The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-06-13
he Nels Onvilie Strike..some o I the
NEGROES DaRart.

az daylight this morning the picket line o
the Union miners was not visible, bu
soon after Q party Of about 100 collected
near the colored forces. Care was taker
10 keep the main body Of the negroes ou
Of hearing distance, but the strikers sa
down near by and held q conversation
with the negroes, urging them to Join the
Uaion. The guard was doubled, but still
three colored men walked up 10 the
guards and presenting their revolvers
walked over 10 the enemy. Whenever
the guards endeavored 10 press back the
colored men the strikers urged them the
more heartily to desert, demanding Ia
know II they were still slaves and feared
to go where they pleased. Secretary Put.
nam and Sheriff Warren were on the
grounds and advised putting the main
body TO work, leaving only small party
for guard duty. Arrangements were al
once made 70 put sixty men into the mines
to work, but at that time word came that
q large body OF the strikers were march
ing towards the mines. Secretary Putnam
and the Sheriff advanced to meet this
party and found them 800 strong, headed
by brass band. Putnam addressed the
party and succeeded in restraining them
from proceeding further. After estab.
fishing q guard line Of union miners to
prevent this party from advancing toward
the mines, Putnam returned TO the mines
and communicated to the operators his
thorough confidence, he could control the
strikers and that there was no danger OF
violence. In the meantime the band and
miners committee had arrived, and the
crowd ontside OF the line had increased
10 several hundred men and women the
band struck up familiar tune, after
which Thomas Pirt, one of the Union
miners, commenced speech, warming up
when he saw the colored men approach
the guard line apparently undecided what
TO do. The guard endeaVored to persuade
the men 10 stand firm, while Pirt begged
them to come over to the strikers. Occa.
slonally squad Of negroes would leave
the operators and then Pirt would break
out with such exclamations as "Now,
men, make q general rush this way; come
ahead and bring your arms with you.
we Will be kind 10 you and send you
home to your families" Other speakers
Joined Pirt and soon the excitement was
very great among the negroes. They
crowded down 10 the lines and q
general stampede seemed iminent. The
operators police and the faithful ones
among the negroes did their utmost to re.
store confidence, but notwithstanding
their Efforts several squads pressed
through the lines and were received by
the strikers with loud cheering. SQUADS
continued TO drop out until 80 or 40 had
deserted. The operators tried various de.
vices to prevent the exodus. The most
successful OF which was in urging the
negroes to join in singing "RslIy round
the nag" and religious pieces familiar IN
the Southern States. When the Presi-
dent would commence to speak the opera.
tors would have their men drown his
voice with song.
The scene was very exciting aud at
half past 10 A. N. the President withdrew
his iorces, but at II o'clock was seen re-
turning TO the attack "A large body Of min
ers were not lar of, seemingly awaiting
orders, but the President insisted that
there was no danger of violence, and that
no miner would open fire. The plan OF
the miners is to coax of as many of the
negroes as possible, hoping to make such
inroads in their ranks that the new move.
ment otthe operators will be practically
failure. Operators say they arc far from
discouraged, and that they have more
men coming and II necessary they will
bring thousand men for the miners 10
take care OF. At2 o'clock some Of the
negroes who deserted have returned to
their first love and squads are seen on
the road moving both 10 and from the
camp.
SECOND DIsPATCu.
COLUMBUS, June 12.-An evening spe-
ctal to the S!ate journal says there has
been no special excitement during the
afternoon. A part OF the negroes have
been at work mining coal, and part at
work on the earthworks. During the
day about sixty Of the negroes deserted,
but some OF them returned TO the camp
very drunk. An order has been sent to
Memphis for one hundred negroes, and
10 Columbus for one hundred more, Still
others are expected tomorrow. The
Lytle Guards and Sill Guards have been
ordered OF duty, but with instructions to
90 ready 10 come to Nelsonville Il they
are needed. The military company at
Athens has been increased to one hundred
men, and ordered 10 be ready to move on
short notice If needed.
ALL QUIET AT NELsoNyILE.
THIRD DISPATCH
COLUMBUS, June 19.-The latest ad-
vices from Nelsonville state that no out.
break need be feared tonight. The
Sheriff Of Athens County has a force OF
20 deputies for guard duty, so as to re.
lteVe the negroes, who hereafter will be
put 10 work.
The delegation of straitsville miners
say they will not come to Nelsonville in
q body, and It's thought that II they keep
their promises no colllsion will occur. If
there has been any spirit Of attack against
the Nelsonville miners 1t has been sup.
pressed BY the presence ot the State au-
thorihes. It was found tonight that
more than 100 negroes have deserted
to the strikers, A miner interviewed Sec.
retary Putnam tonight to learn whether
the State would transport the colored de-
serters to their homes and so relieve Mel.
sonville Union ot an elephant. The op.
orators say that within ten days every
minein the valley will be filled with ne
groes,
The strikers held a meeting tonight
eulogizlng the deserters and declaring
that no violence would be offered by the
unionists. Some Of the deserters said they
had been brought there by misrepresenta.
tons and were dissatisfied with the pros.
poets at the mines.
FOURTH DppATcnl
Midnlght-All quiet at the mines.
Crisis at jacksonville Passed.
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