New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-20
TIE BLOCKADE OF WEDNESDAY.
TIE STRIKERS VERY BITTER.


control of the road and that they have wrought them
selves up ptchO where they may guilty
OF almost any folly should there be. any open
ct although yet there has been public disturbance
Keyser almost all Of the citizens sympathizs with
the strikers, and the miners Of Piedmont aud Western
port have offered their assistance the raroaders IL
needed A meeting Of wortmen held at Keyser
last night and the following resolutions were adopted:
Resored That W. the men OF the Third Division, VIII
abide 10y the decision OF our brother divisions regard
To wag IN the future, and that we viii stay By them in
me present trouble ann such decision Is arrived at as
we have been oppressed by our superior officers beyond
Resored That We the men Of the Third Division have
sObcIy and calmly considered the step have taken,
d declare that at the present state OF wages which tho
Company have Imposed upon Ms, cannot hyo
and provide our wives and children with the
OF me- ANA That we only ask or wages that will enable
10 provide suca necessaries.
Rcs,'ced, TAat We upuod the other divisions in tho
step hey nave taken IN regard To the present trouble.
Good order and the utmost harmony prevailed but
there T. full determination TO hold out. Tue Harry
Qua ds 80 strong, under Captain Chpley. have been
placed under arms and are encamped four miles
from Keyser awaiting further orders. This waTlike
preparation created intense excitement the rail-
road men, and threats freely made and squads Of
excited men paraded the streets though it dark and
raining
A. Mar,insburg. W. Va, intense excitement prevailed
all day, but further outbreak took place The feeling
OF the strikers greatly intensified by the arrival Of
the Matthews Lght Guard from Wheeling in the morn
ing. squad OF seven mon Of the company left
Grafton charge Of two OF the rngleaors that place
who arrested, but the company was stationed
az Martinsburg, numbering thirty-six men, COM
manded by Capt Miller. and accompanied By Col.
Hubert DeIpiine, OF Gov. Matthew'S, saG, who
las been depuZed to represent tle Governor there.
Gov Matthews and AttorneyGeneral White returned 10
Wheeling Grafton at early hour in the morning.
Several hundred people con-regated at che depot when
the military arrived in a state OF great excitement
aud a conf ct mOmentirly expected. Tue strikers
all armed with pistols ana concealed weapons. hay
ing 1T their gun. their place OF redo Mr. VIII
liam Keyser, second VcePresident OF the Railroad Com
pdny, accompanied the militia in his special ear from
Graftol The officers OF the Company held conference
with the rail DAD oit ils aud the civil and military
thortes OF Martns0arg mme Lately after the arrival OF
the tram, and it determin for the tine being
matter of precauton not TO the company from
the cars their appearance the street would further
cxasperate strikers and attack might Ice made be-
fore plan Of operation could be determined upon Ac'
cordngly the remained coOped during the day IN tho
three cars which had been detached from the train and
left standing front Of the platform under the scolchmg
rays OF the The shutters OF the windows
down. and all that could be seen OF the military
was a guard of one platform prevent
any one from entering
AT o'clock in the afternoon. however. the company
left the and marched to the Court House, which they
now occupy IA quarters. No disturbance attended the
some gray uniforms, aud carry Springfield breech-oad-
ing rides. fortyfye caiibrc. Each carries twenty
rounds of ammunition. In addition to this 6000 rounds
or ammunition an further stock OF rifles takcnOn
Harpers Ferry to be sent back gam. II wing been
stored away III the baggage Thought bes not
attempt them at that time, fearing Tie
my might attempt their seizure.
Half dozen Of the ring lea ors the strike
called 10 Captain Miller IN his qua tcrs In the rear
after arriving aud asked TO know what he pro-
posed TO do They referred TO the high price OF Ourand TO
the almost starving condition OF the whose wages
were proposed further 10 be cut down. Captain
Miller replied that he had nothing to do with the price
four that he came 10 that the trains passed
moos,d and that he determined 70 carry out his
his entire company usel mp In the attempt.
Col. Dcapaine, an hour or two after aniving, tele
graphed Gov. Matthews regarding the situation and
asked for instructions how to proceed.
AT special meeting OF the Town Council OF Martins
burg resolution adopted requesting all iquor-deal
and saloon epers To close their shops Many Of tho
strikers had been drinking pretty freely but they
ally kept quiet. and there not single for dis
orderly conduct though the local authorities were dis
posed TO forbear with them % prevent any conflict
At the hundred employees Of the repairshops
at Martnsburg ordered by the leaders to JON in
the strike but up to this hour have refused do
strikers from other divisions constantly arriving
In small numbers on every train. number OF tho
strikers remained in the vicinity Of the depot while largo
bodies OF them were located at the switches.
The Mayor Of Martinsburg threatened by the mob,
who said that they would burn down the Depot Hotel at
this place OF which he is proprietor for his interference
TO secure the preservation OF the peace. but Mayor
SHUT who is well known old Baltimorean did not
mind the tlrcats.
The West Virginia Guards, OF Martinsburg company
Of thirty forty railroad and their friends, have
espoused the cause Of the strikers.
At Grafton the strikers cut the bolts and connecting
chains OF all the freight engines, uniting them USE
Men also violently removed from the engines. Tho
strikers had full possession and dhed the civil authori
ties arrest them The Mayor issued proclamation in
which he said that certain persons Of the town are
10y threats intimidation and perhaps In instances
by actual violence preventing certain other citi-
ferng with the private business OF such wedisposed
citizens. therefore call all persons desist from
such threats, and Will enforce the law all hazarisv
The strikers had meeting and passed resolutions TO
hold to the bitter end whatever might come OF H.
They threaten violence To all persons attempting 10 I'LL
their places. No actual collision has occurred with tho
town authorities.
Gov. Matthews was stoned at the Grafton House at
Grafton on Tuesday night by crowd which had pre-
yously attempted TO intimdate the detachment Of
Wheeling militia and rescue the prisoners. A stone
weighing several pounds thrown through tho win
dow OF the Governors he retiring. but for
tunatey missed him aud fell on the bed.
The strikers at Grafton. decided 10 demand 81 per
day for hrcmen and brakemen and no reduction for
engineers ard conductors. They appointed committee
Of fireman, engineer, conductor and brakeman
sections and the committee went 10 the third aud fourth
divisions To confer and insist on general strike
The strikers said last night that II oyerpowered by
troops at MArtnsburg they would blockade the road
bee Rishih PAGE.