Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-11
The yersllIre Affair.

I abiding !place at Vershire, whore he has
, been close attendant upon the avarce
stupidity and inhumanity of thu mine
owners.
. Few of the men could make more than
| enough to support themselves and their
, families at the rates they were obliged to
, pay for food and clothing at the company's
, store, where they were obliged to trade, out
of this store there was probably more
profit made than from any single mercan.
tile business in the state. Expensive
, smelling works were built; extraordinary
expenses were incurred in putting the
mines on what was hoped to be paying
basis; debts were heaped up; extravaganza
was rampant and such luxuries as Ely
Ely-Goddard were INDUCED freely in. For
these things it is probable that the income
of the mines was inadequate and in tho
spring of 1882, it seems to have occurred
to the managers that to make ends meet
fairly, the easiest and most convenient
way would be to rob the men of their
hard earned wages; worthless due bills of
the corporation were given the men finally
in payment of three and half months
work with assurances that the money
would be forthcoming soon, but it hasn't
come yet. Changes were made in the
management seemingly not for the better
except that soon Ely-Goddard left his
country for his country's good. One Cain
assumed the management whose only
merit seems to be that he had an occa-
sional pay day. which seems to have dis,
pleased the owners for he is numbered
among the outs now. Matters run on
with occasional bitches till this spring.
The May pay day came and there was no
money, but plenty of promises; the last
day of June came and no pay and the
men stopped work; two months pay
behind and only multitudinous promises.
The men, about 400 in number, began to
grumble. their money WAS gone, they had
no credit and crust of bread was all that
many of the families had between them
and starvation. Monday last they decided
to appeal to the venerable Smith Ely in
person; a committee of five with the pay.
master consulted with him; he was poor
and could do nothing except extend to
them his sympathy. They went back
discouraged, and soon after they went
through the company's store and apprc-
priated what they could which was little.
Some then had recourse to threats and
gave notice that if they were not paid by
Saturday night they would destroy the
town and blow up the mine. They placed
guards night and day over the company's
property and awaited results. They did no
damage and would permit none 10 be
done, but demanded their pay and held
the property as security. The local
authorities were powerless to do anything
if the threatened outbreak should take
place and the inhabitants of that section
were in state of terror. Friday Sheriff
Luke Parish made application to the
governor for battalion of the LIST regi-
ment of militia to be sent to Vershire to
assist the authorities in making arrests
and preserving the peace. After consul
tation Governor Barstow ordered Adiutant
General Peck to call out five companies
kilograms were sent to the company
commanders about the middle of the
afternoon to have their commands in
readiness to take special train in the
evening. The notice was short but fully
four-ffths of the enlisted men were on
hand. On the trains were Co. A., Rutland,
Capt. g. G. Kinsman, 40 men; Co. St.
Adams. Capt. Ii. i. Perkins. 81 men; Co.
T., Mortified, Capt. L, IL. IIowes, 40
men; and Co. H., Montpelier, Lieut.. Ii
W. Kemp, 43 men. The battalion was
accompanied by Gov. Barstow and Coils.
Woodbury., Gilmore and Fletcher of his
taft, Adj. Genl. I. S. Peck, Quartermas
er Genl. II. X. Ide, Col. w. II. Greenleaf,
Adjutant NJ. d. Green, Quartcrmastcr
VIM. Smith, Commissary T.. f. Greenleaf
md Surgeon o. w. Peck. The train
cached Ely station about 80 A. NJ; the
roops were drawn up in line and after
iew words from Col Greenleaf, twenty
rounds of cartridges to each man were
distributed. The camp stores and troops
were then loaded upon seven immense
four and six horse ore vans and the start
was made for West Fairlee, nine miles
distant, which was reached at about 4: 80.
The battalion was formed about half
mile out of West Fairlee and in the
silence of the early morning took up its
line of march. As the column came in
sight of the outskirts of Ely village with
its bleak and verdureless background oil
hills detachment of eight skirmishers
under command of Lieut.. Morse oil Co. A.
went forward on double quick and
served as the first notice to the miners
that their stronghold was invaded. 1t
was total surprise and there was no
chance for any organized resistance if
hey had wished. The troops formed n
SfuoiC uuu Hulleu Ill aUOuL Inc
center of the village. High Sheriff Luke
Parish with Deputies Scion X. Berry, L
2. Barron, J. Q. A. Bass and W. c. Clark
we're on hand with warrants for the arrest
Of Is of the ringleaders ard Immediately
began to make the arrests. No resistance
was made and in about so minutes twelve !
men were in charge of the military and i
he troops were marched into the shade of t
he Catholic church. ranks were broken,
he supply train was driven up and break
asst was prepared. The prisoners were |
loon taken away to Chelsea Jail with the I
of four, who were taken bv the '
Bradford guards at the powder house, -,
who were released. Co. G., Bradford,
Capt j. H. Watson, by forced march
Friday night circled the hill back of Ely v
village and without disturbing any of the q
inhabitants seized the corporation powder y
houses containing about $50 kegs of blast q
nruIn vi e., l.