The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-04-02
Further Trouble Apprehended at
StraitsVille.

Tie Columbus correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Commercial says:
There are symptoms of an ugly riot
in the Hooking Valley mines. The con-
spirators who succeeded in making a ruin
of one of the must extensive warehouses
and business headquarters in Straits
vile and seriously wounded some of the
colored miners, and drove all of that
class of miners away from their work
and ont of the neighborhood, have be-
come emboldened by the impunity with
which these outrages were perpetrated,
and appearances indicate that they are
are conspiring to produce state of anar-
chy at Nelsonville. Threatening letters
and letters of warming from friendly but
anonymous writers have been received
by the mining operators, and as the cases
have evidently become 80 serious the
operators have appealed to Governor AL
len for such suggestions and assistance
and moral support as he is able to give
as Chief Magistrate of the State, TO pre-
vent riot and disorder Governor Allen
received the gentlemen courteously.
heard their story, and was shown letters,
Of which the following are samples:
NEW STRAITsvILLE ONO, March SO.
"Mr. Longstreth:.
"You had better look out, with your
damned niggers, for they are going to
get cleaned ont. You see how it was at
Straitsville and them Molly McGuires
amt dead yet. Your shop will burn
as low as McLung's did. You had bet
ter save your shop and let them damned
niggers get out of this valley. l am a
friend TO you when you amt got no mig
gers at your mines. Look out for us
signed X, X, X, X, X, x. Q. S.
You will see them six crosses at Nelson
Vile if them niggers don't leave"
"NEw STRAITsvILLE. March 90.
"Mr. Longstreth:
"SIR-As q friend to you and all man.
kind, both white and black l advise
you to be on your guard all the time,
and have your colored men in order for
defense at any and all times. My firm
belief is that preparations ars being
made to attack and clean out them mi
ners at your place. There has been a
man there, or Nelsonville here, ever
since last Wednesday. Smith Spencer
is his name; and unless that is his busi.
ness, / don't know what it is. He has
no relatives here, and have overheard
parties say that the negroes of Nelson
Vile would be cleaned out so quick and
so sly that nobody would know how i
was done. I would give you my name
but if this should fall into the hands o
enemies il would ruin ME. But believt
me friend to you although stranger
Yours truly"
The Governor blandly informed hi
visitors that he could do nothing fo
them. The law was to punish crime
but he had no power to prevent ii, ant
comforted his hearers with the assurance
that his business is to act when the law
are violated, and not to anticipate thei
violation.
AS to the pending difficulty, he adde'
the assurance that it would be just a
reasonable to anticipate trouble at ever.
farmhouse as at Nelsonville, and jus
aa reasonable to keep a standing arm.
in anticipation of trouble in the one cas-
as in the other. The law can not pre-
vent crime, but it is all sufficient to pun
ish those who commit crime.
The interview which was had b
Messrs. Brooks and Longstreth with hi
Excellency was conspicuous failure i
securing from that functionary one wor
of suggestion or promise or encourage
ment, or even moral support, to al
them in the protection of their property
or, of the lives of more than a hundre
men in their employ. An outbreak a
any time may be expected in this cor
dition of affairs.