The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-30

The PORT ROYAL RAILRoAD.-We Iearm
from the Augusta papers some important facts
respecting the Port Royal Railroad and the Ia
boring force engaged dpon its construction. 1t
seems that there has been misunderstand-
ing for some time between the contractors
and the laborers on account of failure to pay.
On Tuesday last large force OF laborers en-
tered the Office of George D. Chapman q co.
to receive the money due them for their ser
vices. 1t appears that he had not only refused
to nav them, but had. also neglected to give
them rations When they surrounded the
office Mr.. Chapman refused to see them, and
locked his door, as sifapprehensive OF violence.
After remaining at the Office some time. the
men found they could obtain neither bread nor
money, and dispersed.
At an early hour the following morning the
citizens of Augusta were little alarmed by
q report that force Of Port Royal Railroad
employees were marching towards the city,
several hundred strong. No one seemed to
fear any act of violence from them. but ttFas
spprehended that they might attempt tolyncn
Messrs. Chapman Il Co. "A little later about
one hundred and fifty negroes repaired 70 the
Office. They were mostly from Beaufort and
Charleston. Not having received their wages,
sliX3aeir rsttona having befn stopped, they
wSlsaaa .sadazing condition.. When the band
afrifvsdats tshe ferry, three mites below the city,
stney sshad no money to par their passage.
Ssr6ey seassd fary boat and kept 1t until all
Had been sent across the river. As they ap-
Iirosehed the offce Of Chapman & Co., thedooss
MfMftilsl sHsere closed. = Ar. Chapman was
abssht; having Jet: for Atlanta tho previous
n,gtf. Ina few minutes after their arrival the
Augusta police were promptly. on the ground
to prevent any violence being commltteu.
Rapping at the door. the chief was admitted,
and obtained an interview with one Of Chap
mans attaches. He informed him of the con-
dition of the lsborers, and insisted that they
they should be fed, and obtained a promise
that rations of bacon and hard-tack should b9
issued to the men at o'clock. The cnlel then
informed the men that they would be fed' ana
ordered them to the point where the rations
vrould be distributed. The men having con-
fldence In the city authorities, obeyed the sum-
mons. MI. Abbott, the local treasurer OF the
company, said that 1t would be impossible for
the hands to be paid off just yet, but he felt
confident that Mr.. Chapman would return TO
the city in few days, and pay of all his iia-
bilities.
During the morning telegram was sent TO
Mr.. Chapman by one Of the employees warn
ing him not to come to. Augusta, as his life
would be in danger. One of the negroes
stated that if they had Chapman in their pow
er, they would have their wages or his lie.
One of the white men proposed seizlng MI.
Abbott, and other attaches of the road IN the
city. and holding them as hostages until
Chapman should produce their wages. NOT
content with getting them something to eat,
the Mayor tried to get employment Tor them,
and induce them to leave the city.
little after IL o'clock, the ratlons lett the
City Hall escorted ty thirty-fve policemen,
under command of 6 lieutenant. Nearly all
of the laborers had been without 1000 Ior
twenty-four hours, and some Tor longer
time. While the rations were being served,
the Mayor went among the laborers and ad-
yised them to leave the city. While the ra-
tions were being distributed, Mr.. Hull appear
ed. and hired fifty of the negroes to work on
the Macon and Augusta Railroad, which num-
her he Increased to seventy-ive. Some were
hired to 20 to Southern Georgia, and others TO
work on the county roads. Thus ends the
first chapter of the history of the Port Royal
Railroad.