Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-13
The Canal Troubles.

peake aud Ohio Canal is now open from end TO
end, add boats are moving freely, but by far
the larger number sro moving west toward
Cumberland without freight. Some few have
loaded and are on the way east, carrying freight
at 81 per ton to Georgetown, or 50 cents per
ton to Williamsport, and one or two are said to
have started with freight at rates below these
figures There is. however. low water on most
Of the upper levels and loaded boats have some
trouble getting through one or two having ruu
aground at various POINTS above Sir John 5
Ruu. Many Of the boslmcn would be willing
to run al % TO 95 cents, but are afraid to make
the attempt.
"On Saturday Captain Giraud Wright, Co.
A, Seventh Maryland regiment. stationed at
Paw Paw to guard the canal tunnel, arrested 3
man Damed Vanlear Sprgg on the charge OF
obsruc,ing the canal By causing the detention
| OF boats at the lock near by. lie was handed
over 10 the sheriff aud taken to Cumberland.
where he is now iu all. Sprigg claims that he
is entirely innocent, aud says that he will bring
suit against the sheriff for illegal arrest sod de-
| tentiop. 4 writ OF habeas corpus will BE- sued
out to day, and the case brought before the
court at once.
"Gsncral Getty, al Cumberland, has organ
ICED staff and the department Of the BALI
more aad Ohio Railroad and the Potomac
river" is carefully supervised Rations for 50
days for tho regulars at Grafton, Keyser, Cum
berland, MarJinsburg and Sir Johns Run have
been ordered, AZ well as additional supplies Of
ammunition. There is some talk Of a concen.
raiion Of the forces in camp at one central
point Gen. Hancock, it is said, is for some
reason paying especial attention to the United
States troops in Gen. Gelts's division. Most
Of them are in the Second artillery; others are
of the Fourth and Fifth artillery and Eighteenth
infantry. Tue outlook is regarded as more favor.
able, and the action Of the coal companies is
now being looked forward 10 with much
| interest,".
A dispatch from Hagerstown says: 100
Saturday morning the examination OF the pris-
oucrs confined 10 Jail here 90 the charge Of
burning the steamer Star, No. a, near dam No.
5. was to have taken place before Justice Ohio
| Oliver The witnesses for the defence were
present, but the witnesses for the State were
absent, and the examination was deferred.
"Mr William H. Boyer, who had given bail
for bis appearance at this examination, waived
hearing aud entered into reoognzance in
the sum Of 81 900 for his appearance on No
vemher 10Th at the Circuit Court for this
county. Ills sureties were Messrs. Abraham
| koon and Charles Porter, of Beaver Greek.
! Louis +. McComas, esq.,, counsel for Robt.
Reed, one Of The accused asked tor the dis.
charge OF his client, claiming that be had sufn
| cicnt evidence to show that Reed had not been
near the scene, or was not connected III any way
with the crime William Fl. Kmball, Thomas
| o. Neal and Peter Eikis testified that they had
seen and conversed with Reed on boat at
Cumberland at ten o'clock a. ID. % Sunday.
} uIy -, tho day that the steamer was burned.
Mr. Lloyd II. Dowden testified that be lived
next door to Mr.. Reed in Cumberland, and had
spoken to him at about ten o'clock p. ID. GU
Sunday. He also testified that no trains were
running at night on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad at that time.
"Mr. Reed corroborated the evidence of Mr.
Dowiep. The distance from Cumberland to
Dam is 50 miles, aud the accused could not
| possibly have been there at all on that day or
night. After this evidence tie State promptly
ordered the release OF Mr.. Reed, and he left
with his wife Tor home. 1t is very probable
that all the prisoners will be released on bail
the early part Of the week.
sour town was throDged with boalmen from
Williamsport, Sharpsburg and other points,
drawn here through curiosity and sympathy.
These men arc very devoted in their friend.
ships, and stick to each other very closely
The Cumberland News Of Saturday says -
Yesterday morning 10 compliance with the
order of the authorities for boats to leave Maid s
Lock, al! the boats that had teams started for
Cumberland, and there are now not above a
dozen lying near the scene Of the late blockade.
Ii is probable more will be moved to morrow,
as the owners Of several boats were preparing
yesterday to start from here with teams to bring
their craft to this city. Part of the fleet will
doubtless reach this city to day. The next phase
Of the canal question is awaited with consider
ablc interest No one seems to know exactly
what will be done 10 the matter Of frcights.
| The boat owners who last spring made contracts
| for the season will of course resume work as
soon as they are satisfied it is safe to do So
Some 81 the others say they are willing to 60 to
| work 1t once at the best rates to bo obtained,
but the intentions of the mass OF the late strik-
cr5, voluntary and Involuntary, have not yet
been definitely ascertaincd."
The Alleganian says :-"rhc impression
among shippers here is that as soon as the boat
men arrive an accommodation will be effected
which will be satisfactory TO all parties 10 view
Of the present stagnaion in the coal trade.
There is little or 20 news from the miners, as
they are generally reicent, and when speaking
refer to the probabilities as they appear in 10.
dvidual minds, and not as expressing the views
of the whole. We have seen no disposition on
tho part Of the companies to yield to the de-
mand Tor S. cents
| A correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun says
that boats which had been detained by
the embargo at Hancock are going to
Cumberland by direction of the owner, John Il.
Dixon, to load for James Shaw, agent of the
| Blaen Avon mine, at prices. it is said, of 81 to
Georgetown and $l.05 to Alexandria, the full
demand of the strikers. There will be but little
coal to ship by canal until tho miners generally
resume work. Two boats left Cumberland Sat
| urday one with coal and another with clay. but
at what freight was not ascertaioed. 1t is
| thought where contracts exist for prices less
than the boatmen's demands that the boats will
be loaded and started as soon as security and
protection are restored. The captain of one of
the four boats that went up yesterday said he
thought too much Of his head to attempt to
carry freight at less than 81 and $l.05. The
boatmon are suspicious, however, that some
boats are carrying for less