Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-02-03

DIsGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS IN SRENAN-
DoAH-We learn from the Shenandoah Herald
that, on last Tuesday afternoon, five armed
men visited the Columbia ore bank of that
county, and by threats induced some OF the
men to join them and stopped the others from
work. From this point they went to Liberty
Furnace where their force is said to have been
increased to about forty men.
At this place, they fired on the hands Of the
| furnace, wounding two colored men. A war
rant was issued by Justice ]. Fl. Grabill on
Tuesday evening for the arrest of the five men
who stopped the work at Columbia Furnace
ore bank and placed in the hands of Sheriff
Hoshour. At2 A. NJ. Wednesday morning a
courier arrived from the furnace with dispatch
to Capt. Magruder, of Woodstock, asking for lis
company to assist to stop the riot and arrest the
| rioters.
On being informed OF the State Of affairs by
| telegraph, Gov. Holiday, through James Nc
Donald. Adjutant- General ad interim. directed
Capt Magruder to place his command, the
Anderson Guards" at the disposal of Judge
H. c. Allen. Acting Attorney for the Common
wealth, and Sheriff Hoshour of that county, for
the preservation OF order in that county.
The reason assigned for these unlawful pro-
ceedings is the employ ment, by the proprietors
to be the true reason, as some colored men have
been all the time employed. We hope that the
guilty participants in these unlawful proceed
ings will be arrested and duly punished.
p. S.-Since the above was in type, we have
received the news that these troubles have been
adjusted by the discharge of the imported COL
ored laborers and the return of the white labor
| ers to their places at the wages which have
heretofore prevailed. Several colored men who
have been employed at the works for some time
retain their places. The following account,
which is the most particular we have seen, was
telegraphed from Woodstock to Richmond:-
The riot at Liberty Furnace. melted by a few
dissatisfied men grew until the body was vari-
Ously estimated from 60 to 200 men. Their sole
object was to drive negro laborers from the
furnace. The approach of the military was dis
covered by pickets located near the woods and
upon the tops of high hills, and caused the
rioters to retire to the mountains. This
section Of country is inhabited by q class
o., people who have lived for years by either
laboring at or furnishing supplies for the fur
mace. Almost the entire population were in
sympathy with the rioters Carriers were sent
IN every direction, and recruits rapidly Joined
them. Therioters were in groups in the noun
tains, but kept up constant communication, by
means OF non combatants, with the furnace
At dark Captain Magruder determined to make
an effort to drive them together and surround
them, and Immediately teegraphed for two
companies, which the Governor promptly Or
dered to his aid The prOprietOrs OftEe furnace,
seeing that collision was inevitable commune
Gated with the rioters and agreed to discharge
the colored hands. The rioters Immediately
responded, agreeing to dsband and go to work
They made no demand for higher wages, but
said there were white people enough to do the
work, and negroes should not be imported to
take their places. The negroes were SO fright
ened that they were afraid to leave the military
company. All were discharged this morning,
except three who had been at work for some
time. These were permitted 10 remain. The
negroes were anxious to get away. The lead
ing rioters are still in the mountains, and their
arrest by either the civil or military authorities
will be attended with great difficulty. Their
rendezvous is about two miles from the West
Withdrawn, and quiet and order have been re-
stored. There is no political feeling in the mat
ter, as the firm owning the furnace Is composed
OF Republicans and Democrats, and the rioters
were divided. Many of them are Republican
and vote that ticket regularly.