Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-05-05

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The freight conduct ors ON the first aud sec
ond divisions Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, says, the Martinsburg Republican, have
been on a strike since Wednesday last.
1t appears, from what we can learn, that
some regulation of the company making con-
ductors responsible for losses, was regarded by
them as ouerous and oppressive, and hence
the strike. As a general thing, we are OPP
posed to strikes, and would counsel, if our
opinion was consulted, and was worth any
thing, all those who feel aggrieved by the
regulations of their employers to stop work.
peaceably, rather than attempt to do by force
that which the organization of society and the
laws of the land could not tolerate. In this
instance, We regret to learn, that an appeal
was made to force to accomplish their wishes,
by preventing those from work who were will
ing to go on. Such conduct cannot be de-
fendsd even by those who might otherwise
sympathise with them. We hope the matter
will soon be arranged satisfactory to all par
ties, and that the business of the road will go
on as usual.
re- On Saturday evening last, the militia
ry of Baltimore were ordered out by7a proc
lamation of the Gov. of Maryland, to protect
the tonnage trains of the road. The military
escort filed three cars. The paymaster's car
was occupied by the sheriff of Baltipsfe coun-
ty, which was followed by ffthtcar, closed,
fitted up as an areenal, in which were several
chests of muskets, boxes of cartridges; bags
of balls and buckshot, and other munitions of
war. When about two miles from the city,
the trains were attacked by the rioters, wlo
were fred upon by the militia, and number
wounded. One man was shot dead.
The following account of the attack, we
find in the local columns of the ",Sun" of YES.
terday:
AS the FIRST engine approached the bridge, several
hundred men were seen upon and about it, and
Others lying off in the fields. A stone was thrown
which seemed to be the signal for attack, and
several guns were fred from the bridge and fields
upon the head of the train. The fire was returned
| several of the rioters FELL which causing panic
among them they scampered but as the train passed
its length rapidly along they rallied upon the pay
masters car, in the rear held by the sheriff and his
officers, who from the side lights and platform CON
tinued to discharge their muskes aud revoIvers up
on them, which was continued along the route at
intervals until the train entered deep mile
from the bridge. Here collected five hundred
men, composed of the most determined characters
armed with weapons and brass swivel, which was
posted on the bank in such position to rake the
first engine. Here a most desperate attack was an
| ticipated, and hundred cooked muskets lay lev
| eled from the windows or bristled from the side
lights awaiting the onset of the rioters and the word
| to fire. Meanwhile the attack had been commenced
on the guard in front, who were returning the fire
with great rapidity and precision. A party on the
hill in eudeavoring to get off the swivel, the charge
OF which was dampened by the rain, were shot down
| by the military, although no regular command wa
| given, and the battle now became pretty genera,
along the train, though orders given to waste
no random shots but select a man.
tits supposed that four or Eve were wounded at
| this poiIt. One man standing the hill with an
umbrella over his head and apparently a spectator
was shot through the brain and fell dead. Another
of the rioters received a ball in shoulder which
passed around under the flesh of the other a third
| was seen to press his hand on his side and drop
| down. The discharges were more generally effective
THAN on the previous occasion. The order
here was to stop the train at the commencement of
! the attack, when the troops were about disem-
| bark with fixed bayonets, pursue the rioters and
either shoot down, stab, or capture them, but the
engineer in front either misunderstood the order or
wilfully disregarded iand applying the steam,
| kept on dragging the train away, which met with
no further molestation detention until it arrived
| at Gwyns Falls and near the sSene of the eusan-
culinary conflict of the previous day. Here, about
half mile in advance, the six o'clock train from
Ellicotts Mills had been thrown from the rails by
some obstruction, it is supposed, placed upon Them
and the wreck obstructing the road the train
tanned at this point from to nine o'clock Mean
while the rain poured in torrents, and the woods
and high hills around adding to the extreme dark
| ness, and nothing could be for awhile but
| the dark line of the immense train with here and
there lighted lantern moving among them.
Finally, at abont o'clock, the track was pro-
nounced-clear, and the train moved at slow
pace, and arrived at EIlicotts Mills where a repast
was furnished by the company to the troops and
| others.