Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-01
RIOTING MINERS.
THE RECENT DISTURBANCE IN THE Po-
CAH0ErAs COAL SECTION.
How 1t originated-Attsmpt to Rescue q
Prisonsr-nany shots Fired
An Inn Riddled.
Especial telegram to III. nl.pn,ch.l

ROANOKE, Va. May 3l.-The latest from
Bramwell and Pocahontas represent every
thing as quiet In these localities. The miners
employed by SIX coal operators IN that sec
| ton struck last Monday because under the
laws OF West Nirginia their employers must
| pay them every two weeks II they demand Il.
The operators declare AZ they are only paid
of once month by The Pocahontas Coal
| Company, which purchases all the coal they
mine, that they cannot pay oitener them
selves. Last Saturday evening the employers,
In response TO the demands OF their employees,
informed them when paying their wages
for the mouth that they could do no more
for them In the matter OF payments than they
had been doing, and that If they we're not
satisfied they need not come to work on the
Monday following. The result was that all
the men employed In the cOal-mnes OF West
Virginia, numbering about 1900 men, re-
fused 10 work on Tuesday.
One OF the idle men made an inst ting pro-
posal TO white lady and was arrested by
the sheriff OF Mercer county. That evening
publlc feeling ran high, and threats OF lynch
ing the prisoner were made. The idle ne
RrOes heard OF this, and about II O'Clock
Tuesday night q mob Of about one hundred
and fifty men appeared IN front OF the Blue
stone Inn, where the sheriff was stopping
with the prisoner, and demanded bis release.
This was refused, and Immediately the mob
began to fire OR their reyolyers at the inn
and everybody In sight. After several hun
dred shots had been fred and the inn had
been struck about fifty times about twenty
i've white men, armed with double bsrrelled
shotguns ana Winchester rifles, appeared on
the scene and the mob dispersed. Early
next morning about twelve Of the rioters
were arrested and taken 10 Princeton, the
cOunty-seat OF Mercer county, where they
were lodged In the county jail TO await
the next session OF the County Court.
Some threats were made OF another
attack on the inn Wednesday night,
but the threats were not carried out,
fortunately for the rioters, rs fifty men from
Bramwell and vicinity, well armed, were
quartered In the hotel last night, and more
than that number, equally as well equipped,
were ready 10 answer any summons at Poca-
hontas, four miles away.
The only anxiety felt on the subject u the
outcome Of the present strike. II is hoped
that after the miners have spent their wages
they will go 10 work again on terms to suit
their employers.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
POCAHoNTAs, VA. May 3l.-There is no
trouble at Pocahoutas. The miners on the
Buestone have struck for the twoweeks'
pay system. All Is quiet now. The trouble
Tuesday night ut Bramwell was caused by
mob trying to release a prisoner who had
made threats against white girl. The mob
was composed Of fifty or sixty men. About
two hundred shots were fired. Two colored
men we're shot, but by their own crowd.
No one was Killed.
Ldter.-Eyerything IS quiet on the Blue
stone. All the miners have returned to work
on the old system.