The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-17

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have all been reading with much interest
war that Is now being carried on by the
Western Union Company and the new
American Union Company in other cities,
and yesterday morning the first skirmish
OF the war began in this city. From the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot, up
Fourteenth street to Market, and thence
to the New Mcclure House are q number
OF poles that have heretofore been used
by the Atlantic and Pacific Company, and
were supposed by many to be the proper.
~ OF that company. After the discontin-
nance OF the Atlantic and Pacific office
in the New McLure House, a result
OF the pooling" arrangement between
that company and the Western Union q
year or two ago, this office was closed and
has been eversince. The poles, however,
have continued in use ever since for var
ious purposes, and have been used at the
option OF either company, and by the
city. When the American Union gave
oit that they would establish an office in
the New Mcclure House, the attaches OF it
in this city have been very apprehensive,
that some interference would take place
by the Western Union authorities, and
consequently they have kept ian eternal
vigilance Yesterday morning the
Western Union attempted to put wire
upon the poles from their Office to the jew
elry establishment OF Turner & Dill
Ion on Market street, and actually had
II on, when II was cut off and thrown
down by "Bob" HsSlett, an employe Of
the American Union. Soon after the
Western Union retaliAted by cutting and
carrying off two strands OF wire, so Man.
ager Tracy says, belonging to the Ameri
can Union. Active demonstrations ceased
here, but the latter company was on the
alert all day in anticipation OF further
movements on the part OF the other com
pany, but at this date "a. NJ nothing hal
been done.
A reporter Of this paper had talk with
Manager Wolf, OF the Western Union, a
noon yesterday, who stated that the pole
were claimed by the A. & P. Company
, which Is practically operated by th,
I Western Union, and they had in thi
view attempted the placing OF wire upor
poles which they considered they had {
right to. No wire belonging to the A. U
had been cut by them. A wire wa
stretched along the street, and in thil
position was dangerous to horses, as the!
would become entaRgled in 1t, and hence
they had cut it.
Manager Tracy was Just q little bit ex
cited over the turn affairs had taken anC
was watching the progress OF things will
0 the least possible evidence OF excitement
3 He had quite a number OF men stationed
at various points in the city guarding tn
!. poles, with the explicit order "if an!
Y man attempts to climb one OF these pole
Q shoot him on the spot"
Reporters took much interest in thes
poles yesterday, and watched witt
,, leverish anxiety to see il any bird
: were roosting among their branches
but none roasted. Nothing was don
during the afternoon, and 1t was expecte,
that something OF decisive nature woul,
be done during the night. Messrs. Jacobs
!, Cracratt and Ferguson were employe,
by the Western Union, and were in con
9 sultation during the entire afternoon
3 Gov. Jacobs was absent in Hancock coun
9 ty, but was telegraphed TO com
i home at once, and arrived a
7:20 II. M, and at once joinet
z the conference. His arrival, however
j. did not precipitate action, and The nigh
!. wore on without anything being done
]. Tracy had increased his men to ons 70
each pole on this side Of the creek, with
!. fair guard beyond, and fittred aronn,
among them in mysterious manner. TIL
!; police were also on the alert, and squa
Of them lowered in the neighborbaod
. at intervals all evening. About u o'coc
Mayor Sweeney, City Solicitor Erskin
{ and Col. Harry Russell, all in the interes
!. Of the American Union, walked cautiousl
down Market street to Alley Nine, wher
q after brief council Of war was held, lei
for home. A representative OF the Yves
y tern Union told us that it had been in
d tended tdfesort to positive measures, dur
n ing the evening, but this had Anally baeI
It abandoned for the present.
The poles in question are claimed by tn
Q B. & o. 4. R. Co., which claims to hav
d erected them in their present positions, in
J. dependent OF the Atlantic and Pacific Q
n Western Union.
The same attempt has been made a
a Washington, Fa., but SO for has been frut
q trated,
y
y .TuR CorRTs s, DtsrRIcr CouRr-