Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-12
COWARDLY ASSAULT
MADE UPOy A WORKMAN WHO DISAP-
PROVES OF The BOYCOTT
Eight or Ten Men Waylay Hin Near Alinigh: and
Attempt 70 Beat Him-Ths Victim
Wounded.

Several evenings since, the SlAtn WARN
boycott committee waited upon well
known business man in the district IN
which they have been appointed to en-
deayor to intimidate and blackmail citi-
zens. and threatened him with the boy
colt if he did not cut of his subscription
to the REGISTER. "Boys," said he, Il
stood BY the nailers all through their
long strike, and did all / could to help
them out, but now when you come TO
me and ask me to discontinue taking
newspaper that have read for twenty
years, my answer is that shall do moth
ing of the sort. If you bring me list con-
tanning the signatures of all the persons
who have stopped taking the morning
papers, | will sign my name to it, but un-
less you do that l cannot stop my paper.
This the committee said they could
not 10, and the grocer afterward re-
marked that they might IS well get up
petition to destroy any one Of the mills IN
the city; that either of the morning news
papers was as mucha business enterprise
and as great factor in the prosperity OF the
CITY as either other mills.
Mr.. T. F. Rowland, Il. & o. blacksmith
helper, who was in the store At the time,
and who was drawn into the conversation,
expressed himself in the same spirit, say
ing that he was working for Sl.lOper day,
and never went on a strike, while men who
were making 50 to 81 per day were almost
continually striking He said he took the
REGISTER and would continue to do so, as
he was not in favor OF
the boycott After some further
conversation which became rather spirited,
he left the store. His position in the matter,
along with that of nearly all other citizens
who had been waited upon by the commit
tee, was soon spread around and furnished
food for talk.
Rowand has been making something eX-
ira by working over time at the B. & o..
shops for several days past, and did not
leave his work until about IL o'clock
Wednesday night, when he started home
BY way of the railroad He had not gotten
far along when he met gang Of men,
some eight or ten in number.
He paid no attention to them, however,
until one rushed forward suddenly, stuck
out his foot and attempted to trip ROwand.
The latter saved himself from falling and
asked:
What does this mean"
Wen show You what it means" said
the fellow, at the same time striking vi
cious blow at Rowand's head, which he
warded off. The whole crowd then
rushed ut him, and seeing that he had no
show with them all he swung lantern
which he carried, over his head and
brought it down on his aSSailant's skull,
breaking the lantern into pieces.
A short, sharp scuflle then ensued, but
Rowand being quite strong succeeded
in releasing himself from the clutches OF
his adyersaries, and took to his heels,
shouting to the gang that he would like
them to tackle him again some other
night. As lie said this shower
Of iron slugs, thrown by the
Gro wd, whizzed past him, one Of
them striking his left arm just below the
elbow, cutting an ugly looking cash.
Fortunately only one of the pieces struck
him, and when ne reached home he had
the wound he received dressed. 1t is OF
such a painful nature, that he was not able
to work yesterday, and probably will not
be for several days. Rowland says the at
tack was so sudden and the darkness 50
intense that he was not able to recognize
any of his aSSailants, nor has he any idea
why the attack was made unless it be be-
cause OF the position he took in regard
to the boycott. He ha9 always
taken the same route home an has never
before been disturbed. If that is the
cause, and it is reasonable to suppose it
is, it shows what unmanly methods are
being taken to brighten peaceable and law
abiding citizens into submission. Is this
thing to be tolerated? Are such Anarch-
istic means and methods to be allowed to
prevail in Wheeling?
This cOwardly attack, unmanly and
brutal though it was, is not more despica-
BILE than the peace and prosperity destroy
ing boycott.