The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-03
II possible, II not then by force; that they
were 1000 strong on the train, and could
overpower the troops easily. Their de.

|
lnand was percmptorily refused. -
Allen stated that tho troops came simply
for tho purpose Of upholling the law and
obedience to orders, and not to bulldozo
or impose upon the rights Of my county;
that they did not desire difficulty will,
anybody, and especially Kentuckians, and
would not participate In any difficulty until
It was forced upon them. II any difficulty
occurred the responsibility for the results
must rest upon mob, and not with the
| troops.
The representatives Of the mob then
stated II the troops escaped for Catlet,s.
burg gwth the prisoners, they would be met
nj Ashland by ut least 1000 or $500 deter.
mined men supported by a boat containing
four cannons The interview then ended.
Tho troops were then Withdrawn to tho
steamer Granite State, which hnd arrived.
Under cover OF the cannon, which was
faced toward the mob, the soldiers EN-.
barksd, and it was then dragged down tho
hill and into the boat, with lis muNle to.
ward the mob. The boat then left for
Ashla with the troops and prisoners.
At the same time the mob reboardcd tho
train and started toward Ashland. When
the boat arrived within mile OF Ashland
the train came in sight and run along the
track, which runs along the river front at
that point, ut the same speed us the boat.
A great number OF shots wero fired from
tho train ut the boat, but the
fell short. The shots were not responded
10 by the troops, the commanding
officer ordering that no shots should bu
fired until it became necessary as means
Of self defense. Just as the Granite State
approached land II ferry boat, containing, it
is supposed, one thousand men, armed
with muskets, rifles and shot guns, mp.
proached the Granite State. The ferry
boat whistled n signal to stop, which the
Granite State did no, heed, hut passed on.
When nearly opposite the Granite State,
and from two to three hundred yards dis.
tant, Il great many shots were fred from
the ferry boat at, the troops,
wounding several OF the, soldiers.
The command was then given for the
troops to return the fire, which they did,
and quick and spirited conflict ensued
for Il few minutes. The smokestack and
hurricane deck Of the Granite State were
well perforated by the bullets from tine
mob. Four or live soldiers wero wounded,
but not seriously. The fire OF the troops
was directed entirely at the ferryboat con.
tanning the mob, and not ut the crowd col.
lected on the bank. which was very large
and apparently very enthusiastic in sun.
porting the mob on the ferryboat. Ii per
standing OH the banks were injured it
was through carel essness in being so near
to the la less mob attacking State troops,
and not because the troops
fired at them, for their !, fire was
directed entirely to the ferryboat
In the engagement the ferry boat was saon
silenced, and, after the mob on her ceased
to fire, not Il single shot was fired by the
State troops. The commanding officer.
while regrctting that he was compelled to
take such strong and deadly measures.
feels that they were forced upon him and
that the responsibility for the unfortunate
results rests entirely upon the men who
attempted 10 take the law into their own
hands.
The officers OF the Granite State, all the
passengers on board Of the boat, Mt both
times OF the difficulty, will subs,antiate the
statement that not single shot was fired
by the soldiers until the mob OH the ferry
boat hal fired several shots at them, and
that the troops acted simply in self.defens..
The troops were on guard until the boat
passed Portsmouth. The Captain OF the
boat was not allowed by the commanding
officer 10 stop either at Irunton or Ports.
mouth, for fear OF continuance OF the
difficulty. -
Many shots were fired before and duri"g
the conflict by persons Oh the Ohio side ;ol
the river Mt short range, but it was by In
dividuals and not by organized bodies, and
their shots were not returned by the sol.
dlers. The command reached Maysville
about hali-past one o'clock at night with
the prisoners and were qrartcred in the
court house there until five o clock this
morning, when they started ior Lexington,
arriving here at ten o'clock, when they
turned over the prisoners in accordance
with the order oil the Judge OF tho Dovd
County Circuit Court 10 the jailer Of Fay.
cite county. Es| -; '.a
In conclusion Maj. Allen said that the
only lighting done by his men was done MS
tile boats passed each other. lie did not
want 10 Stop TO fight; NIL he wanted was 10
get away with the prisoners, and especially.
as his command had escaped without
serious. casualties. -. ,t&a
FnASEpoRT, Ki, November a.-Tho
McCreary and Mickelo guards, on ar
rival from Catlettsburs, were welcomed
by formal address in which their conduct
was approved. Gov. Blackburn saws he
sent troops there upon the application oi
Judge Brown, and while deeply sorry for
the dead and wounded, he could not Law
the blame OIL the troops, and il application
is made in February he will send twelve
regiments, il necessary, to uphold the laS.
LOUISVILLE, November a.-The tle,ach.
ment Of the Louisville Legion, commanded
BY Can't. D: G. Willer, ind the Louisville
i.isht Artillery, commanded by Lieut.. G. b.
BY, returned tonight from Catlettsburg.
Their respective commands were in the
affair at Ashland Wednesday, but escaped
without any casualties. },'f# G0tj I,