The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-27
HOME CORRESPONDENCE.
THAT FROG.
PORTER COUNTY WAR.

THE FORMER WAS wHIPPED-A GLORIOUS
VICTORY FOR INDIANA, WHICH Is SHARED
BIZ THE B. & o. RAILROAD.
Especial Correspondence of the Sentinel
PORTER COUNTY, Oct. 2O.-The war is over
and peace reigns once more at the cross
roads. To begin at the beginning, as the
story tellers say, let me say that this in
fernal dispute which has nearly caused
bloodshed, and has brought about bad
case of disregard of law, has had its full
share of suits in court. The B. q o. road
has crossed several tracks on its way from
Pittsburgh to Chicago and no opposition
was made until they arrived at this crossing.
The Michigan Central, under the control of
officials who feel their elevation too much,
thought they would stop the B. & o. from
laying frog across their track. They went
into the circuit court of this county and
sued for an Injunction and lost their case.
A committee of assessment was next ap-
pointed who said the M. c.. should have
| 800 damage This did not suit and the
case was appealed to Judge Drummond.
of Chicago, who, after sitting on 1T
for a spell, Matched out the opinion that he
had no jurisdiction. The b. d o. folks
/ thought they hid been delayed sufficiently
long, and accordingly got mandate from
the court and on attempting to read it and
make the crossing, which would complete
the track on both sides of the NJ. c., w ere
repulsed by the employees of the latter
road. Sheriff Robert p. Jones telegraphed
| to the governor. and the getting of troops,
telegrsphiug to James f. Joy, president OF
the M. c.. to disperse his men, and the
leaving of the troops on Monday night
over the /. p. IL G. road, are well known.
After delay at the yards in Indianapolis,
owing to the forgetfulness of some one to
put the ammunition aboard, we sped on to
Walkerton, where the B. & o. road crosses.
Here one of their engines was in waiting to
carry the two coaches of guards and the one
car of artillery west to the scene OF rlot
The distance was thirty-iv miles. Some of
the track had only been down three weeks,
while none had been laid longer than three
months. Your correspondent, in company
with two gentlemen on the same errand as
myself, took seat in the engine. Ahead OF
us was the one fiat car with Calling
guns. After few minutes delay in switch
ing the throttle was opened, and Engineer
Scott Ropinette told the fireman to keep
his shovel moving. The first 16 miles were
made in 80 minutes, which was wonderful
time, considering the age of the road, and
within an hour and half after daylight the
| train stopped at signal. Here were found
Judge Cowen, of Baltimore, general solic-
J itor of the road, ex-Gov. Baker and Judge
Antheny, attorneys of the same, and Chief
Engineer Randolph. Adjutant General
Conner went up on the train and after a
army moved on, eager for the affrav, to
within 800 yards of the crossing. The Cat
ling guns were
MANNED AND SIGHTED.
The Infantry formed in lire, and Captain
Wightman placed himself and army at the
disposal of one of the firmest sheriffs in In
, diana. 1t was treat to see
the pluck and firmness of this
| I'll hafh of bOr
felt that they had been tempered with
enough the day before. and wanted to 90
, right to work, now that they had sufficient
forces. The scene was picturesque one, and
would do well for an illustrated paper.
Fine, whitish sand was ankle deep every
where save spot where cluster of bushes
was to serve as a retreating place to the
newspaper correspondents and lawyers In
case of battle. The army was got in line
, and the officials of the repulsed road went
up to the fence of the NJ. G. road and asked
OF the mob if any of their officials were
about who would be high enough in Office
to be responsible in a parley of peace.
None were there, and the rioters replied
that they had orders to resist the laying OF
!, the crossing. The b. d o. folks then
! held parley with themselves as to whether
they should read the mandate of the court
to the men, some four hundred, and then
Q proceed to lay the crossing or not. Gov.
!, Baker was of the opinion that they had
: better wait awhile until some Of the Of
! fcials came as in all probability the men
/ would open hostilities if work was begun
: and blood would flow in consequence. BE
a thought they had better wait a week rather
r than have any shooting done. During this
0 delay the guards were placed around the
: entire blockade. The latter consisted
{ of twenty cars, three engines, an inn
9 mense pile OF ties, and rails and lastly but
9 far from least the rioters. The opposing
q road to enable regular trains to pass, had
Q built switch around the main track on
= which the blockade stood. This alone was a
r great expense, and now, considering theii
3 ignominious failure, must seem doubly ex-
. travagant to the stockholders who will pay
: for swollen headed officials blunders. About
: half-past nine o'clock an engine came from
the west, and Chief Engineer Henry A
Gardner alighted. He came up to the
fence and was Immediately waited upon by
> Ex-Governor Baker and Chief Engineer
= Randolph, at his own request. He said be
would come over the fence ii he could be
a entertained by the above gentlemen only
: which was granted. A few minutes CONVEX
: : fast back to the dividing line, when he was
3 ARRESTED BY THE SHERIFF
s on warrant for forcible detention of real
; estate. The rioters did not seem to appreci-
: ate this to any great extent, and crowded up
: to the nearest point at the fence to hear what
: was said. The writ Of possession or man.
i, date of the court was read to him in full by
: Adjutant General Conner, during which time
a several trains were stopped as they entered
9 the lines, by the authorities, and examined.
, Captain Wightman had to give the cor
respondents for the Indianapolis, Cincinnati
and Chicago papers passes to pass the guards,
j, who otherwise would not allow them or any
= one to pass. The adjutant general and Gard
9 ner sat on pile OF ties in the center of the
5 open ground, and at the conclusion of the
, reading Mr.. Gardner began saying that he
3 thought he was not arrested fairly, as Gov.
D Baker had invited him inside the fence.
The governor replied that he would hear no
|. imputations of that kind, and that he had no
idea the sheriff would arrest him. Mr.. Gard