highly inflamed protuberances
Shove ed that these weapons were used with marked
effect. The rioters having generally dispersed, the
train returned TO For Erie with the prisoners, with
the wounded man Weimple, and the Magistrates
force but not without having first replaced the track
attaching locomotive to freight train there in wait
md brin that off q trODhy of yicfOry On
arriving at the "Fortn the laborer that shot Weim-
pie Immediately had his examination, and was fully
committed. The remainder of the prisoners, IS Of
Them were placed in one of the houses attached to
the depot sitter being handcufsd, and guard of Ca
madam pensioners told soldiers armed) placed over
them.