Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-12-12
TERMS--S2. 90 PER YEAR
A WAR OF RACES.
White Miners al Bevisr, No Alsck the
Negro Miners 4 otirg Leads 10 a Call
For Military Assistance.

Bevier, Mo-. is in q depiorabe situation
growing out Of a conflict between the white
| ard colOred miners. The situation is as
follows: A strike commenced the first of
last April. The miners had been gctting4
cents per bushel OF eighty-fye pounds of
coal riddled in the mines. ID had been the
custom to reduce the price about s cent
the first of April. This time the men were
willing TO submit to a reduction to 81 cents,
but demanded that only eighty pounds
should be given for bushel. The opera
tors offered cents buNhel and the strike
followed. There are seven mines or pits at
Bevier operated by four different firms to-
wit: LoOmis d Snively, three pits; Thomas
Wardell, three pits; Watson & Co, one pit,
and A. L. VIII, one pit. Early in the strike
Looms & Sniyely constructed high solid
fence around one of their pits, located in
the edge of town, about eco or $40 yards
from the business houses, then brought
ALoT OF NEGROES
from all parts OF the country ard put them
into this stOckadc TO work there. The white
miners objected seriously to being ous,ed
by these negroes. There has been more or
less trouble ever sirce. Daring the summer
Mr.. Wardell organized the Sunni il Co Oper.
ative Coal and Mining Company with
capital of 5000, divided into shares of $40
each with provision that no one should
hold more than 800 worth. Large numbers
of miners took stock and work was COM
menced in the Wardell mines. About $50
miners have been employed there of late.
About the same time the Watson mines and
also the Atwell mines began work, all these
employing white men. Thus it was hoped
that trouble was over. But the negroes con-
tinued to work IN LOnmis & Snivey's
mines, known as the stockade. A few weeks
ago some OF the white miners endeavored TO
INACCURATE A STRIKE
for higher wages, and an attempt was made
TO induce the negroes TO join, but they re-
fused. A committee was sen, 10 some az the
operators TO ask for an increase of paw.
Each man of the committee was a. once dis
charged. Finally most of the miners re-
turned to work, but there has been deep
urdercurrent Of dissatisfaction. Those in
clined to strike felt that they had been frus-
trated, and forced to submit by the negroes,
who refused TO join. Thus the already bitter
feeling against the negroes was intensified.
The 10Th ut. was payday, and then the
troubles rapidly increased. aggravated. no
doubt, by some bad whisky on both sides.
Some of the negroes are well enough be-
haved, while some are impudent and insO-
lent. Then there are lot CT negro women
of loose character who hang around.
T2ere are some wreckless characters
among the whites. They are made up prin-
clpally OF young men, most of whom have
recently arrived ana were
MERE TOURISTS
and will likely not remain long. These
characters take advantage of the bitter feel
ing against the negroes and the opportunity
afforded by the violations of order and de-
cen,y BY those reckless and loose characters
among the negroes to keep up the trouble.
The reckless whites know that almost
the entire white population will stand by
them in trouble, owing to the natural SYM
pathy with their cause. There is always
danger of trouble when any OF these negroes
go over to town and as the Loomis ard
Sniyely store and the saloons are over i'm
town there are always some of the negroes
over in town. Details of the trouble must
necessarily be complete, as it Is absolutely
impossible to obtain particulars.
1t is all
EXCITEMENT, CONFUSION AND RET;CENCE.
Oue side knows but little of the other side;
1t Is almost like two armies resting on their
arms good portion of the time. Several
parties who live in Macon have been halted
near the stOckade and not allowed 10 pass,
and WI hen they turned back they met anoth-
er mob. But this state of affairs does not
exist all the time.
Later serious riot was started ard the
governor beng appealed to called for TIE
militia.