The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-11-08

ferred to the railroad TO be taken 10
Lexington"
A special dispatch to the CONNER
ciaL from Ashland, KY, says: This
noon twenty-five men and boys who
were partly intoxicated seized an en-
gine and car and went to Catletts-
burg, against the advice of sober
men who last night gave up all hope
of getting the prisoners from the
military.
When they reached Catlettsburg
they made no effort to capture the
prisoners, who were safely placed on
board the steamer Granite State at
3 O'Clock Z. NJ. The crowd then
hastened back to Ashland, and
about twenty of them fastened to a
ferryboat and by the use Of pistols
compelled the captain 10 put out to
intercept the Granite State.
Their attitude was so ridiculous
and their case so hopeless that the
affair would have been farce but
for the reckless discharge of "A revol
yer in the hands of one OF the boys
on the ferryboat. 1t was answered
at once by a volley from the sol
dicrs. The balls pierced the boiler
of the ferryboat, aud the escaping
steam completely disabled the mob.
BY this time great crowd had
gathered on the banks of the river
and in the houses. The soldiers
turned their guns on them and fired
without provocation. Here the mis-
chief was done. Only three were
wounded on the ferryboat, while all
the Others on the casualty list were
of the peaceable people on the
shore.
The following is list of the
killed: George Keener, James Nc
Donald, Colonel Reppert, and an in
fant in its mothers arms. Those
seriously wounded are: John Baugh.
Charles Balinger, Willie Serey, VIII
Springer, Mrs. Serey, Graham Ran
dali and Robert Pritchard.
The following are slightly wound
ed: Martin Dunlap, Alex. Harris,
John Gallagher, Julius Sommers,
Thomas Ceer, Mrs. B. Butler, A. II.
Dickson, Thomas Demerara, n. T.
Bail, DR.. Hills, Martin Gear, Robert
Lowther and J. W. House.
Colonel Reppert was a highly-re-
spected citizen, 20 years old. Mrs.
Butler was a quarter of a mile away
attending meeting held to organ
ize public reading room. The
citizens regard the firing on the fer
ryboat as justifable, but have no
words to express their Indignation
at the firing on peaceacle citizens.
CINCINNATI, November =. - Mr..
Phister, clerk of the Granite State,
says that Major Allen engaged their
steamboat on Tuesday night to con
vey the prisoners and troops to
Mavsville, but that it was kept
profound secret, even from the other
boat officers, Major Allen wishing to
avoid collision with the mob.
They telegraphed TO Major Allen
that they would be at Catlettsburg
at half past eleven, but they failed
to reach there until afternoon. He
thinks that if they mad reached
there promptly the whole trouble
would have been avoided. When
the boat came to CatlettsburQ there
were ominous signs of disturbance.
Prominent men at that place assured
Captain Kirker that the boat would
be attacked, and a large shipment
of cattle was kept off for fear of dis
aster. A committee from the Ash
land mob waited on Major Allen
and demanded the prisoners. The
demand was of course, refused, and
the committee warned Major Allen
that the prisoners would be taken.
When the boat left Catlettsburg the
mob took the train, which consisted
of an engine and passenger car and
four fat cars. The train was filled
with men, ana as the road runs near
the river, at the start men could be
heard hallooing and could be seen
firing at the boat. The distance was
too great to make this of any other
significance than that of defiance or
threatening. When Ashland was
reached the ferryboat was seen ap-
parently filed with belligerent peo-
pie, and the wharf boat was also full
of men and the banks lined with
people. The pilot blew two whis-
ties, as if desiring to land. hut with
no intention of doing so. This was
a ruse to get away from the ferry
boat. When the latter saw that the
Granite State was steaming by, four
whistles We're sounded from the
ferryboat to get the Granite State to
land. No attention was paid to it,
and then the firing began. The
Granite State had refused to take
the prisoners until a written order
was procured commanding them to
do so. Brose Dennis. who, with Mr.
Williamson, occupied the pilot
house, the latter being on watch,
saws two soldiers were placed in the
pilot house to keep the pilots at
their post. He states that shots
were fired at the Granite State both
from the wharf boat and from the
men on the bank. Many of these
were aimed at the pilot house, an d
six balls struck it. A number of
other bullet marks appear on other
parts of the boat. OF the firing
from the bank and wharf boat, Den
mis- is certain. and both he and Clerk !
Phister say that it would have been
easy for the ferryboat to have over
taken them and had a renewal of
the battle if the troops had not acted |
with promptness in returning the
fire. They speak in commendation
of the action of the officers, and say |
there was no disposition shown to |
be bloodthirsty or malicious.