Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-03
WHEEIING w. va. FRIDAY MORNING. NovENBER s. 1882. -

especially Kentuckyians, and would not
participate in any difficulty until it was
forced upon them. If any difficulty ac-
Cured the responsibility for the results
must rest upon the mob and not upon the
troops. The representatives of the mob
then stated that If the troops embarked for
Catlettsburg with the prisoners they would
be met at Ashland by at least 1000 or 2, 500
determined men, supported by boat con-
tanning four cannon. The interview then
ended. The troops were then withdrawn
to the steamer Granite State, which had
arrived ..
Under Cover of the Cannon,
which was faced toward the mob until the
soldiers had embarked. 1t was then dragged
down the Hill and into the boat with its
muzzle toward the mob. The boat then
left for Ashland with the troops and pris.
oners. At the same time the mob reboarded
the train and started toward Ashland.
When the boat arrived within a mile OF
Ashland, the train came in sight, and ran
along the track, which skirts the river front
at that point at the same speed a. the boat
A great number of shots were fired from
the train at the boat, but the range was too
far, and the shots fell too short to cause
any damage. The shots were responded to
by the troops. The commanding officer or
dered that
No shots should be Fired
until il became necessary as a means OF
self-defense. Just as the Granite State ap-
preached the land, the ferry boat, contain
ing it is supposed 1000 men, armed with
muskets, rifles and shot guns, steamed out
from the landing and approached the Gran
ite State. The ferry boat whistled signal
TO stop, which the Granite State did not J
to the Granite State and from 200 to
800 yards distant great many shot were
fired from the ferryboat at the troops,
wOunding several of the soldiers. Tne
command was then given for the troops to
return the fire, which they all did, and a
quick and
A Spirited Conflict Ensued
for few minutes. The smoke stack and
hurricane deck of the Granite State were
well perforated by the bullets from the
mob. -Four or five soldiers were wounded,
but not seriously. The fire of the troops
was directed entirely at the ferry boat con-
tanning the mob and not at the crowd col
lected on the bank which was very large
and apparently very enthusiastic in sup
porting the mob on the ferry boat. Ii per
sons standing on the bank were injured it
was through carelessness in being so near
to the lawless mob attacking the State
troops, and
Not because the Troops Fired at Them,
For their fire was directed entirely to the
ferry boat. In the engagement the ferry
boat was soon situated and after the mob
had ceased to fire not u single shot was
fired by the State troops. The command
ing officer, while regretting that he was
compelled to take such strong and deadly
measures, feels that they were forced upon
,haf Nha rao,Nnncthiiitu fnr tho nm
fortunate results rests entirely upon the
men, who attempted to take the law into
their own hands. The officers of the Gran
ite State, and all the passengers on board
of the boat at the time of the difficulty
will substantiate the statement that not a
single shot was fred by the soldiers until
the mob in the ferry boat had
Fired Several shots at Them,
and that the troops acted simply in self
defense. The troops were on guard until the
boat passed Portsmouth. The captain OF
the boat was not allowed by the command
ing officer to stop either at Ironton or
tinuance of the difficulty. Many
shots were fred before and during the con-
fiict by persons on the Ohio side OF the
river at short range, but it was by in.
dividuals and not by organized bodies, and
their shots were not returned by the SOL
diers. The command reached Maysyille
about half-past / o'clock at night with the
prisoners and were quartered in the court
house there until 5 o'clock this morning,
when they started for Lexington and ar
irving here at 10 o'clock, when they
TaYned Over the Prisoners
in accordance with the order of the Boyd
county circuit court, to the jailer of Fay
ette county. In conclusion Major Allen
said that the only fighting done by his
men was done as the boats passed each
other. He dld not mind TO stop to fight.
All he wanted was TO get away with the
prisoners, and especially as his command
had escaped without serious casualties.
The Governor UpbOIds the Troops.
FRANKFORT, KY, November 2.-The Nc
Cleary and Nichols Guards, on their arrival
from Catlettsburg, were welcomed by
formal address, IN which their conduct was
approved. Gov, Blackburn says he sent
the troops there upon application OF judge
Brown, and while deeply sorry for the
dead and wounded, he could not lay any
tlame on the troops, and If application is
made in February he will send twelve reg.
iments, if necessary, to uphold the law.
LOUISVILLE, KY, November 2.-The de-
tachment of the Louisville Legion, COM
manded by Capt. d. C. Miller and the
Louisville Light Artillery, commanded by
Lieut.. c. B. Bly,, returned tonight from
Catlettsburg. Their respective commands
were in the affair at Ashland. Wednesday,
but escaped without any casualties.