Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-25
Concentrating Government
Troops in Baltimore.
The Situation in
Ohio
EXCITEMENT AT KEYSER.
The Men Of the Third Divisisn Pledged to
Support the Strikers.

MARTINSBURG. W. Va, July H.
This has been day of great excite
ment IN Martinsburg, growing out Of the
fremen on freig int trains Of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. The strike be-
gan here yesterday, when it became APP
parent that there was growing under
standing among the freight iremen to
resist the 10 per cent. reduction. It
was soon learned that all freight trains
going east and west were to be stopped,
and now IS trains, comprising 1900
ears, loaded with coal, grain and other
freight, including IS cattle cars, COM
prising about 600 head of stock, are de-
tanned here. Large crowds of people
gathered early at the railroad depot,
and the excitement was at times in
tense.
On Monday night when it was found
that not less than fourteen trains load
ed with live stock had been stopped by
the refusal of the striking fremen to
allow them to pass, kilograms were
sent to Baltimore giving the railroad
company's officials notification of the sit
uation. AS stated in the dispatches Of
Yesterday the mayor, Mr.. A. P. Shut,
was appealed to, and be used every en-
deavor to quiet the outbreak and relieve
the embargo, but was overpowered and
obliged to give it up. Gov. Matthews,
of West Va, was then appealed to,
and he, at about midnight Monday sent
the necessary orders for the interven-
ton by the local militia of Martinsburg.
Captain J. C. Faulkner, captain Of the
Berkeley Light Infantry, Of Martins
burg, had his company in ranks by i've
O'Clock this morning in obedience to
the orders of the Governor of West Vi-
g;nia, who telesraphed the night before
to render all necessary assistance and
see that the men who were willing to
run trains were not intsrferred with.
In the meantime another attempt had
been made to send out q freight tram,
but the fireman WAS taken off by the
rioters and the train halted. As the
disturbers of the business Of the road
were determined to listen to no con-
ciliatory measures the military company
was marched down to the railroad, in
front Of the train-dispatcher's Office, to
clear the way for all trains desiring to
pass. As precautionary step, and to
avoid if possible any collision or serious
difficulty, Captain Faulkner made q
very sympathetic speech to those who
were engaged in the unlawful and OBJ
structive proceedings. He kindly and
temporarily endeavored to persuade
the disturbers not to resist longer the
passage Of tho trains. To these ap-
peals the crowd turned q deaf ear, and
then, finding it was useless to reason
with them further, Capt. Faulkner read
to the assemblage the Governors or
ders. At the same time he made q
statement Of his duty as he understood
1t, and ordered the company to load
their pieces and resist any attempt
made to stop the trains.
The militia company was depl0yed
on both sides Of train which was
about starting, an engineer and fireman
having volunteered to work. As the
train reached the switch one Of the
strikers, William VANDERBILT, seized
the switch-ball to run the train ON the
side track. John Poisal, . member Of
the militia company, iunped from the
pilot of the engine and attempted to
replace the switch so that the train
should 20 on. Vandergrif fred two
shots at Poisal, one causing = slight
flesh wound in the side Of the head.
Poisal returned tho fire, shooting Van
dergriff through the hip. Several other
shots were fred at VANDERBILT, striking
him in the hand and arm.
When the firing was heard very
large crowd Of railroadcrs and citizens
- y