The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-13
BelIalre Correspondence.

JoDt Editor Of no LHtAJt0tRoer.
Thinking an item from the city Of Bell
afro would be interesting to your many
readers, l take the present opportunity Of
informing them concerning the morals Of
this city. Generally speaking, the old In
habitants of Bellaire are flrst-class 'ciu-
zens; but there is at present q large party
Of men hero from Pittsburgh, working on
tho B. & D. r. r. bridge, and knowing
the weakness and insltficiency ofthe Bell!
afro police force have avowed their in
tentiOns, and undertaken the task Of run
ming the town themselves, to the great an
noyanCc and tear Of the citizens generally.
On Saturday evening, the Sd inst, q
large party OF these Pittsburgh roughs,
under the influence Of liquor, started out
with Tho avowedl intention OF using the
Marshal up, and tearing the lookup
down, should any of their number be in
carcerated therein. After pRrading the
streets for some time, and insulting every
person whom they met, either male or te-
male, they finally came across MIR. McCor-
mick, the Marshal Of the city, on Water
street, and commenced toabuse him /; but
nothing daunted, Mac pitched into the
roughs with the intention of arresting
the: ringleaders; but the Pittsburghers
were not to be served in this manner, and
the whole party came TO the rescue of their
chums, aud pitched into the Marshall,
when q free fight ensued between the off,
Ger and the rOughs, during which time 10.
Gust was used pretty freely. Mac sue.
cecGed in clinching two Of the party, and
hung on to them like grim death, until tue
noise succeeded in drawing q party Of
citizens to tho spot, some Of
whom went to tho rescue OF the officer,
who then succeeded in placing four Of the
roughs in tho lock up. After this party
was placed in duranCe, vile, q large crowd
OF their conEederates gathered in front Of
tho building and attempted by threats
and force to release their comrades; in this
however, they were foiled by the tirmness
Of the Marshal and the assistance Of the
citizens. In the opinion Of your cores
pendent it is high time the citizens OF
Bellair had some protection from the at
lacks and insults of such roughS as the
above mentioned are. A man should
have his life insured If he contemplated
visiting church Of IN evening, and q fe-
male is insulted by crowd Of roughs on
every corner throughout the city. The
reason why is, one man as police officer
has city 10 watch, the corporate limits
Of which extend "a distance Of over two
miles The citizens of Bcllair arc not
taxed heavily, and they are, with few OK.
captions, willing to pay more tax and
have more protection. Your corrcspOn.
dent would be willing to pay ono dollar
per month, individually, for the maintain:
ance Of Il police force that could and
would preserve order. Mr.. Mccormick,
the Marshal, does every thing in his
power to preserve order, but what can ono
man do against such odds The council
of BelIairc are trying TO do oil in their
power TO prevent disturbance, but, in the
opinion Of your correspondent, the only
way to do is to place n few tried and
trusted men as deputies under the com.
mand and supervision Of the Marshal.
Until this large party Of strangers leave
the city, or Mt lGast until the law brings
them under subsection, two deputies would
have large field in which TO make their
wages in this city, and they would do 1t
without expense to the city or citizens.
Hoping this may reach the prominent
members of tho Bellairc Council, l sub
scribe myself yours, u r. CITIZEN j