The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-07-19
MARTINsBURG r. X. STRIKE.

Governor Mathews Calls the Mill
tary into Service-A Member of the
Light Infantry and Striker
Wounded-No Compromise Of the
Difficulties as Yet.
HARRISBURG, July II,
Editors OF the Register:
Our city has been the scene of very
great excitement and commotion to-day.
1t WAS understood, yesterday evening,
that the employees of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad were preparing for n
strike, which was to be made effective by
arresting all freight trains going east
and west from this point. 1t WAS not
proposed to offer any disturbance to the
passenger trains. Information of this
intended movement reached the Offices
OF the Baltimore company about eight
o'clock yesterday evening, when an APP
plication was made to Capt. Faulkner by
the officers OF the company to suppress
any intended riot. This he promptly de-
/ clined 10 do unless ordered by the Gov.
ernor into the service of the State for
such purpose. Accordingly information
was commun icated to the Gov
ernor ~ the Mayor of our city, and
the agents of the company, with
demand upon him for military protect
/ ton. Gov. Mathews thereupOn ordered
! Capt Faulkners company OF light in
/ fantry into the service of the State. with
instructions to protect from the assaults
of the mob any engineers, fremen or
other employees OF the company who
thought proper still to remain In the ser
vice OF the company, and to discharge
their duties 10 defiance OF the threats and
violence of their co labOrers. Accord
Ingly at an early hour this morning Capt.
Faulkner company took its position be
tween the old depot and the HarrisgllIe
distilery. In short time there collected
near this spot some five hundred persons,
composed of employees and citizens OF
the town sympathizIng with them Capt.
Faulkner took the stand on Shatfers
porch, and addressed the excited multi
tUde for nearly an nour, in most able
and eloquent speech, in which he laid be-
fore them the folly and fruitlessness OF
their present course OF action; expressed
his sep sympathy with the employees
j, 10 grounds OF their movement, but
EN-, ,natlcally declared TO them that ne
had been ordered INTO the service OF
the State to protect all persons who
chose TO continue in the service OF the
company from the assaults and violence
of the mob; and lie meant To perform
that duty !earlessly, let the consequence
be what they might He told theh In
plain terms that AIs company was there
not Tor exhibition, but for effective SER
vice. He stated in very distinct terms
that he wigs not there TO advance the ln-
terests of the company, nor TO induce any
! man 10 enter or continue in Its service,
but simply To protect those citizens o.
the State who chose voluntarily and Of
their own accord, To enter into or con
tIuue in that service. II there was no
BODY there To run the train his mission
was finished, but If engineers and hre-
men desired to continue in the employ
ment of the company, and to ran their
trains, it was his duty to protect them
from outrage and violence. He then,
in the hearing of the whole crowd, or.
dered his men TO load with ball cartridges.
Ia few minutes thereafter an order was
given for the movement OF one OF the
burden trains. The infantry were post
cG on the train from the steam engine 10
the end OF it. 1t had proceeded but
very short distance when an engineer by
the name of Nandegrah, one 81 the
strikers, changed one of the switches SO
rs to prevent the cars from proceeding
onward. John Polsal, one OF the MEM
beers o. the company, lesped from the
engine aud readiusted the switch, upon
which Vandegrati fired vi POlsal with his
pistol, but missed him; he repeated the
ire, the ball striking Poissl near the
temple and CHANGING under the SKIN
lodged in the forehead, intictlng no very
serious injury. After this PoIsal hred
and severely wounded Nandegrstl, and
it seems that two other shots were fired
At Vandegratl, Us one ball broke his LETT
arm. another tore of his right thumb and
another entered his body. The lett arm
of Vandegraf was amputated to- lay by
very skiilul surgeon, DR.. Hunter.
When the lrir q took place, the engineer
and fireman deserted the train and refused
IT, go on any further. Capt. Faulkner
,Len inquired of Major Shut and others
representing the company, whether there
were any other engineers and bremen
who were willing 10 take charge OF and
run the train rs he WAS prepared To pro-
tect them if they were. He WAS informed
| IN reply that there were none now will.
| ing to take charge Oi and run the tram
| He then announced that the orders OF
| the Governor had been fulfilled; the
mission OF his company was ended. II"
! then marched his company into town,
and dismissed 1t until further orders
| The arms of the company are kept IN
room in the court house, and II strong
and sufficient force is kept day and night
to Illustrate any attempt upon the part OF
the rioters tOseIZe the arms.
Much excitement now exists IN our
community. Threats OF violence are
heard from many persons against PoiSaI
and the Mayor OF our city, but | have
heard no complaint so far against the
firm, discreet and decided course pur-
sued by Cspt. Faulkner and his com
psny.
Col. Sharp and some other officials OF
the Baltimore and ONO company were
here to-day. but no attempt has so far
been made to affect any compromise with
the strikers. 1t seems they have no
longer ANY occasion for violeice or
breach of the peace, the moral lnluenc"
or terrorism exercised by the strikers be-
ing sufficient 70 prevent any one from
now taking charge OF - tregh. tram.
NJ