The New York herald., 1874-06-16
THE OHIO MINERS.
The Arrival Of the Negro Substi-
tutes at the Mines.
EXCITEMENT OF THE UNIoNIsTs
Opposing Parties Armed and Drilled
for a Conflict.
Military Encamp1nents Es-
tabliShed.

NELSoNvILLE, June II, 1874.
The strike OF the union miners at Nclsonvnle in
the valley OF the HocShockpg, has now been MAIN
taineI for the period OF several months, despite
every egort at conciiIat.on and the depressing
effects o! the resulting idleness is being felt all
the State. Particularly, the weight OF bad
influence Is borne by the city OF Columbus, the
headquarters OF many OF the most prominen, OF
the operators and the most extensive coal depot
in the wes;. The payroll the Columbus and
Hooking valley Railroad in May, 1873, ran high
as $50 600, a7d in May, 1874 In consequence OF the
disturbance IN and quietness OF the coal regions.
1t .ell 10 the insignificant figure OF $4,000 great
number OF the manufacturers are running but q
third OF their usual force and 1t Is rumored that
the blast furnaces will close entirely this week for
want OF coal.
The handling Of coal through all its ramincations
in trade gives employment to a vast NUMBER OF
men, many OF whom are now idle or working at re-
duced wages loi' want OF 1t. The effects OF the
strike are perceptiby felt oy the manufacturing in.
terests OF all the larger places within $50 miles OF
Columbus, and 1t has been estimated by figuring,
and by men capable Of making a clear computa-
ton, that the damage already entailed oy the
strike will not fall short OF S., 900, 900.
Things were in tins deplorable shape when,
about month since, Minor T. Ames, Chicago
coal man and the Vice President OF the Lick Run
mines, visited Columbus and had a long and delib-
crate conference with the operators OF that city.
During this consultation Mr.. Ames told them that
during strike at his mues in Illinois, several
years ago, he proceeded to Tennessee and hired
1orce OF
THREE HUNDRED NEGROES
to come and take the place OF the strik-
ing white miners, which they did, and
the strikers only alternative was to
leave the country submit to the opera
tors prices. This plan was suggested and ap-
|
instantly determined to inaugurate the same plan
aG Nesonville. Accordingly Mr. Ames was IN
vested with the proper power and men were sent
TO Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee for a half
thousand OF negroes.
In due time the stipulated number was secured,
city, en- route for the mines at Nelsonville Their
enlistment, transportation and boarding, not to
mention their pay thus tar, has been an Item Of no
inconsideraoe expense. The plan was conducted
by Mr.. Ames to prevent the wnlte strikers from
getting the counter movements but, fully con.
negro miners q. Nelsonvllls .presaged, Your cor:
action by the following train He found the town,
which numbers about 5000 Inhabitants, principally
miners and their families, in state of
Widest CONNECTION AND EXCITEMENT
A long procession Of miners; with baad Of
the same time from Carbondale, and were parad-
ing the Streets followed by large crowos OF women
and children They had come TO the assistance OF
the striking miners, who had notified them by
mounted cOuriers or the introduction OF large
force Of coored men at their mines, and as the
negroes had been armed at Columbus with i'm
! proved government muskets, navy revovers and
o
Ames did unload his negroes az Nelsonville; but
ss on on % s eey
mines, situated about one mile below the
village & TO this spot Mav immedlate after sup
a number Of newspaper men who had just got
in, and as we approached the vicinity Of the mines
gesticulating IN the most vehement manner.
Reaching the brow ora slight elevation we were
" n
On an open plateau, ut the foot of range OF low,
scraggy nils lay tue encampment OF the coored
mlneis who, ut this moment were industrlously
drilling, their brightly FURNISHED muskets and
Dayonets gstening and glanclng ike silver in the
| last rays OF the sun. They were divided into COM
panies and squads, with regularly appointed
Z, Officers, &C., and made very good drill Tor the
! tlelr pckets thrown out and admission within the
encampment was not attainable without the
advanced until stopped by a hayoneted musket in
the hands oil a great gigantic black, who cried in
"N'''' HALF! W VINO GOES DARr,
"A friend, without the countersign," was the re-
an account OF YOURSELF This was done with ad-
mrable expedition, our representative informing
| prietor or the mines Mr.. I. Longstreth VINO was
despatched lor, anu shortly appeared and gladly
. narrow ravlne between the hills. The shades Of
evening were now last envelopng the landscape,
bnt we took a careful look through the camp.
| luted and unninchng, and most OF them
Oil soldiers OF the late rebellion, while a
good portion OF them fresh from the
| Arkansas troubles ana anxious for an encounter
with the white strikers Within the lines we found
J. II. Putnam. the private secretary OF the Cover
| nor OF Ohio, who had come with authority to act,
and he had already notified military companies at
readiness to report TO HIM at Nelsonvnle at u
moments notification. Along the entire line or
black pckets, just out OF gunshot, hung crowds OF
angry and vindictive white miners, VINO belonged
10 the striking union. and who were passing their
time in blackguardng and vainiy attempting to
| a
marvellous as well rs commendabe undemon-
stralive aspect paying strict attention to their
duty, and nothing else. The blacks many OF them,
are TurcOs. and express their
FOND PRODUCTIONS FOR BLOOD.
yet they are perfectly tractabe ana the managers
apprenend no trouble IN handling them. AS the
| obscurity OF night thckened, 80 did the evminded
| unionsts outside the lines, anu a collision was
deemed inevitable before The lapse OF many hours,
and all were on the Q,1 ptce for the first musket
Mr.. j. r. Spencer, or Columbus, who has COM
nand Of the co!ored forces here, was shot at as he
was leaving the train here at noon. Mr. Spencer had
brought down from Columbus a number OF darkies
who had been lett by the night train, and as he
was leaving the car III their company union miner
standing near pulled revolver and fred at him.
the bah narrowly missing his head. The sheriff OF
the act, ana Promptly arrested the wouid.be assas
sin and hurried him on TO Athens, notwithstanding
the drawn yevovers and ugly threats Of the ln enl
prit's friends standing near. Matters looked
darker and darker as the hours wore away, ana
all confidently looked Tor an attack from the wnite
miners before midnight ana indeed ABOUT that
TIME
SHARr FIRING WAS HEARD
among the hills to the north. along the crest OF
which was the outer line OF black pckets. In an
instant the biyouac was a scene OF the widest
Commution. and the cry OF "Fall nl' from the ex-
cited urlcers was heard on all siues; but, with
praise worthy rapidity the undscpincd blacks got
themselves in shape and were drawn up In line OF
battle. However, no engagement took place,
and in the Ol an hour one OF
the pickets came in with broken I'm
Inc top d aneighooring hill. Alter frnlticss at
tempt tp hire some one To carry their dispatches
TO the telegraph ONCE at Nesonve, the reporters,
with their proverbial couraycOusness, determined
to make the hazardous trip themselves. Looking
well to their navies and with farewell to the
| managers, they started with an armed escort to
them safely outside tue African lines. THIS
was at length accomplished, and with many ad-