The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-05
THE STRIKE ON THE WHARTEs.
The Longshoremen Attempt to Throw
White Man Overbonrd-They also
Throw Bricks at the Men who will
Work,

mems Protective Union Association, which COM
menced on last Friday, because their employers
would not accede to Their demand tnat lney
should only work from seven O'Clock IN the morn
ing to five O'Clock in the evening, and receive Tor
those ten hours work two dollars and half, and
forty cents for each additional hour they worked,
still continues. The moderation which marked
their conduct at first has given place to violence
and lawlessness, which, II not speedily checked,
will end in bloodshed.
On Friday, soon after the strike commenced,
Messrs. Ravenel, Bowen and E. W. Marshall call
ed upon the Mayor and stated that the strikers
were interfering with the white men engaged at
work upon the vessels. The Mayor promised 10
send policemen to protect the WorKmen. Ac-
cordingly few policemen were sent, and there
was no further interference that day.
Late Friday afternoon one Of the stevedores
employed to unload the steamship Charleston, OF
the Charleston and New York Steamship Line,
Stated to a committee Of the strikers that he
was willing to employ twenty OF them at 81 oo
per jlay, II they would work with the men already
employed, and from seven O'Clock A. M. to six
O'Clock P. NJ, and receive forty cents per hour
after six O'Clock. They, after consultations re-
fused to accede to this proposition, but the next
morning signiied their willingness to work upon
the conditions proposed. Twenty men were Sc
lected from me large number OF strikers present,
and were sent into the hold Of the steamship.
They had scarcely commenced work when mes
senger from the non:workers was sent to them.
He delivered his message, and they Immediately
ceased work and left the vessel.
At AZ early hour yesterday morning the strikers
were on the wharves where the steamships lay,
about nearly all Of which white men, In addition
TO the crews were at work loading or unloading.
They nv persuasions and threats, succeeded in
inducing the laborers to stop work at all Of the
steamships excepting the Charleston. Here,
about O'Clock, very large number OF the strl-
kers assembled, thirty or forty OF whom went
upon the wharf and interfered with the work
men, using all methods excepting force to make
them desst. white man, being worried beyond
endurance by these negroes, ordered them to
keen away from him. They attempted to seize
him, but he resisted until overpowered. Four OF
them caught hold OF him, and in response to the
cries Of the excited crowd to drown him, were
upon the point of throwing him overheard, and
would have done so, but for Mr. Easterby and
other gentlemen who came up. The police were
then called upon, and they came and cleared the
wharf of the negroes. During this struggle the
white man received painful wound in the hand
and was severely bruised in various portions OF
the body. After this affair the negroes left the
wharf.
Everything along the wharves remained quiet
until dark, when the white men and colored men,
not members OF the "union,n who had been work
ing, sknocEed of work. to go to supper. On their
way to and from the wharf they were assailed by
the strikers, who threw bricks and rocks at them
the missiles which struck these men fortunate
ly INJECTING only slight bruises. The Chier OF Po-
lice was notified OF this affair and sent a small
squad Of police down, when the negroes became
quiet. We heard Of no arrest.
We learn that the Baltimore Steamship Com
pany employed the longshoremen yesterday to
load the steamship Sea Gull at the rates demand
ed. 1t is also stated that the Charleston Hnd New
York Steamship Line have employed forty white
men in New York, who will arrive here In few
days, and hereafter will load and unload all Of
the steamships Of the line.